Oklahoma City Metro Highways | Small projects and construction

[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.

[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).

[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.