en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved the latest County Improvement for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) plan for fiscal years 2027 to 2031 on July 13, 2026. Overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), the plan covers all 77 counties in the state and is expected to invest nearly $950 million in upgrading non-state-maintained county roads and bridges.

According to the plan, 238 county bridges will be rebuilt or repaired over the next five years, including 105 currently classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Additionally, 808 miles (approximately 1,300 kilometers) of county roads will be improved. The plan includes a project supported by a competitive highway and bridge program grant to rebuild the Belford Bridge over the Arkansas River in Pawnee County, along with two other bridges.

ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz stated: "We are proud to work with county commissioners to advance infrastructure improvements that have a lasting impact on communities across the state. With continued support from the Commission and the Legislature, these investments will enhance safety, improve mobility, and strengthen county road and bridge infrastructure for future generations."

Oklahoma has an extensive highway network, with a significant number of county roads and bridges facing maintenance pressures due to years of disrepair. The approval of this CIRB plan represents one of the state's larger infrastructure investments in recent years, aimed at improving transportation conditions in rural and remote areas, providing safer and more efficient travel environments for local residents, while supporting regional economic development through infrastructure.