Toll Bridge Historical Timeline
2004
March 2004: The official announcement in Bixby of a privately funded $45 million toll bridge across the Arkansas River receives rousing support from state, county and local officials. Bixby Mayor Joe Williams, Vice Mayor Patty Ferree, Tulsa County Commissioners Bob Dick and Randi Miller, state Sen. Nancy Riley of Tulsa, and state Reps. Ron Peterson, R-Tulsa, and Fred Perry, R-Tulsa, all voice support for the project.
July 2004: Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s office says it is legal for Tulsa County to contract with a private company to build and operate a private toll bridge. (Sen. Nancy Riley of Tulsa asked for the opinion.)
2005
February 14, 2005: Tulsa County commissioners give tentative approval to a privately financed toll bridge across the Arkansas River in southern Tulsa County.
May 9, 2005: STCC held a public meeting and put out the first newsletter on the problems with the bridge.
June 14, 2005: Tulsa County commissioners approve a 75-year franchise agreement with Infrastructure Ventures Inc. to build and operate a toll bridge with the understanding that the county can condemn city land if necessary to support the project.
June 27, 2005: The South Tulsa Citizens Coalition files a District Court challenge of Tulsa County’s agreement with IVI to build a toll bridge.
June 28, 2005: The City of Tulsa’s Board of Adjustment unanimously denied IVI’s zoning variance to use land at 121st and Yale for the stockpiling of dirt and bridge construction materials. STCC’s presence and public opposition at this meeting were instrumental in the denial.
July 7, 2005: Tulsa city councilors voted to approve a resolution opposing a private toll bridge.
July 12, 2005: The City Attorney issued his formal legal opinion stating that the County cannot exercise eminent domain over City property.
July 14, 2005: Mayor Bill LaFortune approved the City Council’s resolution to oppose the toll bridge.
November 30, 2005: District Judge Rebecca Nightingale upholds the county commissioners’ agreement with IVI to build and operate a toll bridge over the Arkansas River.
December 30, 2005: STCC files an appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
2006
February 6, 2006: Jenks approves a 75-year agreement with IVI to build the bridge.
February 9, 2006: When 180-day timetable to start construction expires the Tulsa County Commission bows out of its contract with IVI so Jenks can partner with the Tulsa company to build the toll bridge.
February 15, 2006: The South Tulsa Citizens Coalition sues Jenks and IVI in district court.
March 10, 2006: Tulsa’s Legal Department releases an opinion that Jenks doesn’t have the authority to build the bridge or the power to condemn land owned by Tulsa to support the project.
July 24, 2006: Bixby accepts “beneficiary interest” in the Arkansas River Bridge Authority, partnering with Jenks to form a public trust.
August 8, 2006: Jenks and Bixby Bridge Authority is finalized.
September 14, 2006: Since the cities of Bixby and Jenks formed the Arkansas River Bridge Authority, the City of Jenks terminated the existing Toll Bridge Agreement. The City of Jenks and the new Authority entered into a new agreement with IVI called the Arkansas River Bridge Project Agreement. It is basically the same agreement just with the Authority as a party. Because of these updates, it was necessary for STCC to amend our lawsuit and file it again.
November 13, 2006: Jenks approves the annexation of a part of the Arkansas River at the site of the proposed toll bridge.
December 20, 2006: District Judge David Peterson denies a request to dismiss the South Tulsa Citizens Coalition’s suit and says a bridge should go to a public vote.
2007
February 13, 2007: Judge Gordon McAllister denied the City of Jenks and Infrastructure Ventures, Inc.’s motion to reconsider former Judge David Peterson’s prior order denying them summary judgment. Judge McAllister’s ruling confirms former Judge Peterson’s ruling that the proposed South Tulsa toll bridge should go to a vote of the people.
March 10, 2007: STCC learns that IVI received a legal opinion in March 2004 stipulating that the construction of a toll bridge should go to the vote of the people. It clearly proves that IVI has known all along that they cannot construct and operate a private toll bridge with the City of Jenks without a vote of the people and not for a period longer than 25 years.
March 16, 2007: STCC and Tulsa City Councilor Bill Christiansen hold a joint press conference to announce a new toll bridge alignment proposal.
April 9, 2007: Judge Gordon McAllister handed down a ruling against STCC by finding in favor of the City of Jenks and IVI on all counts except those dealing with eminent domain (which he ruled are not yet ripe for ruling, e.g. condemnation proceedings must commence before he will hear those arguments). In a previous ruling, Judge David Peterson stated that the issues surrounding the bridge must be submitted to a vote of the people and now Judge McAllister (a trial judge, not an appellate judge) has reversed Judge Petersen’s findings and rules in favor of the City of Jenks and IVI. STCC has the option to appeal this ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
April 24, 2007: STCC holds a town hall meeting and announces that they will appeal Tulsa County District Judge Gordon McAllister's ruling and that legally they have two more opportunities -- the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals and the Oklahoma Supreme Court -- to reverse Judge McAllister's ruling.
May 17, 2007: STCC files it's appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
May 18, 2007: IVI files an application with the Army Corps of Engineers for an Environmental Water Quality Permit
July 25, 2007: The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (“ODEQ”) and in turn the Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) denies Infrastructure Venture I, LLC’s (“IVI”) application to construct the South Tulsa toll bridge.
August 13, 2007: The Oklahoma Supreme Court granted the City of Jenks and IVI’s motion to retain STCC’s appeal. That is, the Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear STCC’s appeal and will not hand our appeal down to the Oklahoma Court of Appeals (as is usually the case). The decision means that no appeals of the ruling are possible -- the ruling is final.
To view a detailed history of the toll bridge, click on the "In The News" link at the top of this page. There you can view news items and other information within the archives.