Oklahoma City will build a pedestrian bridge with a 72-foot illuminated arch over the Oklahoma River. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 13, to commit up to $4 million in voter-approved bond funds to the $23 million project.
The bridge is part of a wave of riverfront improvements aimed at transforming the area before the 2028 Olympic canoe slalom events, as The Oklahoman reported.
The city's $4 million covers the arch and other aesthetic features. A $20 million federal transportation grant administered through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) funds the rest, according to The Oklahoman.
Debbie Miller, the city's public works director, said the federal grant more than covers the bridge itself. "The remaining amount will go toward the aesthetics, which will run about $3.3 million," Miller said, according to The Oklahoman. "The (bond) money will be available to cover any contingencies."
The 30-foot-wide bridge will sit near the Lincoln Boulevard crossing, just past the finish line of the river's race course. Its arch will be lit in a style similar to the Skydance bridge over Interstate 40. Bridge railings will feature images reflecting rowing and other activities along the waterway, Miller said.
Miller said the bridge should be finished by May 2028. She could not guarantee the arch will also be complete before the Olympics begin.
Mayor David Holt said the bridge will create a "stadium wrapping around our river course," according to The Oklahoman. He noted that spectators currently stand on the Lincoln Boulevard bridge to watch events and will now have a safer pedestrian crossing with views on both sides of the river.
The project grew out of discussions about building a pedestrian crossing as part of the reconstruction of the Interstate 35 bridges over the river. Holt thanked highway engineers for working with the city to relocate the pedestrian bridge next to the Lincoln crossing so it could double as an event amenity, according to The Oklahoman.
The vote was unanimous.
The bridge is one piece of a larger overhaul along the river. Other projects starting soon include terrace seating with shade, restrooms and concessions at Riversport OKC. A low-water dam will extend the Oklahoma River lakes east of Eastern Avenue. Decorative panels are also planned for the Eastern Avenue bridge. The low-water dam and beautification projects are funded through MAPS 4.
Kayla Copeland, a landscape architect with Copeland Design Collective, said during a presentation earlier this year that improvements along Reno Avenue will focus on the median and overpass west of where Lincoln Boulevard connects to river attractions. Planned work includes a serpentine sculpture, native rocks and plantings.
The planned crossing will add to pedestrian connections along the Oklahoma River. A separate, 614-foot pedestrian bridge north of OKANA Resort & Waterpark opened in September 2025, connecting to the Greenway River Trail.
