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[Plutonic Panda]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

[Scott5114]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

I still don't understand what the purpose of building that fancy new parclo ramp was if they were just going to retain the shitty original ramp to the service road anyway.

[Plutonic Panda]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

I still don't understand what the purpose of building that fancy new parclo ramp was if they were just going to retain the shitty original ramp to the service road anyway.

I don’t understand why they’re building the SH-9 ramp as anything other than a directional interchange. I don’t understand why the decided to delay one of the busiest interchanges in the city that in desperate need for an overhaul for some rural road road upgrade east of Tulsa. ODOT is full of a bunching fucking bullshit IMO.

[Scott5114]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

I still don't understand what the purpose of building that fancy new parclo ramp was if they were just going to retain the shitty original ramp to the service road anyway.

I don’t understand why they’re building the SH-9 ramp as anything other than a directional interchange. I don’t understand why the decided to delay one of the busiest interchanges in the city that in desperate need for an overhaul for some rural road road upgrade east of Tulsa. ODOT is full of a bunching fucking bullshit IMO.

It's because if you want the government to spend more than $3 per year, you're a godless commie.

[Plutonic Panda]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

I still don't understand what the purpose of building that fancy new parclo ramp was if they were just going to retain the shitty original ramp to the service road anyway.

I don’t understand why they’re building the SH-9 ramp as anything other than a directional interchange. I don’t understand why the decided to delay one of the busiest interchanges in the city that in desperate need for an overhaul for some rural road road upgrade east of Tulsa. ODOT is full of a bunching fucking bullshit IMO.

It's because if you want the government to spend more than $3 per year, you're a godless commie.

You hit the nail on the head. Some states like Louisiana have some serious issues that are going to take a miracle to solve. Oklahoma could do it if people could just pay a tiny bit more and come together to agree to propel the state forward but I guess that’s a pipe dream. But hey, how about OSU winning? That’s what it’s about right lol

[swake]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?

Yeah it is a weird project. It looks like they might keep the exits they just redid. But hey ODOT.

I still don't understand what the purpose of building that fancy new parclo ramp was if they were just going to retain the shitty original ramp to the service road anyway.

I don’t understand why they’re building the SH-9 ramp as anything other than a directional interchange. I don’t understand why the decided to delay one of the busiest interchanges in the city that in desperate need for an overhaul for some rural road road upgrade east of Tulsa. ODOT is full of a bunching fucking bullshit IMO.

Transportation funding in Oklahoma is allocated to transportation districts by population so a project in district 8 (Tulsa region) has no impact on the timing of funding for the I-240/I-35 interchange in district 4. The ONLY time I can recall a project getting extra state allocated funding outside of competitive federal grants was relocating I-40 by downtown Oklahoma City.

All three of Tulsa's busiest interchanges (I-44/US-169, OK-51/US-169 and I-44/OK-51) are still simple cloverleafs where the highways and bridges were widened and improved years/decades ago and any work on the ramps is scheduled well after all of OKC's major interchanges, if at all. The only reason I-44/US-75 is being done first is that interchange, including the highways and bridges, was 60 years old, very poorly maintained and actually was degenerating in gravel.

So your statement is a bunch(ing) fucking bullshit. IMO.

Oklahoma needs to increase gas/diesel taxes by at least 10 cents a gallon so we stop leaving federal dollars on the table and take better care of roads.

[Scott5114]

Widening of I-35 between exits 104 (SH-74) and 106 (SH-9 west) in Goldsby will begin this year. The portion between exits 101 and 104 will follow thereafter.

https://www.i35mcclaincounty.com/

[rte66man]

All three of Tulsa's busiest interchanges (I-44/US-169, OK-51/US-169 and I-44/OK-51) are still simple cloverleafs where the highways and bridges were widened and improved years/decades ago and any work on the ramps is scheduled well after all of OKC's major interchanges, if at all. The only reason I-44/US-75 is being done first is that interchange, including the highways and bridges, was 60 years old, very poorly maintained and actually was degenerating in gravel.

The Okmulgee cloverleaf and the BA cloverleaf were built about the same time. I've wondered why the BA cloverleaf has been basically ignored since then (excepting the c/d lane changes to move the EB Memorial Dr exit west of the cloverleaf).

