OTTAWA COUNTY, Okla. — Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, released a statement on Wednesday about the accumulation on the US-60 bridge over the Neosho River in Ottawa County.  

Driftwood, logs, and debris continue to pile up over the Neosho River on the US-60 bridge near Wyandotte after a weekend round of heavy rains.

Bashore learned the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is monitoring the water elevations and the amount of drift build-up but has no immediate concern with the bridge’s structural integrity.

“We are still looking for solutions,” said T.J. Gerlach, ODOT spokesman referring to removing he logs and debris.

“I have reiterated to the Grand River Dam Authority and ODOT that these concerns are the utmost importance and must be considered as such,” Bashore said in a prepared statement. “Years of flooding and the continuation of flooding impact more than waterways. It also threatens homes, roadways and other infrastructure throughout our district, as well as businesses and our very way of life. These state agencies must work together to find a solution.”

The debris pile and logs appear to be mostly floating on top of the water.

He said that allows water to continue to flow downstream and does reduce the upstream flooding potential.

Bashore said any removal process will need to be done from the water, and the water will need to recede before that can be evaluated further.  

The current river forecast shows the water should begin receding the evening of May 2, but additional rain could change that forecast.