Norman residents will vote on a bridge maintenance bond program Oct. 10 that would provide $50 million for the replacement, repair and rehabilitation of up to 18 bridges across the city.
Early voting takes place Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The city of Norman is solely responsible for the maintenance of 80 bridges, a quarter of which were constructed prior to 1950, and 300 culvert crossings, according to a press release about the election. By federal law, each of the city’s 80 bridges receives a detailed inspection and evaluation every two years.
“Bridges connect our community,” Shawn O’Leary, director of public works, wrote in the release. “As no sustainable and consistent funding source for bridge replacement or major rehabilitation currently exists in Norman, discussions regarding a City of Norman Bridge Maintenance Bond Program began in Fall 2022.”
The vote will include a proposal for a 10-year, $50 million program and contingency funding for unexpected changes in priority due to emergencies, according to O’Leary.
Four major bridge failures have occurred in Norman since 2016. Some of the 20 bridges that need repair or renovation include Havenbrook Street bridge, West Main Street bridge, Imhoff Road bridge and 60th Ave. NE bridge.
“We are looking forward to opportunities to share the importance of reliable infrastructure in our community as we draw closer to the October vote,” O’Leary wrote in the release.
Norman compiled outlined projects, located in every ward, using detailed bridge inspection data from a third-party engineering firm.
In addition to creating more “reliable” bridge infrastructure for travel, the passage of the proposition would also include an increase in property taxes over a minimum period of 20 years if the program is approved by Norman voters, according to the release.
General estimates per month include $2.44 for a $100,000 home, $5.10 for a $200,000 home and $7.75 for a $300,000 home.
The Norman city council presented the proposition based on community feedback from a survey in July 2023 and set the proposition for Norman residents to vote during a public meeting on Aug. 8. Residents can contact the Cleveland County Election Board or Oklahoma State Election Board for more voting information.
This story was edited by Alexia Aston, Taylor Jones and Peggy Dodd. Avery Avery and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
