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[Scott5114]

That is the one bright spot, as it eliminates two curb cuts (the exit from Riverwind's north valet, which has always been pretty dodgy, and one of the entrances/exits to Love's). If SH-9 were converted to freeway, you would have to figure out how to tie Adkins Hill Road into it, as well as run a ramp from I-35 NB to the new roundabout (I suppose you could realign Adkins Hill to tie into the new ramp they're adding).

There is still one curb cut that needs to be removed between there and the light at Bankers, and that's the entrance to Riverwind north valet. I suppose ODOT could just buy out access and Riverwind could use that money to connect the valet to the Bankers lot. Or they could just permanently close north valet; they often only have south valet open anyway. Then put in interchanges at Bankers and 24th St/Santa Fe, and run Texas-style frontage roads between the two, and now you're cooking...

One improvement that should be considered for the area is a pedestrian bridge between Riverwind and Love's, as there is a sort of strange amount of foot traffic between the two. I say strange because there's not a whole lot at Love's that you can't get at Riverwind that would make sense for someone on foot to be seeking out, but I guess there are people without rides that lose all their money at Riverwind and then chill out at Love's afterward. For whatever reason, there's been a decent number of accidents and near-misses, and it'd probably be in everyone's best interest for that bridge to be there (especially if the Chickasaws and Love's would be willing to contribute toward it).

[notassociated]

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

And, you know, the land stolen from them.

[Scott5114]

Having worked for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Commerce for 10 years (including 4 of those years at Riverwind), I can safely say it's still as much corporate welfare as if you ran a ramp straight into a Walmart parking lot. The only difference is what the profits are spent on.

[SoonerCowboy]

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

That would be awesome, if they could make that a freeway, to link up to the HE Bailey spur, and eventually OK9 to the east to link up to the Kickapoo turnpike.

[Bobby5280]

The proposed improvements to the I-35/OK-9 interchange by Riverwind Casino look like a decent start. The relocation of the traffic signal with OK-9 and S Harvey Street/NW 12th Avenue would provide more room to build high speed, freeway-to-freeway ramps between I-35 and OK-9 to the West of I-35.

The problem for OK-9 remains that ROW is somewhat cramped going farther West of I-35 between the casino and other businesses on the North and South sides of the current 4-lane undivided highway. It would be a really super tight squeeze in a few spots to build a grade-level 4-lane freeway flanked by frontage roads. The current drainage ditches would have to be reconfigured, maybe even tunneled underneath the new road.

ODOT (or OTA) could take a different approach similar to the TX-146 project in Kemah, TX. Build an elevated 4-lane freeway (or toll road) structure above a reconfigured OK-9 surface boulevard. That concept would probably cost more money, but it would also ensure high speed connections between OK-9 and I-35 and do more to filter surface street access to the two super highways.

I really would like to see an all-limited-access connection between the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and I-35 South of Norman. A limited access connection from the H.E. Bailey Turnpike thru or around Norman and to the Kickapoo Turnpike would be even better.

[Scott5114]

The proposed improvements to the I-35/OK-9 interchange by Riverwind Casino look like a decent start. The relocation of the traffic signal with OK-9 and S Harvey Street/NW 12th Avenue would provide more room to build high speed, freeway-to-freeway ramps between I-35 and OK-9 to the West of I-35.

The problem for OK-9 remains that ROW is somewhat cramped going farther West of I-35 between the casino and other businesses on the North and South sides of the current 4-lane undivided highway. It would be a really super tight squeeze in a few spots to build a grade-level 4-lane freeway flanked by frontage roads. The current drainage ditches would have to be reconfigured, maybe even tunneled underneath the new road.

According to the lot lines on the McClain County Assessor's website, the narrowest point of the ROW that is both undivided and developed is the part between Mason's Peanuts and the Chickasaw Employee Health Clinic, which is just about exactly 300 feet wide. The ROW tapers down to its narrowest point on the east side of 24th Street, but the land on either side is vacant, so it shouldn't be too hard to acquire some more in that area, and would be a good place to put an interchange with 24th Street. The ROW widens back out to about 325 feet on the west side of the intersection.

I really would like to see an all-limited-access connection between the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and I-35 South of Norman. A limited access connection from the H.E. Bailey Turnpike thru or around Norman and to the Kickapoo Turnpike would be even better.

[Bobby5280]

The ROW widens back out to about 325 feet on the west side of the intersection.

