Question about the construction at I-44 and US-169 (Tulsa)

[Scott5114]

A new cloverleaf interchange is going to be built on I-44 in Chickasha for the new US-81 bypass. I think construction on that starts in the next year or two.

It is kind of insane that Oklahoma is still building cloverleaf interchanges in the 21st century.

[BigOkie]

Since it's finished now I thought I'd throw up an updated overhead view (even though this one was before completion it was pretty close; the image is dated Oct 2023).

[sprjus4]

A new cloverleaf interchange is going to be built on I-44 in Chickasha for the new US-81 bypass. I think construction on that starts in the next year or two.

It is kind of insane that Oklahoma is still building cloverleaf interchanges in the 21st century.

A cloverleaf interchange in a low volume, rural area with C/D ramps is acceptable, IMO. North Carolina has built a few in the past decade or two, including near urban areas.

The important piece is the C/D ramps though... without those you're introduce even the smallest amount of conflict when a vehicle entering at 25 mph encounters 75 mph traffic.

[Bobby5280]

I haven't seen a detailed schematic of the US-81 bypass in Chickasha. But I'm pretty sure its interchange with I-44 is not going to include C/D ramps. The interchange should include C/D ramps for the sake of safety. I just don't think ODOT and OTA are going to spend the extra money for such a thing. After all, the US-81 bypass itself is going to be a (mostly) limited access Super-2 in its initial configuration and then expand to a 4-lane divided freeway in the future.

I don't like cloverleaf interchanges, but in semi-rural locations what other kinds of interchanges between two limited access highways could be built? A 4-level directional stack in Chickasha would be quite an extravagance. A pinwheel interchange could be a less expensive option than a stack, but it would still cost quite a lot more to build than a cloverleaf due to all the additional bridges and graded berms needed for the four interior spiral ramps.

[sprjus4]

I haven't seen a detailed schematic of the US-81 bypass in Chickasha. But I'm pretty sure its interchange with I-44 is not going to include C/D ramps. The interchange should include C/D ramps for the sake of safety. I just don't think ODOT and OTA are going to spend the extra money for such a thing. After all, the US-81 bypass itself is going to be a (mostly) limited access Super-2 in its initial configuration and then expand to a 4-lane divided freeway in the future.

I don't like cloverleaf interchanges, but in semi-rural locations what other kinds of interchanges between two limited access highways could be built? A 4-level directional stack in Chickasha would be quite an extravagance. A pinwheel interchange could be a less expensive option than a stack, but it would still cost quite a lot more to build than a cloverleaf due to all the additional bridges and graded berms needed for the four interior spiral ramps.

I did some digging and I found a project page from 2022, and then there was an Access Justification Report on there with signing plans on PDF 34-35. It appears there will be a single exit for both directions, then two individual exits for both I-44 and US-81, which would imply C/D lanes. Other traffic memos also show a split roadway there for both highways.

Project Page: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2022/grady_county_us-81_realignment.html

Access Justification Report: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/federal-grants/mpdg/2022/grady-county-us-81-realignment/reports-and-technical-information/Access%20Justification%20Report.pdf

[rte66man]

I haven't seen a detailed schematic of the US-81 bypass in Chickasha. But I'm pretty sure its interchange with I-44 is not going to include C/D ramps. The interchange should include C/D ramps for the sake of safety. I just don't think ODOT and OTA are going to spend the extra money for such a thing. After all, the US-81 bypass itself is going to be a (mostly) limited access Super-2 in its initial configuration and then expand to a 4-lane divided freeway in the future.

I don't like cloverleaf interchanges, but in semi-rural locations what other kinds of interchanges between two limited access highways could be built? A 4-level directional stack in Chickasha would be quite an extravagance. A pinwheel interchange could be a less expensive option than a stack, but it would still cost quite a lot more to build than a cloverleaf due to all the additional bridges and graded berms needed for the four interior spiral ramps.

I did some digging and I found a project page from 2022, and then there was an Access Justification Report on there with signing plans on PDF 34-35. It appears there will be a single exit for both directions, then two individual exits for both I-44 and US-81, which would imply C/D lanes. Other traffic memos also show a split roadway there for both highways.

Project Page: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/mpdg-grants/mpdg-2022/grady_county_us-81_realignment.html

Access Justification Report: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/federal-grants/mpdg/2022/grady-county-us-81-realignment/reports-and-technical-information/Access%20Justification%20Report.pdf

Full c/d lanes for both. Access Justification Report p31:

The proposed access is part of the 8.24-mile US-81 project west of Chickasha. It is a cloverleaf full
interchange with collector-distributor roads that accommodate all basic movements needed for the
proposed interchange.

[Bobby5280]

That's a pleasant surprise. The C/D lanes would barrier-separate the slower, weaving traffic using the cloverleaf ramps from the I-44 thru traffic that is going upwards of 80mph or even faster on the main lanes. I wonder if C/D lanes will be built only alongside I-44 or built along both I-44 and the US-81 bypass. I'm guessing probably not for the latter.

It's too bad the cloverleaf interchange at I-44 and the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Extension wasn't built with C/D lanes. It doesn't look like those kinds of lanes could be added into the existing interchange either.

[sprjus4]

That's a pleasant surprise. The C/D lanes would barrier-separate the slower, weaving traffic using the cloverleaf ramps from the I-44 thru traffic that is going upwards of 80mph or even faster on the main lanes. I wonder if C/D lanes will be built only alongside I-44 or built along both I-44 and the US-81 bypass. I'm guessing probably not for the latter.

The signage / schematic plans shows both highways will have C/D roadways.

[bugo]

Cloverleafs are not acceptable in 2024, period.

[Plutonic Panda]

They shouldn't be built at all IMO.

[DJStephens]

C and D roadways make them acceptable in rural locations, where there is land availab le for an expansive interchange.   Believe they were constructed at several locations on the I-269 southern leg of the Memphis loop.