A general catch all thread for Tulsa area roads and freeways that don't warrant their own thread.
From the February 7th commission meeting:
QuoteAt their Monday, Feb. 7, meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a nearly $14 million contract for reconstruction of the US-169 bridges over 76th St. North in Owasso, pictured here. The replacement structures will be built to accommodate planned future widening of the corridor to six lanes.
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/february-commission-meeting-wrap-up--oklahoma-transportation-s-r.html
Not a state highway, but 81st between Sheridan and Memorial is being widened.
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 05:47:39 PM
Not a state highway, but 81st between Sheridan and Memorial is being widened.
I should clarify this can include any road project not just state roads. Just ones small enough to not warrant their own thread.
I haven't been that way in a month or so, but they were working on Memorial at 71st and 81st. It was a mess. I avoid that part of town as much as possible.
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 07:51:15 PM
I haven't been that way in a month or so, but they were working on Memorial at 71st and 81st. It was a mess. I avoid that part of town as much as possible.
I hear you. Every time we go to Tulsa, we end up on 71st somewhere between Memorial and Garnett. A flippin' nightmare.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on February 11, 2022, 05:35:06 PM
From the February 7th commission meeting:
QuoteAt their Monday, Feb. 7, meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a nearly $14 million contract for reconstruction of the US-169 bridges over 76th St. North in Owasso, pictured here. The replacement structures will be built to accommodate planned future widening of the corridor to six lanes.
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/february-commission-meeting-wrap-up--oklahoma-transportation-s-r.html
Tulsa World article on this project: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/odot-to-begin-14m-bridge-expansion-along-u-s-169-in-owasso-this-spring/article_9cb69efe-8acd-11ec-88f4-1ba700500888.html
New south river bridge being looked at near Jenks at 131st. Bridge would reportedly be tolled which really makes me wonder with the other bridge directly south being free how successful it would be.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/area-governments-to-take-another-look-at-possible-south-tulsa-toll-bridge-over-arkansas-river/article_0f78bd92-90d1-11ec-99af-f7ebec13045b.html
Quote from: rte66man on February 13, 2022, 12:07:05 PM
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 07:51:15 PM
I haven't been that way in a month or so, but they were working on Memorial at 71st and 81st. It was a mess. I avoid that part of town as much as possible.
I hear you. Every time we go to Tulsa, we end up on 71st somewhere between Memorial and Garnett. A flippin' nightmare.
I try and avoid 71st anywhere along it like the plague. It's nothing but traffic hell all day long. Over the weekend spent some time with the GF down Memorial south of the Creek and that is even worse.
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 05:47:39 PM
Not a state highway, but 81st between Sheridan and Memorial is being widened.
That section of road has needed that for years.
Quote from: BigOkie on March 08, 2022, 04:12:29 PM
Quote from: rte66man on February 13, 2022, 12:07:05 PM
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 07:51:15 PM
I haven't been that way in a month or so, but they were working on Memorial at 71st and 81st. It was a mess. I avoid that part of town as much as possible.
I hear you. Every time we go to Tulsa, we end up on 71st somewhere between Memorial and Garnett. A flippin' nightmare.
I try and avoid 71st anywhere along it like the plague. It's nothing but traffic hell all day long. Over the weekend spent some time with the GF down Memorial south of the Creek and that is even worse.
This is my experience as well that road needs to be 4 lanes each way.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 08, 2022, 04:17:44 PM
Quote from: BigOkie on March 08, 2022, 04:12:29 PM
Quote from: rte66man on February 13, 2022, 12:07:05 PM
Quote from: bugo on February 11, 2022, 07:51:15 PM
I haven't been that way in a month or so, but they were working on Memorial at 71st and 81st. It was a mess. I avoid that part of town as much as possible.
I hear you. Every time we go to Tulsa, we end up on 71st somewhere between Memorial and Garnett. A flippin' nightmare.
I try and avoid 71st anywhere along it like the plague. It's nothing but traffic hell all day long. Over the weekend spent some time with the GF down Memorial south of the Creek and that is even worse.
This is my experience as well that road needs to be 4 lanes each way.
In my experience, surface arterials with that many lanes just end up being annoying in a different way. With even 3 lanes traffic ends up getting so spread out and staggered that there's no clear break in traffic if you need to make an unsignalized left turn.