[Bobby5280]

Speaking of the I-44/US-75 interchange in Tulsa: has ODOT simply stopped work on that interchange or what?

Based on Google Street View imagery dated 11/2022 on US-75 going thru the interchange it looks like all the overpass support pylons are finished. But it looks like hardly any other work is in progress. There aren't any cranes lifting beams into place to span those pylons. All are just sitting there empty. An excavator machine and a couple other pieces of equipment are visible on the property doing some grading work. To me that appears to be preparation for laying down new sod.

I guess I'm concerned they might be fixing to pull off the project and just let it sit there in this stage for a couple or so years before resuming work. ODOT dragged out the I-44/I-235/B'way Extension interchange project for more than a freaking decade.

[swake]

Speaking of the I-44/US-75 interchange in Tulsa: has ODOT simply stopped work on that interchange or what?

Based on Google Street View imagery dated 11/2022 on US-75 going thru the interchange it looks like all the overpass support pylons are finished. But it looks like hardly any other work is in progress. There aren't any cranes lifting beams into place to span those pylons. All are just sitting there empty. An excavator machine and a couple other pieces of equipment are visible on the property doing some grading work. To me that appears to be preparation for laying down new sod.

I guess I'm concerned they might be fixing to pull off the project and just let it sit there in this stage for a couple or so years before resuming work. ODOT dragged out the I-44/I-235/B'way Extension interchange project for more than a freaking decade.

The next two phases are set to go to bid in June with another in 2024.

[KCRoadFan]

I’m planning on driving down to OKC on Feb. 3 - is there any ongoing construction that I should know about on I-35 north of the city?

[rte66man]

I’m planning on driving down to OKC on Feb. 3 - is there any ongoing construction that I should know about on I-35 north of the city?

https://ok.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=023e821ebf7b4acd999ccfd58d92c3da

[skluth]

Original article

Oklahoma approves major upgrades to busy metro interchange
A $75 million project starts this summer at Interstate 35 and Interstate 240

OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma just approved major upgrades to a busy metro interchange.

A $75 million project starts this summer at Interstate 35 and Interstate 240. The project will bring everything on I-240 up to standard by fixing on and off ramps, rebuilding and paving frontage roads and adding a turnaround on 59th Street, but it won’t come without some painful closures.

"This is, again, like the 235-44 interchange. One of those interchanges that has needed updating for a very long time. With our funding in the past, they couldn’t always go and attack a full interchange with the amount it cost to bring one up to date and so, we’ve had to do this project in phases," said Trenton January, district four engineer at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The outdated but busy interchange is finally set to see updates.

"Really, we’re working on all of the outsides of the interchange, completing all of the outsides, so that with our next project, which is scheduled in two years, to go work on the inside of the interchange," January said.

The state plans to bring ramps and lanes up to date with design standards, along with paving and replacing railroad bridges near northbound I-35 and eastbound I-240.

"They don’t operate with the amount of traffic that we have out there. The bridges are starting to become older and specifically, at this interchange, there are some traffic issues with people merging off of 240, getting onto 35 where the merge distances are not as long as they need to be. If you compare it to the 235-44 job, that last phase that we did where we built the flyovers and several other bridges, that’s what that last phase of 35 and 240 is going to look like," January said.

When that phase comes is when ODOT expects full weekend closures to take down those bridges safely.

"So, really improving this interchange, making it safer for the traveling public is going to be a huge impact and it’s going to help the corridors 240 and 35 flow a lot better," January said.

Older bridges will be replaced with lots of paving and rebuilding to come. Eventually, Oklahomans will see those flyovers in 2025 but ODOT said overall, the project should help with traffic issues and raise the standards on some of the most traveled on interstates.

[Bobby5280]

"Eventually, Oklahomans will see those flyovers in 2025..."

The way the time line looks Oklahomans may only see the support pylons of those flyovers begin construction in 2025. Hopefully the project phases of this interchange project will be completed faster than the I-44/I-235 interchange. That one dragged out for over a decade.

Meanwhile it sort of looks like ACCESS Oklahoma plans are back on track. That open meeting violation chapter in the saga is a moot point now. The lawsuits from groups like Pike-Off appear to be going nowhere. The controversy has still delayed the project study process (some of that was supposed to be complete by early 2023).

