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[Scott5114]

OkDOT posted a new overhead on SB I-35 just upstream of the Main Street exit in Norman. "I-35/US-77 Left 3 Lanes".

This is not, nor has it ever been, US-77...........

[JMoses24]

OkDOT posted a new overhead on SB I-35 just upstream of the Main Street exit in Norman. "I-35/US-77 Left 3 Lanes".

This is not, nor has it ever been, US-77...........

Someone done messed up, because 77 of course has been off I-35 for roughly 4 miles by that point. That sign should have been posted in south OKC instead, say, upstream of I-240.

[rte66man]

After numerous delays, the contract to resurface Northwest Expressway from just east of the junction with the Kilpatrick east to the Hefner Parkway was on the final April 2019 Bid Opening list. About time.

[Bobby5280]

Long overdue. But boy is that construction project going to be painful. Traffic on NW Expressway out there can get pretty ridiculous.

[Plutonic Panda]

I’m surprised they haven’t widened NW express to six lanes through the Kilpatrick interchange. I cloverleaf or ParClove interchange should be considered for Kilpatrick interchange as well.

[Plutonic Panda]

I-35 will be expanded to six lanes between I-40 and I-44. I prefer alt 4 though I’m not crazy about the two frontage roads those can easily be converted. I like the expanded footprint which allows for a future expansion when needed.

All of the materials can be found here: https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20200218.html

[Bobby5280]

That's an overdue upgrade. It's a shame they can't make it 4 lanes in each direction the entire way from I-40 up to the I-44 interchange. That cramped stretch from NE 15th to NE 23rd is the bottleneck.

Removing the frontage roads would create additional space for more freeway main lanes (and shoulders). But it would come at the cost of creating a lot of long, dead-end streets in the Edwards Community neighborhood.

[rte66man]

I am really disappointed in the alternatives. Alt 4 is the worst. It has ramps exiting to frontage roads with poor sight lines just as you have on I35 north of I44.  Traffic can and will back up onto the main lanes.  They also blew the chance to use the TX method where you exit for the next street before the on ramp from the previous street. Alt 4 also appears to remove the rail line south from the Railway Museum. DO they really need that much ROW?  That's a LOT of house removal.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ haven’t you been on record here complaining OkDOT doesn’t plan ahead enough!? This ROW gives ample room for widening in the future. The two way frontage roads can easily be converted in the future.

Highly unlikely Alt. 4 is chosen unfortunately. What alternative would you have proposed? Six lanes seems good enough for now. Frontage roads will extended and reworked. Alt 2 has them one way. What do you want?

[Plutonic Panda]

I-40 through Del City will see some work with several bridges being completely reconstructed.

https://okcfox.com/news/local/odot-to-spend-82-million-fixing-crumbling-i-40-bridges

[okc1]

Note that the Del City work does not include the Sunnylane Rd bridge, which is also patched up. Hopefully that can be awarded soon to be included in the same time span.

[Plutonic Panda]

Note that the Del City work does not include the Sunnylane Rd bridge, which is also patched up. Hopefully that can be awarded soon to be included in the same time span.

Isn't that one on the two lane section of I-40 they plan on widening to 3?

[okc1]

Isn't that one on the two lane section of I-40 they plan on widening to 3?

No, it's immediately west of the 15th st bridge. On the 2-lane section, bridges over Anderson Rd will need replacement, as well as several overpasses.

[Plutonic Panda]

Isn't that one on the two lane section of I-40 they plan on widening to 3?

No, it's immediately west of the 15th st bridge. On the 2-lane section, bridges over Anderson Rd will need replacement, as well as several overpasses.

Yeah my mistake.

It looks like this stretch of I-40 is going be under construction for the better part of this entire decade. This project will likely take a year or two.

Then Sunnylane and a slew of other projects begin in 2025/26/27 to widen the freeway and redo the bridges. The interchange at I-35 is even due for some capacity upgrades on the 8yr plan. I-35 will be reconstructed from I-40 to I-44 along with its interchange at I-44 being completely reconstructed and reconfigured. Then I-40 will be widened East until the entire corridor is six lanes to Shawnee. So the I-40 expansion currently wrapping up essentially is a kick off to a long series of sporadic construction projects in this area so if you live here good luck.

Many projects are still planned on I-40 west which, I’m sure you know, OkDOT just reconstructed and widened. Still more projects on the way there too with Frisco road interchange to be redone this year.

OkDOT seriously needs a bigger budget as it is incredibly frustrating that it drags all of these projects out over a decade or more. It just means never ending construction on each road.

8 laning I-40 is even on ACOGs long term plan so that could happen in the 2030s or 40s.

PS, the section of I-40 closest to Tinker in between David Stanley is going require either acquisition of land(which is likely off the table) or a very complex widening which I think no such setup exists in Oklahoma. It will likely be partially buried similar to how the service roads are along US-75 in Dallas(central expressway). It will be expensive and isn’t even mentioned on the 8yr plan at all but it will be widened as there is no choice or else it becomes a bad bottleneck in the future. Another option is to bury it using a cut and cover and cap it with a park. I personally am excited for these possibilities as it will be a unique stretch of freeway but I don’t expect anything this decade.

Here is the 8year plan to see exact dates and costs:

https://www.odot.org/cwp-8-year-plan/cwp_ffy2020-ffy2027/8_year_cwp_divisionokc_map.pdf

[Plutonic Panda]

The details for next phase of the I-40 widening in the east OKC Metro have been released. Several bridges will be replaced/permanently removed, roundabout interchange added, and a small service road will be constructed near the Shawnee casino.