I think the tightest choke point along OK-9 is the part where First United Bank is on the North side of the road and McDonald's, Oklahoma Optical and the Shell station is on the South side. It's probably not all that geometrically reliable, but when I use the measuring tool in Google Earth Pro going from the fence line of a North property (like the bank) to the fence line of the South property (McDonald's) it comes out to about 280 feet in width. That's still technically enough space to build a 4-lane Interstate highway flanked by frontage roads. The only difficulty is accommodating extra room for slip ramps, particularly if they're braided ramps. And all the drainage ditch issues are included within that ROW. But I suppose if you build box culverts and other features in the right way below the highway that can be turned into a non-issue.

If I was one of the people in charge at Riverwind Casino I would be lobbying like holy hell to get OK-9 turned into a freeway between the end of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Extension stub to US-62 and I-35. I would think the Riverwind Casino location would be only that much more valuable being at the junction of two super highways rather than just being at a regular exit off I-35. The same goes for the other businesses along OK-9 in that location. The freaking location would be even more valuable if the Kickapoo Turnpike was extended somehow down to I-35 in that area. If that happened I think commercial development would boom in that location.

[Plutonic Panda]

There’s a rumor(unsubstantiated) of a Buc-ees going in at this location.

[Scott5114]

The ROW widens back out to about 325 feet on the west side of the intersection.

I think the tightest choke point along OK-9 is the part where First United Bank is on the North side of the road and McDonald's, Oklahoma Optical and the Shell station is on the South side. It's probably not all that geometrically reliable, but when I use the measuring tool in Google Earth Pro going from the fence line of a North property (like the bank) to the fence line of the South property (McDonald's) it comes out to about 280 feet in width.

The fence lines are not accurate to the property lines. The point you describe was where I got the 300' width. Based on your measurements the fencelines may be offset from the property lines by as much as 20'. Follow the link in my comment to the county assessor's website, which has a measurement tool you can use against the official property line data.

There’s a rumor(unsubstantiated) of a Buc-ees going in at this location.

Nothing in McClain County is owned by Buc-ees, according to the county assessor.

[Bobby5280]

I really would like to see at least one Buc-ee's location built in the OKC area. I think the area around the OK-9/I-35 interchange is too cramped and access to I-35 too limited for a huge Buc-cee's store. The new one off I-10 in Southern Alabama has created a traffic nightmare there since there is only one way in and out. There are a few spots farther North along I-35 between Norman and Moore that would be more acceptable for a Buc-ee's location. I-40 on the Western side of OKC has some possibilities, although they would be better if they had continuous frontage roads.

It doesn't look like Buc-ee's has any plans to expand into Oklahoma anytime soon. For now the convenience super-store chain is concentrating its expansion plans on the Deep South. They just opened a new Buc-ee's location in Warner Robbins, GA. They have plans to build at least 2 or 3 more locations in Northern Georgia. They just announced plans to build a location just North of Florence, SC on I-95 at the SC-327 exit. A location near Daytona, FL is starting construction; a second Florida location is planned near St Augustine. Buc-ee's is also looking at the booming "Triangle" region in North Carolina.

Still, OKC and Tulsa are legit possible locations. Amarillo would be a great spot for a Buc-ee's store. There's all kinds of space where they could build one just West of the I-40/US-287 junction.

[Scott5114]

From the one time I've been to a Buc-ee's, I feel like it'd be a great place to stop on the occasional roadtrip, but be way too big of a pain in the ass to be your daily fill-up-and-buy-a-Coke station.

[CoreySamson]

From the one time I've been to a Buc-ee's, I feel like it'd be a great place to stop on the occasional roadtrip, but be way too big of a pain in the ass to be your daily fill-up-and-buy-a-Coke station.

The smaller ones where I live surely are! There's one near me that has about 40-50 pumps which feels about the right size to me.

[Bobby5280]

The first Buc-ee's locations in the Houston area were pretty ordinary/normal in size. Then they just started getting bigger and bigger.

From the one time I've been to a Buc-ee's, I feel like it'd be a great place to stop on the occasional roadtrip, but be way too big of a pain in the ass to be your daily fill-up-and-buy-a-Coke station.

