‘CRITICAL FINDING:’ Fort Gibson Dam bridge closed until further notice

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) says the State Highway 251A bridge over the Fort Gibson dam is closed until further notice.

The bridge runs along the Wagoner County and Cherokee County line.

ODOT says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) made a critical finding along the bridge, prompting the closure. ODOT did not share what the finding was.

Drivers will have to find another route across Fort Gibson Lake. Travelers can detour up to Wagoner or Hulbert and take State Highway 51 across the lake. Drivers can also head south to Fort Gibson and cross the Arkansas River either at the Grand River Bridge or Highway 62.

ODOT says plans were already in place for a bridge replacement project, which is tentatively scheduled for 2026.

The state department says it is now working with USACE to figure out if a temporary repair could make the bridge safe enough to reopen until the full replacement gets underway.