Link to a 3D visualization of the proposed project: https://clients.freese.com/ODOTI40PottawatomieCo//3D/ODOT%20Final%203D%20Visualization%20I40%207_23_2020.mp4

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=60881

[Plutonic Panda]

I-35 will be expanded to six lanes between I-40 and I-44. I prefer alt 4 though I’m not crazy about the two frontage roads those can easily be converted. I like the expanded footprint which allows for a future expansion when needed.

All of the materials can be found here: https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20200218.html

Not surprisingly, alternative 4 was removed from consideration and alt. 2 and 3 will move forward.

https://www.odot.org/meetings/a2020/200218/update.pdf

[Plutonic Panda]

Douglas BLVD/ I-40 interchange meeting was today.

https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20170117.html

Three alternatives

Alternative 1 - Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) -- A Single Point Urban Interchange is a basic diamond interchange with a single signalized central intersection in the center of the bridge. The Douglas Boulevard traffic along with the I-40 ramp traffic will converge to a single point utilizing the single set of traffic signals. The SPUI interchange accommodates large traffic volumes efficiently with minimal right-of-way impacts. I-40 will be improved to a six-lane facility. Through the interchange, Douglas Boulevard will consist of six through lanes, dual left-turn lanes, and right-turn lanes where needed. Entrance and exit ramp lanes will also be constructed along I-40. Collector-distributor roads will be removed and will not be re-constructed. See attached graphic of SPUI.

Alternative 2 - Tight Urban Diamond Interchange (TUDI) with Ramp Flyover – A Tight Urban Diamond Interchange is an interchange that compresses a standard diamond interchange. This design includes all four interchange ramps, as well as the option of adding a future flyover ramp for northbound Douglas Boulevard traffic destined for westbound I-40. The compressed interchange with the ramp flyover accommodates large traffic volumes efficiently by removing a heavy left turn movement from the interchange and the resulting footprint requires minimal right-of-way. I-40 will be improved to a six-lanes facility. Through the interchange, Douglas Boulevard will consist of six through lanes, dual left-turn lanes, and right-turn lanes where needed. Upon construction of the northbound to westbound ramp flyover, the northbound to westbound left-turn lanes on Douglas will be removed. Entrance and exit ramp lanes will also be constructed along I-40. Collector-distributor roads will be removed and will not be re-constructed. See attached graphic of TUDI.

Alternative 3 - Cloverleaf Interchange – The existing cloverleaf will be completely reconstructed to accommodate widening I-40 to a six-lane facility. All ramps and both collector-distributor roads will be reconstructed. Through the interchange, Douglas Boulevard will consist of four through lanes, two lanes for loop ramp weaving, two additional lanes located in the median which can be used in the future for left turning traffic, and entrance and exit lanes where needed. Entrance and exit ramp lanes will also be constructed along I-40. See attached graphic of the new cloverleaf.

Personally I prefer option 2 because I'm a fan of flyovers and it takes less space than a cloverleaf and hate cloverleafs in general.

Alternative 1 has been selected as the preferred alternative.

https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20170117.html

[Plutonic Panda]

Good news for the 281/66 bridge in Canadian county.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5671383/state-receives-22-million-grant-to-reconstruct-historic-bridge-on-route-66?fbclid=IwAR1M9gf9_AIkrFe4IqG66PnO20EC92Pga0OIptFggKj-eyUwJBbdk5D2S-I

[Plutonic Panda]

I was browsing around the new OkDOT website and found this schematic of the proposed SH-9/I-35 south interchange:



https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/build-grants/mcclain-county-i-35-and-sh-9w-interchange.html

[Plutonic Panda]

Another section of US-77 is proposed to be widened through Lexington

All alternatives include widening the road to a minimum of 4 lanes.

• Alternative 1 – realigns SH-39 through Veterans Park to create a new signalized intersection at US-77
• Alternative 2 – realigns SH-39 through Veterans Park to create a roundabout intersection at US-77
• Alternative 3 – realigns SH-39 north along 3rd Street to create a new signalized intersection with US-77

https://us77lexington.transportationplanroom.com/

[rte66man]

^^^^^

If you look at the alternatives, most of them greatly restrict access to the widened highway, especially Alternative 3.  Wonder what the citizens of Lexington think of that.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah it appears OkDOTs goal is to move traffic through this town rather than interact with it too much. I am not familiar with this area at all other than when I drive through here in I-35. Is there really that much traffic on this road?

[rte66man]

Yeah it appears OkDOTs goal is to move traffic through this town rather than interact with it too much. I am not familiar with this area at all other than when I drive through here in I-35. Is there really that much traffic on this road?

I haven't looked at the AADT but I know numerous intersections are unsafe as angles restrict the driver's vision to the point there are many bad accidents. That's a good enough reason IMO to make the changes.

[Scott5114]

I was browsing around the new OkDOT website and found this schematic of the proposed SH-9/I-35 south interchange:



https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/build-grants/mcclain-county-i-35-and-sh-9w-interchange.html

$18 million for a new ramp into the Riverwind parking lot (the Chickasaws coughed up $1.6 million). Fun stuff.

Also, the application document talks of "supporting economic vitatlity" and "I-35 at SH-6 Interchange Improvements". Sadly, there's no discussion of whether the new consturction bypass will elimitante the truck trarffic.

[rte66man]

Interesting. The ramp changes will theoretically make it easier to convert WB OK9 to a freeway in the future.