I like six lane roads because you're less likely to get behind two slowpokes instead of three. They could also install overpasses at some intersections.
Tulsa begins construction on $29M Yale widening project (https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/city-of-tulsa-begins-construction-on-29m-yale-widening-project)
Yale Avenue is being reconstructed and widened between 71st and 81st in south Tulsa. This is where Yale narrows to 2 lanes and climbs and descends a big hill. The current road has sharp curves and steep grades and poor sight lines, and it's also sliding down the hill. The reconstructed road will be 6 lanes with a median. It will still have curves, but they won't be as sharp. This is the most expensive street project in Tulsa history, with an estimated price tag of $30 million. This 1 mile long stretch of street looks more like the Ozarks than the rest of Tulsa, and sadly, this rural mountain character is going to be destroyed by the new road. But the old road is literally crumbling and they have to reconstruct it, so they might as well make it six lanes. This will connect I-44 and the Saint Francis hospital to the Creek Turnpike with a 6 lane divided street.
That's awesome. Props to Tulsa for actually constructing properly built six lane streets unlike OKC. OKC needs to six lane Penn, May, and Western.
Quote from: bugo on March 21, 2022, 07:23:35 PM
Tulsa begins construction on $29M Yale widening project (https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/city-of-tulsa-begins-construction-on-29m-yale-widening-project)
Yale Avenue is being reconstructed and widened between 71st and 81st in south Tulsa. This is where Yale narrows to 2 lanes and climbs and descends a big hill. The current road has sharp curves and steep grades and poor sight lines, and it's also sliding down the hill. The reconstructed road will be 6 lanes with a median. It will still have curves, but they won't be as sharp. This is the most expensive street project in Tulsa history, with an estimated price tag of $30 million. This 1 mile long stretch of street looks more like the Ozarks than the rest of Tulsa, and sadly, this rural mountain character is going to be destroyed by the new road. But the old road is literally crumbling and they have to reconstruct it, so they might as well make it six lanes. This will connect I-44 and the Saint Francis hospital to the Creek Turnpike with a 6 lane divided street.
When I was dating my now-wife, she lived in some apartments at 81st and Yale. At that time, Yale was 2 lanes both north and south of the intersection. Some pretty nail-biting times when we had ice and snow.
Quote from: rte66man on March 22, 2022, 06:13:59 PM
When I was dating my now-wife, she lived in some apartments at 81st and Yale. At that time, Yale was 2 lanes both north and south of the intersection. Some pretty nail-biting times when we had ice and snow.
That is a pretty steep hill. That whole area is hilly. The downhill grade just south of 61st and Sheridan heading north can be scary, as there is a traffic light at the bottom of a steep hill. There is also a big hill on Harvard between 71st and 81st with curves, similar to the section of Yale that is being discussed.
Oklahoma is flat.
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 06:41:50 AM
Oklahoma is flat.
Kay. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1023265,-97.5937343,3a,20y,89.11h,84.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHko2HXsOZLPH89ascZl74Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 23, 2022, 12:18:08 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 06:41:50 AM
Oklahoma is flat.
Kay. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1023265,-97.5937343,3a,20y,89.11h,84.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHko2HXsOZLPH89ascZl74Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Awww...wook at the widdle bumpies...
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 12:50:19 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 23, 2022, 12:18:08 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 06:41:50 AM
Oklahoma is flat.
Kay. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1023265,-97.5937343,3a,20y,89.11h,84.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHko2HXsOZLPH89ascZl74Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Awww...wook at the widdle bumpies...
Ride a bike down 74B and get back to me. It ain't a whole lot of fun.
I feel bad giving the Arbuckle, Wichita, and Quartz Mountains any degree of legitimacy as "mountains"–they're not–but they are at the very least not flat (https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8761698,-99.2974847,3a,75y,348.24h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVaHoDx5UqTpKnaT5uPT4kQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVaHoDx5UqTpKnaT5uPT4kQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D143.48723%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).
And of course, there's the Talimena Drive:
(https://www.talimenadrive.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Fall-Talimena-16-460x544.jpg)
There are plenty of memes you can use about Oklahoma. There are plenty of things that suck about it, and plenty of things to make fun of that any of us who are from here will happily laugh along with. And I'll even agree with you that a good chunk of it west of US-81 (where basically nobody lives) is pretty flat. But the whole state? Unlike the Duchy of Carhorn, that's not even remotely close to true.
