Preserving a Route 66 landmark in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

A new bridge supporting a century of American history

Route 66 has never been just a highway.

Since 1926 it has connected cities, small towns, roadside businesses, and generations of travelers across more than 2,400 miles. Known as the “Mother Road” and “Main Street USA”, it became a symbol of movement, opportunity, and the freedom to see what waited beyond the next horizon.

As Route 66 approached its centennial, the City of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, began preparing to preserve one of its most important local landmarks: Rock Creek Bridge No. 18. Roadrunner Bridge was selected to provide a new pedestrian bridge for the surrounding park, helping visitors experience the historic structure while protecting the original bridge for future generations.

The project

Rock Creek Bridge No. 18 sits along the historic Ozark Trail, part of the original 1926 Route 66 alignment through Sapulpa.

The nearly century-old bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains an important piece of the city’s identity. As Sapulpa prepared for the 100th anniversary of Route 66, city leaders wanted to create a destination that would honor the bridge, improve visitor access, and strengthen the Route 66 experience throughout the community.

The city received a $2 million grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission and committed additional local funding to support the preservation and park improvement project.

The challenge

The project required a new crossing that could support public access without competing visually with the historic bridge. The new bridge needed to:

• Fit naturally within the surrounding park
• Provide a safe and accessible pedestrian route
• Complement the existing historic structure
• Support long-term outdoor use
• Reflect the craftsmanship and durability associated with American steel bridges
• Be installed efficiently without creating unnecessary disruption around the landmark

The solution had to feel intentional. It could not look like an afterthought placed beside a piece of history.

The Roadrunner solution

Roadrunner Bridge provided a 7 foot wide by 20 foot long steel trail bridge for the park.

The bridge created a central pedestrian walkway that allows visitors to move through the site while keeping the historic Rock Creek Bridge No. 18 as the visual centerpiece.

Its prefabricated steel construction allowed the bridge to be manufactured with controlled quality, delivered to the site, and installed efficiently. The finished structure supports the park’s long-term use while maintaining a clean, understated presence beside the original bridge.

Rather than trying to imitate the historic structure, the Roadrunner bridge serves as a respectful companion to it: modern, durable, and distinctly American-made.

A personal connection to the Mother Road

The project carried special meaning for Roadrunner Bridge co-founder Dan Thompson.

Thompson grew up in Tulsa and West Tulsa, and his family has lived on or within a few blocks of Route 66 for most of the last century.

That connection made the Sapulpa project more than another installation. It became an opportunity to contribute to a place that shaped his family’s history, and to support a community preparing to welcome Route 66 travelers from around the world.

Built for the next chapter

The new pedestrian bridge is part of a larger effort to turn the Rock Creek Bridge site into a meaningful Route 66 destination.

With improvements planned throughout downtown Sapulpa, the Route 66 corridor, and the surrounding park, the project is expected to add lasting value to the city’s tourism experience. Visitors will be able to stop, explore the site, learn about the historic bridge, and experience a surviving section of the original Route 66 alignment.

The Roadrunner bridge helps make that experience possible by improving access without overshadowing the landmark itself.

Honoring 100 years of American infrastructure

Rock Creek Bridge No. 18 has stood for nearly 100 years.

Its longevity reflects the craftsmanship, materials, and determination that helped build Route 66 and connect the country during one of the most important periods in American transportation history.

Roadrunner Bridge is proud to support that legacy with a new American-made steel bridge designed to serve the park and its visitors for decades to come. The project represents two eras of bridge building standing side by side: one preserving the past, and one carrying its story forward.

Results

The completed Roadrunner bridge:

• Improved pedestrian access throughout the park
• Supported preservation of the historic bridge
• Added a durable public-use structure to the site
• Complemented the Route 66 centennial improvements
• Helped create a stronger visitor experience
• Reinforced Sapulpa’s position as a key stop along Route 66

A bridge between past and future

Route 66 was built on the idea that the road ahead was worth exploring. A century later, communities like Sapulpa are working to make sure that story is not lost.

Roadrunner Bridge is honored to have played a small role in preserving one of the Mother Road’s historic landmarks and helping prepare it for the next generation of travelers.