Yeah, the giant-sized Buc-ee's stores do not function the same way as a neighborhood 7-Eleven where you just drive down the street to pick up a six-pack of Bud Light or something. Driving onto a Buc-ee's property has the same feel as going to a large Walmart or even a shopping mall. I think the executives for Buc-ee's understand this and choose their locations carefully so they do work as ideal stops on a road trip. The typical giant Buc-ee's store tends to be near major highway junctions on the outskirts of a major city or at a key road trip point, like the one off I-10 in Alabama. That's the I-10 exit to go down to Gulf Shores.

It's probably a good thing I don't have an opportunity to visit a Buc-ee's store on a frequent basis. I would be gaining a lot of weight eating a bunch of their beef jerky!

I got a good laugh visiting the Buc-ee's web site recently.  On the home page they had a big announcement about the Warner Robbins, GA store being open. They used the tag line: "Potty Like a Rock Star!" They do have very clean (and big) restrooms.

[SoonerCowboy]

The first Buc-ee's locations in the Houston area were pretty ordinary/normal in size. Then they just started getting bigger and bigger.

From the one time I've been to a Buc-ee's, I feel like it'd be a great place to stop on the occasional roadtrip, but be way too big of a pain in the ass to be your daily fill-up-and-buy-a-Coke station.

Yeah, the giant-sized Buc-ee's stores do not function the same way as a neighborhood 7-Eleven where you just drive down the street to pick up a six-pack of Bud Light or something. Driving onto a Buc-ee's property has the same feel as going to a large Walmart or even a shopping mall. I think the executives for Buc-ee's understand this and choose their locations carefully so they do work as ideal stops on a road trip. The typical giant Buc-ee's store tends to be near major highway junctions on the outskirts of a major city or at a key road trip point, like the one off I-10 in Alabama. That's the I-10 exit to go down to Gulf Shores.

It's probably a good thing I don't have an opportunity to visit a Buc-ee's store on a frequent basis. I would be gaining a lot of weight eating a bunch of their beef jerky!

I got a good laugh visiting the Buc-ee's web site recently.  On the home page they had a big announcement about the Warner Robbins, GA store being open. They used the tag line: "Potty Like a Rock Star!" They do have very clean (and big) restrooms.

I agree Bobby. Locally (OKC area), when filling up, I rarely go inside a convenience store, just fill up at the pump, and go. Different story when traveling though. Buc-ees' is a great stop for restroom, fuel and beef jerky LOL.

[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

This project is now at stake as governor Stitt has formally opposed it. Many critics are not happy with tax payer monies being used to fund this project even though the tribes are forking over 10 million towards it. I imagine other improvements are to be had as well though I’m not sure how much those cost as they are likely just reconstruction of existing pavement, possible new bridge, and acceleration lanes but I am not sure what all is proposed in that regard.

I will say I do like the proposed flyover and roundabout but I am not happy with the interchange design overall. Highway 9 needs to become a full freeway loop connecting to I-44 and eventually somehow tying in with SH-152 to connect at the SW Kilpatrick extension and airport freeway. While we’re at it remove the fucking tolls on the existing roads!! I really despise the direction Oklahoma is moving to tolling all new freeways.

But no matter how far any of that is into the future it should all start with this interchange being a fully directional interchange. Here are some articles on the current situation:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.oklahoman.com/amp/4925446001

https://kfor.com/news/local/proposed-i-35-hwy-9-flyover-ramp-causes-rifts-between-odot-governor-and-chickasaw-nation/amp/

[Plutonic Panda]

On another side note and honestly a fantasy wish here, SH-9 should be extended over I-35 and a new Canadian River crossing be made NE of Goldsby to directly tie into SH-9 East. At the very least preserve right of way for it in the future when funds can be found to fully upgraded SH-9 East to a freeway through Norman.

[Scott5114]

On another side note and honestly a fantasy wish here, SH-9 should be extended over I-35 and a new Canadian River crossing be made NE of Goldsby to directly tie into SH-9 East. At the very least preserve right of way for it in the future when funds can be found to fully upgraded SH-9 East to a freeway through Norman.

My fantasy wish was actually the opposite, to extend the SH-9 expressway west of I-35 on the Cleveland County shore, then cross in such a place that it could cut SW and tie into existing SH-9 west around Santa Fe, thus bypassing Riverwind entirely. But Norman is building a riverside park in that area, so that's likely not a realistic idea anymore.