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:20:19 PM
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Funny how that map was made at the University of Kansas. Someone didn't like Kansas being called flat... :D
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 01:28:27 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:20:19 PM
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Funny how that map was made at the University of Kansas. Someone didn't like Kansas being called flat... :D
Hah I didn't catch that
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:32:15 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 01:28:27 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:20:19 PM
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Funny how that map was made at the University of Kansas. Someone didn't like Kansas being called flat... :D
Hah I didn't catch that
It's not only Kansas that is flatter than Oklahoma by their criteria. It's Missouri (ever hear of the Ozarks), Wisconsin (has both the Canadian Shield and the Driftless Area), Virginia (I guess the western half including the Blue Ridge and Appalachians doesn't count), New York (Adirondacks, Catskills, etc), Pennsylvania (Alleghanies, etc), and California (yea, there's the Central Valley and Mojave, but the Sierra Nevada and Coastal Ranges aren't flat). OTOH, North Dakota and Illinois are among the least flat states by their criteria and both are ungodly flat with just a few hilly areas. The only real terrain in Kansas is the Flint Hills and they aren't all that hilly. That's the problem with garbage criteria. If I ever needed evidence to show garbage in -> garbage out, that might be Exhibit A.
Well the formula of taking a state's landmass comparing it to the percentage of the hilly or mountainous areas seems to give smaller states an advantage. Most of the earth doesn't seem to be too flat.
From looking at photos the Catskills and the Ouachitas are more or less comparable. So if Oklahoma is flat, so are the Catskills.
Let's just compromise and say Oklahoma is boring.
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 03:06:59 PM
Let's just compromise and say Oklahoma is boring.
just because we don't have county roads for people to touch doesn't mean we're boring
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 03:06:59 PM
Let's just compromise and say Oklahoma is boring.
If the east to west connector gets built we'll have a five stack at I-35 do with that information as you wish
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 01:28:27 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:20:19 PM
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Funny how that map was made at the University of Kansas. Someone didn't like Kansas being called flat... :D
The University of Kansas is on the top of Mt Oread. The school is very much not flat.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 04:03:15 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 03:06:59 PM
Let's just compromise and say Oklahoma is boring.
If the east to west connector gets built we'll have a five stack at I-35 do with that information as you wish
Wow.
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 12:50:19 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 23, 2022, 12:18:08 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 06:41:50 AM
Oklahoma is flat.
Kay. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1023265,-97.5937343,3a,20y,89.11h,84.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHko2HXsOZLPH89ascZl74Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Awww...wook at the widdle bumpies...
Don't feed the troll.
My favorite "yes, this is Oklahoma" picture...
(https://i.imgur.com/CIcQP0r.jpg)
Here's the flat street being widened:
(https://hot-town-images.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/kotv/production/2021/October/8/city-of-tulsa-to-begin-2yearlong-road-widening-project-on-s-.1633712052205.jpeg?w=1050&h=590.617&fit=crop)
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/29/b290b0bc-eaeb-5efd-b10e-a7d3f9f1183e/5aeb9f13841c6.image.jpg?resize=726%2C500)
Quote from: swake on March 24, 2022, 06:17:56 PM
Here's the flat street being widened:
(https://hot-town-images.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/kotv/production/2021/October/8/city-of-tulsa-to-begin-2yearlong-road-widening-project-on-s-.1633712052205.jpeg?w=1050&h=590.617&fit=crop)
(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/29/b290b0bc-eaeb-5efd-b10e-a7d3f9f1183e/5aeb9f13841c6.image.jpg?resize=726%2C500)
Many a time there would be an accident at 81st and Yale because someone couldn't stop coming don the hills on Yale from either direction.
This is Oklahoma? Yes it is. This was taken in the Gloss Mountains, which are along US 412 between Enid and Woodward. It looks like you are several hundred miles to the west.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7229/7159667752_78b6112aa7_c.jpg)
This is in the Ouachita Mountains.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/6047/5913976701_7d80864e71_c.jpg)
Natural Falls, in the Ozark Mountains.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8748/16303898174_78f718df98_c.jpg)
Washita River in the Arbuckle Mountains.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51404630900_3f87085255_c.jpg)
Wichita Mountains.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5503/30620358621_ce179e2171_c.jpg)
Quote from: bugo on March 27, 2022, 03:35:13 AM
This is Oklahoma? Yes it is.
