I40 Crosstown Nearly Ready to Open

[rte66man]

A recent article in our free weekly is enlightening:

http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-13642-life-is-an-expressway.html

Eastbound traffic on the new alignment about Christmas.  That will be sweet.

rte66man

[mgk920]

A recent article in our free weekly is enlightening:

http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-13642-life-is-an-expressway.html

Eastbound traffic on the new alignment about Christmas.  That will be sweet.

rte66man

Does anyone have driving video of the 'old' route here?

Mike

[Scott5114]

A recent article in our free weekly is enlightening:

http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-13642-life-is-an-expressway.html

Eastbound traffic on the new alignment about Christmas.  That will be sweet.

rte66man

Does anyone have driving video of the 'old' route here?

Mike

I think HB Elkins took video of it during the OKC meet a couple of years ago–try his site.

[rte66man]

It brings up the interesting scenario whereby the eastbound lanes will be separated from the westbound lanes by 5 blocks at certain points.  Although temporary, has this happened in other urban areas? I'm not counting the rural instances (I5, I24, etc).

rte66man

[NE2]

It brings up the interesting scenario whereby the eastbound lanes will be separated from the westbound lanes by 5 blocks at certain points.  Although temporary, has this happened in other urban areas? I'm not counting the rural instances (I5, I24, etc).

I-93 in Boston.

[Scott5114]

I imagine it wouldn't happen too terribly often in urban areas–if you get the carriageways too far apart they start serving separate corridors and it no longer makes sense for them to bear the same number.

[mgk920]

It brings up the interesting scenario whereby the eastbound lanes will be separated from the westbound lanes by 5 blocks at certain points.  Although temporary, has this happened in other urban areas? I'm not counting the rural instances (I5, I24, etc).

rte66man

I-75 in north suburban Cincinnati, OH.

Mike

[Alps]

It brings up the interesting scenario whereby the eastbound lanes will be separated from the westbound lanes by 5 blocks at certain points.  Although temporary, has this happened in other urban areas? I'm not counting the rural instances (I5, I24, etc).

rte66man

I-75 in north suburban Cincinnati, OH.

Mike

I-670 in Columbus, OH, though that's changing now. I-93 Boston is cheating because it's underground (And I know SPUI will come after me for that but I stick with that charge.)

[okroads]

I plan on taking pictures this weekend of both the soon-to-be old & new parts of I-40 in this area.

A couple pictures are posted on the OKC Talk message board here:
http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=15390&p=489482#post489482

(Note a sign goof in the 2nd picture: that should be an I-40 shield and not an I-44 shield)

[Scott5114]

"ODOT To Motoring Public: Here, Have Some More Ugly Signs"

[Duke87]

So, the purpose is to reduce neighborhood severance by rerouting the freeway along the rail line?

I just noticed something silly when looking this up. On the project's official site, look at the page title on the interactive map.

"I95 ETL - Interactive Map".

Looks like we've got a little bit of sloppy coding plagiarism!

[rte66man]

Update from the Daily Disappointment:
http://newsok.com/new-i-40-in-oklahoma-city-could-open-in-january/article/3632077

Some nice pics and a video. ODOT now quoting January for opening the eastbound lanes.

rte66man

[Scott5114]

Anyone know if there's any plans for a ribbon cutting? I've never been to one so I was thinking of attending.

[Grzrd]

Anyone know if there's any plans for a ribbon cutting? I've never been to one so I was thinking of attending.

Looks like Jan. 5 is your opportunity:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2011/11-070_gift_of_a_century_to_be_opened_at_i-40_crosstown_ribbon_cutting.pdf

"Come celebrate the gift of a century with the grand opening of the new I-40 Crosstown,
hosted by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Oklahoma
City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The ribbon cutting will be:
10 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 5
On the new eastbound lanes near the Western Ave. bridge ..."

EDIT

"...Following a short ceremony, a caravan representing local businesses will open the
eastbound lanes..."

Of course, the Roadgeek Challenge will be to drive in the initial caravan ...  

SECOND EDIT

This report indicates that the westbound lanes will open four to six weeks after Jan.5:
http://www.koco.com/r/30038384/detail.html

"... While the eastbound lanes of the new roadway will open on Jan. 5, the westbound lanes won't open until four to six weeks later..."

[rte66man]

Anyone know if there's any plans for a ribbon cutting? I've never been to one so I was thinking of attending.

Looks like Jan. 5 is your opportunity:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2011/11-070_gift_of_a_century_to_be_opened_at_i-40_crosstown_ribbon_cutting.pdf

"... While the eastbound lanes of the new roadway will open on Jan. 5, the westbound lanes won't open until four to six weeks later..."