Anyway, once these ACCESS Oklahoma projects finally get started (2025 maybe?) the construction on each project may go quite a bit faster than the state's gasoline tax funded projects. I don't know when the East-West Connector turnpike will be built. The proposed directional stack interchange with I-35 has a preliminary cost of $365 million. With the turnpikes being funded through bonds rather than fuel taxes that new interchange may be built all at once rather than phases spread out over several years.

[Plutonic Panda]

This isn’t a small project and will eventually warrant its own thread but I suppose we should wait until more in depth details emerge.

For some time now the I-35 bridge over the Oklahoma River near DTOKC has been planned on being replaced with a larger, wider, long span signature structure. We are getting to seeing official plans and a schedule for.

The first real movement is this funding request from ODOT for the pedestrian path component complimenting the massive OKANA development to the east.

Here is a link with a rendering and more details: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odot/federal-grants/raise/2023/multimodal-connections-on-i-35-over-the-oklahoma-river/application/Project%20Description.pdf

[triplemultiplex]

I'd be impressed if someone could build a four level stack for less than half a billion these days, even in Oklahoma.

[MikieTimT]

I'd be impressed if someone could build a four level stack for less than half a billion these days, even in Oklahoma.

Arkansas has a couple in the works for I-49/I-40 and I-49/(AR-612/US-412 Bypass). I think we'll see the northern one within the next 4 years, but it'd likely be toward the end of the decade for I-49/I-40, so who knows what inflation does to roadbuilding costs in that time.

[Bobby5280]

In the case of the I-40/I-49 interchange, I suspect AR DOT will keep the flyover ramps in the existing "Y" interchange and merely add two more flyovers. After all, they're going to build the Alma-Barling segment in a Super-2 phase at first. I would be surprised if they did a full reconstruction of the interchange.

Likewise, the more recently built I-49/AR-612 interchange is halfway completed.

[Plutonic Panda]

US-77 and SH-66 in Edmond will be resurfaced as part of an ODOT project and it has already begun construction.

Project page: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/ongoing-projects/us-77-broadway-and-us-77-sh-66-second-st--resurfacing-in-edmond.html

Interestingly enough there is now talk about these segments being transferred from ODOT control to Edmond in the future after a major reconstruction into a concrete roadway with more design and other features happens down the road. It’s something that likely won’t happen this decade but talks are beginning.

[rte66man]

US-77 and SH-66 in Edmond will be resurfaced as part of an ODOT project and it has already begun construction.

Project page: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/ongoing-projects/us-77-broadway-and-us-77-sh-66-second-st--resurfacing-in-edmond.html

Interestingly enough there is now talk about these segments being transferred from ODOT control to Edmond in the future after a major reconstruction into a concrete roadway with more design and other features happens down the road. It’s something that likely won’t happen this decade but talks are beginning.

As you are aware, Broadway from the end of the freeway north of Memorial to 2nd Street has large sections with no curbs. Way too many crossovers, too short left turn lanes, and nonexistent right turn only lanes. I can't see ODOT forking over the millions to "upgrade" it just to turn it over to the City of Edmond.

It also made me wonder how they would reroute US77? Turn east at the Kilpatrick? Who would be responsible for the OKC setion of freeway?

[Plutonic Panda]

US-77 and SH-66 in Edmond will be resurfaced as part of an ODOT project and it has already begun construction.

Project page: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/ongoing-projects/us-77-broadway-and-us-77-sh-66-second-st--resurfacing-in-edmond.html

Interestingly enough there is now talk about these segments being transferred from ODOT control to Edmond in the future after a major reconstruction into a concrete roadway with more design and other features happens down the road. It’s something that likely won’t happen this decade but talks are beginning.

As you are aware, Broadway from the end of the freeway north of Memorial to 2nd Street has large sections with no curbs. Way too many crossovers, too short left turn lanes, and nonexistent right turn only lanes. I can't see ODOT forking over the millions to "upgrade" it just to turn it over to the City of Edmond.

It also made me wonder how they would reroute US77? Turn east at the Kilpatrick? Who would be responsible for the OKC setion of freeway?

Well, to be fair, that would be less mileage they would have to deal with in the future. But I’m sure Edmond would pay for the majority of the improvements. To do what it sounded like Edmond wanted to do would probably be 100+  million dollars or close to it.