News – Save the Midland Valley Bridge

This page has numerous links to informative articles and video clips.

Special Informational Handout

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

December 2021:

“Willful Destruction” Bridge Letter Listed in Top Five for the Year

https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/columnists/bob-doucette-have-a-look-at-the-top-10-letters-to-the-editor-sent-to/article_f3d0e862-5f6b-11ec-b4fa-abd461024840.html

Newest Video

“IN THEIR OWN WORDS (While Misleading and Failing the Public)”

Article on False Bridge Claims by City

MIDLAND VALLEY MYTHS (Includes video of Mr. Zachary)

Bridge Manager and Inspector Gives Feedback

Originally on the Pedestrian Bridge Info Tulsa Facebook page; also see pages 7 and 8 of the Essential Info Handout.

Michael Wallis Supports Saving Bridge

Statement in Tulsa World & TV Interview

Batesline Full Article

http://www.batesline.com/archives/2020/12/midland-valley-pedestrian-bridge.html

Selected quote 1:

“The Midland Valley bridge is an early Tulsa example of adaptive reuse of historic resources. Tulsa has an unfortunate pattern of preferring to demolish history and build from scratch; this bridge stands as a testament that a better way is possible.”

Selected quote 2:

“It’s funny, too, that Zachary is excited about a new bridge with a 75-year design life to replace a bridge that has been standing for about 110 years.”

TULSA WORLD DEC. 9 FRONT PAGE STORY

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/petition-seeks-to-halt-demolition-of-pedestrian-bridge-over-arkansas-river/article_61671bfe-398d-11eb-8cd2-afcb2268c468.html

Article on pages A1 and A4 — *Note, in the article, the admission that “trail width” influenced the decision to demolish the original bridge. Compare this with the previous narrative about “structural soundness” and there being no choice but to build a new bridge. The public was not told the truth and time is running out to halt this unjust demolition.

Selected quote 1:

“…what we had to realize was, if we did rebuild it being the way it was, we would still have a substandard trail width for the pedestrians and not necessarily the (required space) for bicyclists up on top.” —Paul Zachary

Selected quote 2:

“We don’t want a senseless demolition which should not be a foregone conclusion to take place. That’s what we do not want.”

SELECTED VIDEOS

Video with Mayor Bynum saying “wood is decayed and needs to be replaced”

Video with City Council deceptively not showing citizens’ video to save the bridge

News clip from 2018 (KOTV) with Mayor Bynum (falsely) saying it’s less expensive to build new, “impossible” quote, and that the original bridge is “about to fall apart”

KOTV ARTICLE

CLICK HERE

Selected quote:

“If they don’t demolish it and give it chance, we might end up with a great, historic bridge, we could have a 200 year bridge,” Pinkey said.