James C. Nance Memorial Bridge

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.