I'll be shocked if they can do it that fast because of the work needed at the west end at Agnew. Lots of demolition and a new westbound Agnew overpass will be needed. The east end tie in shouldn't be a problem.

Gonna try to get out on Friday (weather dependent) and get some pics of the work

rte66man

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

I'm disappointed they chose the routing they did for one reason:

http://g.co/maps/vuraa

This railroad underpass no longer exists - and I love these things.

[Scott5114]

I'm disappointed they chose the routing they did for one reason:

http://g.co/maps/vuraa

This railroad underpass no longer exists - and I love these things.

Never knew that was there...

There are a few of those between Downtown and Bricktown, that have large ornate "Bricktown" lettering on them, as they act as portals to the entertainment district. They'll probably always be there.

[Scott5114]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

Been under those as well, Scott.  They're not the same, as the roadway isn't depressed; the railroad is elevated there.

[Revive 755]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

It's appearing to me as either an underground road or an under construction road tonight on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=35.460425,-97.502332&spn=0.007419,0.016512&t=m&vpsrc=6&z=17

EDIT:  Looking at the aerials, I'm curious if Oklahoma has a fear of SPUIs like INDOT; just looking at the map it seems Western and Pennsylvania Avenues would be great spots for SPUIs instead of compact diamonds,

[okroads]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

It's appearing to me as either an underground road or an under construction road tonight on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=35.460425,-97.502332&spn=0.007419,0.016512&t=m&vpsrc=6&z=17

EDIT:  Looking at the aerials, I'm curious if Oklahoma has a fear of SPUIs like INDOT; just looking at the map it seems Western and Pennsylvania Avenues would be great spots for SPUIs instead of compact diamonds,

ODOT is about to convert 2 interchanges in Norman to SPUIs; Main Street & Lindsey Street. These will be the 2nd & 3rd SPUIs in the OKC metro area.

Edit: I-40 & Morgan Road is currently being converted to a SPUI. Can't believe I forgot that one; thanks rte66man for reminding me.

[rte66man]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

It's appearing to me as either an underground road or an under construction road tonight on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=35.460425,-97.502332&spn=0.007419,0.016512&t=m&vpsrc=6&z=17

EDIT:  Looking at the aerials, I'm curious if Oklahoma has a fear of SPUIs like INDOT; just looking at the map it seems Western and Pennsylvania Avenues would be great spots for SPUIs instead of compact diamonds,

ODOT is about to convert 2 interchanges in Norman to SPUIs; Main Street & Lindsey Street. These will be the first 2 SPUIs in the OKC metro area.

Nope, I40 and Morgan Road is a SPUI and will be open before work starts on the 2 Norman interchanges.

rte66man

[Scott5114]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

It's appearing to me as either an underground road or an under construction road tonight on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=35.460425,-97.502332&spn=0.007419,0.016512&t=m&vpsrc=6&z=17

EDIT:  Looking at the aerials, I'm curious if Oklahoma has a fear of SPUIs like INDOT; just looking at the map it seems Western and Pennsylvania Avenues would be great spots for SPUIs instead of compact diamonds,

ODOT is about to convert 2 interchanges in Norman to SPUIs; Main Street & Lindsey Street. These will be the first 2 SPUIs in the OKC metro area.

Hadn't heard about Lindsey Street. Last I'd heard they'd only decided on Main. Cool!

[okroads]

Google Maps seems to have added the new I-40 alignment as a full freeway at certain zoom levels. Current I-40 is also still shown...

It's appearing to me as either an underground road or an under construction road tonight on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=35.460425,-97.502332&spn=0.007419,0.016512&t=m&vpsrc=6&z=17

EDIT:  Looking at the aerials, I'm curious if Oklahoma has a fear of SPUIs like INDOT; just looking at the map it seems Western and Pennsylvania Avenues would be great spots for SPUIs instead of compact diamonds,

ODOT is about to convert 2 interchanges in Norman to SPUIs; Main Street & Lindsey Street. These will be the first 2 SPUIs in the OKC metro area.

Nope, I40 and Morgan Road is a SPUI and will be open before work starts on the 2 Norman interchanges.

rte66man

Duh! I forgot about that one. Post edited accordingly.

[rte66man]

VMS signs were up yesterday on I40 saying there would be lane changes eastbound beginning Jan 5 at 12 Noon.  Here's the link to the ODOT press release:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2011/11-070_gift_of_a_century_to_be_opened_at_i-40_crosstown_ribbon_cutting.pdf

rte66man