The old SH-9/SH-74 crossing, before I-35, connected Jesse Drive in Goldsby with 24th Avenue SW in Norman. Some of the piers are still there—Alps has photos. It would be nice to have a bridge here again simply as a backup to the I-35 bridge in case it gets blocked by an incident—the next nearest bridges are miles away in either direction.

[In_Correct]

I like the Tolls.

[Revive 755]

I will say I do like the proposed flyover and roundabout but I am not happy with the interchange design overall. Highway 9 needs to become a full freeway loop connecting to I-44 and eventually somehow tying in with SH-152 to connect at the SW Kilpatrick extension and airport freeway.

Looks like there had been a plan for a somewhat similar corridor that made it to the EIS stage in the mid 1970's:  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ien.35556030801120

[Plutonic Panda]

I will say I do like the proposed flyover and roundabout but I am not happy with the interchange design overall. Highway 9 needs to become a full freeway loop connecting to I-44 and eventually somehow tying in with SH-152 to connect at the SW Kilpatrick extension and airport freeway.

Looks like there had been a plan for a somewhat similar corridor that made it to the EIS stage in the mid 1970's:  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ien.35556030801120

Wow it looks like I-44 had not even been completed past I-40 at that point. It looks they can still do most of that if they secure ROW at least quick enough.

[rte66man]

I will say I do like the proposed flyover and roundabout but I am not happy with the interchange design overall. Highway 9 needs to become a full freeway loop connecting to I-44 and eventually somehow tying in with SH-152 to connect at the SW Kilpatrick extension and airport freeway.

Looks like there had been a plan for a somewhat similar corridor that made it to the EIS stage in the mid 1970's:  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ien.35556030801120

Wow it looks like I-44 had not even been completed past I-40 at that point. It looks they can still do most of that if they secure ROW at least quick enough.

For 10+ years, what was US62 (didn't become I-44 until the 80's) took a hard 100 degree turn just north of SW 74th.  That part was built to act as a connector to the H.E. Bailey turnpike when it was opened in 1964. For a couple of years years, US62 narrowed to 2 lanes from 74th south to the South Canadian River. The other lanes were graded, but I'm assuming ODOT didn't have the funds to pave immediately. What was I-440 wasn't completed north until the mid 70's.

[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

This project has received 50 million in federal funding.

I-40 Highway Reconstruction and Widening

The $50 million grant to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be used for a lane addition and interchange improvement project on I-40 and the Douglas Boulevard Interchange. These upgrades will improve safety and efficiency for more than 50,000 vehicles per day, of which 15 percent are commercial trucks. These crucial grant funds will help advance this critical project’s timetable by five years.

On March 15, 2021, Cole joined a delegation letter, led by Inhofe, to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of this funding for the I-40 highway reconstruction and widening project.

https://cole.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/oklahoma-awarded-100-million-in-competitive-highway-grants

[Bobby5280]

Meanwhile it looks like Tom Cole forgot the Lawton-Fort Sill area even exists. For years now there has been a project on the books to add a pedestrian bridge to one of the two Gore Blvd bridges over I-44 in Lawton. Yeah, no, that can appears to be kicked down the road to whoever knows when. Maybe if enough people jay-walking I-44 get splattered by traffic it might inspire a change.

On the way to work this morning I saw one older lady walking along the median of I-44 going North of Gore Blvd. She was holding up one of her arms as if hailing a cab and appeared to be talking to herself. South of the Gore Blvd crossing I saw a fellow walking along the EB Gore on ramp to WB (SB really) I-44.

[Plutonic Panda]

I feel bad for Lawton. In regards to Oklahoma, it’s not a city that is insignificant either for the state. It should get more than it gets. The fucking traffic signals in some parts of the city look like they are from the 70s. Lawton needs a freeway loop around it.

My hope is this, medicine park is a really cool low key area that hasn’t really been discovered yet. I suspect as OKC, WF, and Tulsa grow the demand to get out of these big cities to small towns for some R&R will only grow. MP has potential to become a pretty popular town one day if they make the right moves. Maybe this will draw more interest to Lawton.

The army could decide to further invest in Fort Sill. Perhaps a private company takes it upon itself to build a large manufacturing plant. I wish Stitt would promote SW OK more.

[US 89]

Meanwhile it looks like Tom Cole forgot the Lawton-Fort Sill area even exists.

I hate to break it to you, but he’s definitely not the only one. And it’s a shame considering the economic and strategic value of Fort Sill.