James C. Nance Memorial Bridge

James C. Nance Memorial Bridge
The Nance Bridge as seen from the Purcell train station.
Coordinates	35°0′51″N 97°21′10″W / 35.01417°N 97.35278°W / 35.01417; -97.35278Coordinates: 35°0′51″N 97°21′10″W / 35.01417°N 97.35278°W / 35.01417; -97.35278
US Highway 77 Bridge at Canadian River
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	US-77 / SH-39 over the Canadian R, Lexington, Oklahoma
Coordinates	35°0′54″N 97°20′38″W / 35.01500°N 97.34389°W / 35.01500; -97.34389
Area	3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Built	1938
Architectural style	Other, Deck Truss Bridge
NRHP Reference #	03000882
Added to NRHP	September 2, 2003
Carries	2 lanes of US-77 / SH-39
Crosses	Canadian River
Locale	Purcell-Lexington, Oklahoma
Maintained by	Oklahoma Department of Transportation
ID number	06593
Characteristics
Design	Deck truss
Total length	1,110.1 metres (3,642 ft)
History
Opened	1938

35°0′51″N 97°21′10″W / 35.01417°N 97.35278°W / 35.01417; -97.35278Coordinates: 35°0′51″N 97°21′10″W / 35.01417°N 97.35278°W / 35.01417; -97.35278

The James C. Nance Memorial Bridge is a deck truss bridge crossing the Canadian River between Purcell and Lexington, Oklahoma. The bridge carries U.S. Route 77 (US-77) and Oklahoma State Highway 39 (SH-39) from McClain County to Cleveland County. The bridge is named for James C. Nance, longtime newspaper publisher and former member of the Oklahoma Legislature.

The 1938 construction of this bridge, one of the longest in the state, was instrumental in the development of Purcell as a retail and employment hub for the "Heart of Oklahoma" trade area comprising Purcell, Lexington, Washington, Wayne, Payne, Slaughterville, Dibble, Cole, Wanette, Goldsby, Byars, Paoli and Rosedale. Traffic using the bridge allows trade and commerce to freely flow in this retail trade area hub of southern McClain County, southern Cleveland County, Southern Pottawatomie County, and northern area of Garvin County, and eastern portion of Grady county.