Rogers County Commissioners Approve Funds

Commissioners approve $800,000 for Winganon Causeway project

The Rogers County Board of County Commissioners approved an $800,000 invoice recently submitted by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT).

This is the matching fund responsibility of Rogers County that will be paid from the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) funds. CIRB is a state-funded program through ODOT which provides funding for the highest priority of county roads or bridges needing construction or reconstruction. The statewide CIRB program is a savings account that allows counties to save and build up funds over five-year periods. It often takes road and bridge projects that long — if not longer — to plan.

Former chairman, Commissioner Steve Hendrix of District 2 reminded the public during the last meeting of 2022 that the BOCC passed a previous resolution to proceed with the Winganon Causeway Disaster Proclamation project. The need for the project stems from the flood of 2019 that impacted much of the county. This causeway –– largely located in District 2 and some in District 1 –– has also experienced several flooding events and emergency repairs over the past several years resulting in loss of subgrade, riprap, and settlement.

Next steps for Winganon Causeway project

The scope of work provided by Kellogg Engineering includes reconstruction of approximately four miles of roadway on EW Road from U.S. Highway 169 to the causeway. The causeway will remain open during construction, with a temporary offset alignment shoofly and/or phased construction will be implemented.

The resolution must go before the Office of Surface Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. According to Hendrix, the Federal Highway Administration still must pass a resolution to initiate the March letting of the project.

The cost will be determined at some time after bids are received. A construction date will follow once a construction company has been selected.