107 year old railroad bridge accommodates automobile traffic February 22, 10:33 AM by Janet Raines, Oklahoma City Day Trips Examiner Photo by Danzil Raines Lets get off the beaten path today and travel the backroads. South east of Oklahoma City is a railroad bridge that crosses the South Canadian River between the towns of Wanette and Byars, Oklahoma. Constructed in 1902 before statehood this railroad bridge was built to serve Indian Territory and Pottawatomie County for a rail line that that went from Newkirk to Pauls Valley. Although the trains do not run in this area and no longer across the bridge it has remained an asset to the community. Today this bridge of steel that spans 780-feet allows one-way automobile traffic to connect the towns of Wanette and Byers. It is a unique experience to be able to drive across a railroad bridge that is over 100 years old and to imagine the hours of hard labor that went into the construction without the use of todays high powered cranes and machinery. I would imagine that the steel was brought in by rail to a certain point and then had to be moved by horse drawn wagons the reminder of the way. To get to bridge take I-40 east out of Oklahoma City to Exit 178 then head south on Hwy 102 to the town of Wanette and follow Drummond Road as it curves west and across the river. For the motorcycle rider this would make a great road trip through the country.
