Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials say additional cracks have been found on a bridge that connects two towns and has been closed since January.
Officials announced Tuesday during a news conference that two new cracks have developed on the 76-year-old bridge connecting Lexington and Purcell. The extra repair work is expected to cost an additional $1 million to $1.5 million, for a total project cost of about $15.5 million.
State Department of Transportation Executive Director Mike Patterson says the new repair work is not expected to delay the scheduled June 14 re-opening of the bridge.
Engineer Casey Shell says the new cracks are near what are known as gusset plates. He says that's the same area that failed in a Minnesota bridge collapse in 2007 that killed 13 people.
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