SPECIAL REPORT
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
18 Pages, Viewable Online or Downloadable as a PDF — GO TO THIS PAGE
The Midland Valley Bridge
Originally a railroad bridge, the circa 1905 Midland Valley Bridge was converted (in the 1970s) into a highly popular Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge once was called “key to the recreation potential of Tulsa’s stretch of the Arkansas River.” At the 1975 dedication, it was said the bridge “could serve as a symbol of the river itself” (these quotes are from Ann Patton’s book The Tulsa River). Unfortunately, despite strong public resistance and solid evidence that the bridge could have been kept in use for many future generations, saving both HISTORY AND SHADE at tremendous SAVINGS of public funds, demolition of the bridge began in June 2021.
The original, highly popular bridge, with its pleasant qualities, historic significance, and truly unique character, COULD and SHOULD have been saved. There is a tremendous amount of information on this site, carefully gathered, to that effect.
Video: “We are FOOLS for tearing that down”
A UNIQUE HISTORIC AND SHADED BRIDGE
The design as incorporated into the historical railroad bridge was noteworthy from a creative-design architectural standpoint. Credit goes to Memphis architect Roy Harrover…
“The idea had been to remove the old tracks and replace them with a walking path, but ‘Harrover said, you can’t do that. Take out the braces and build the trail underneath the structure, so people don’t have to climb a ladder to get to the walkway, and they can walk out of the sun. It was a brilliant solution,’ remembered Len Eaton.” (The Tulsa River by Ann Patton, page 33.)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: HISTORIC CONSULTATION WAS DENIED — This was the last article published prior to the start of the bridge’s demolition.
*SUPPORTIVE STATEMENTS *** HISTORY ON THE LINE*
A FRONT-PAGE MAKING PETITION TO SAVE THE BRIDGE
Few petitions make the front page of a newspaper, but the petition to save the Midland Valley Bridge did exactly that, in the Tulsa World, just one month after being started. Why? In part, at least, because the large public demand to save the bridge FAR exceeded the literal number of petition signers (over 2,100 and counting when the demolition began, with hundreds of moving petition comments).
LINK TO VIEW PETITION (NOW CLOSED)
LAST PETITION UPDATE, JUNE 5, 2021:
“Thanks to all signers! Thank you for the many meaningful petition comments! The Midland Valley Bridge should not be demolished, we know, but the City of Tulsa has not listened to the continuing public demand and has now begun demolition. This bridge’s demolition will, unfortunately, be to their historic shame. The petition is now being closed. If you would like more information down the road, feel free to visit PedBridge.com or to write to savepedbridge@gmail.com. All the best to all. God bless!”
ALSO SEE:
1-PAGE FLYER ABOUT PARED-DOWN REPLACEMENT BRIDGE
See also the following article:
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Save the Midland Valley Bridge 