Washita River in the Arbuckle Mountains.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51404630900_3f87085255_c.jpg)
Did you take this? If so, were you in Big Canyon?
Quote from: rte66man on March 27, 2022, 01:26:43 PM
Did you take this? If so, were you in Big Canyon?
No, I found it on Flickr.
Lots of people have been "discovering" the Wichita Mountains and the town of Medicine Park next door recently. It's insane how busy it can now be in Medicine Park on the weekends. The big challenge is finding a decent place to park. A lot of residential properties have been changing hands and radically driving up prices there. It's best to visit Medicine Park on a non-holiday weekend. The town is working on building a larger outdoor concert stage just to the South of the Park Tavern. I think the surroundings are scenic enough that they could eventually build a large scale amphitheater with several thousand permanent seats and a lawn able to hold another 10,000 or more sometime in the future.
It's a lot easier to drive around the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The road to the top of Mount Scott was closed for over a year due to erosion damage. After repairs they first re-opened it to runners and bicyclists and now vehicles can drive to the top. There are several hiking trails up to the top of the mountain. Mount Scott isn't Pikes Peak, but the summit still offers some pretty impressive views. Management makes everyone leave at sunset unfortunately. The mountain road used to stay open well into night time hours.
The Wichita Mountains has a lot of different hiking and biking trails. I kind of like the one at Sunset going up Elk Mountain. It's a fairly long hike but pretty fun. BTW, the "best" time to do all the hiking has kind of passed. I think the first warm snaps during winter are the best and safest times along with certain periods in November after the first freeze. Stinging bugs are at the minimum. Snakes are still hibernating. It's beautiful to go hiking out there when trees and plants are starting to bloom. BUT, just wear long pants and hiking boots and keep an always keep an eye out for snakes.
Broken Arrow seeks grant to widen street to 7 lanes
QuoteThe city of Broken Arrow has applied for a grant to widen a section of Lynn Lane Road, or Ninth Street, to seven lanes.
The city of Broken Arrow is seeking a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the Ninth Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project to improve traffic flow from Kenosha (71st) to Albany (61st) streets.
The proposed project would widen Ninth Street, also known as Lynn Lane Road and 177th East Avenue, from five to seven lanes – three lanes in each direction with a center turn lane and a new westbound entrance ramp to the Broken Arrow Expressway, Oklahoma 51.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/broken-arrow-seeks-grant-to-widen-street-to-7-lanes/article_6d7789fe-b9ae-11ec-b993-5f60d87f99b7.html
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on April 12, 2022, 01:29:13 AM
Broken Arrow seeks grant to widen street to 7 lanes
QuoteThe city of Broken Arrow has applied for a grant to widen a section of Lynn Lane Road, or Ninth Street, to seven lanes.
The city of Broken Arrow is seeking a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the Ninth Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project to improve traffic flow from Kenosha (71st) to Albany (61st) streets.
The proposed project would widen Ninth Street, also known as Lynn Lane Road and 177th East Avenue, from five to seven lanes – three lanes in each direction with a center turn lane and a new westbound entrance ramp to the Broken Arrow Expressway, Oklahoma 51.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/broken-arrow-seeks-grant-to-widen-street-to-7-lanes/article_6d7789fe-b9ae-11ec-b993-5f60d87f99b7.html
I Hate JQUERY.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/broken-arrow-seeks-grant-to-widen-street-to-7-lanes/article_6d7789fe-b9ae-11ec-b993-5f60d87f99b7.html
Quote
In addition to mitigating congestion and traffic accidents, the proposed project will increase overall safety by constructing an area of separation between vehicles and pedestrians, the city said in a news release.
"We believe this is a critical infrastructure project for our community, and we enthusiastically support it," Wimpee said.
"We believe the project will greatly improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow in the area," she said. "This will allow lower-income residents better access to goods, services, recreational areas, and local places of employment."
The RAISE Grant, if awarded, would supplement existing local funds from the 2018 general obligation bond and possible state of Oklahoma funding.
Oklahoma does have some boring parts, but the same can be said of most states. It actually has more terrain types than almost any other state. I've driven US-412 all the way across a couple of times now, and it takes more than a day to cross Oklahoma doing it unless you drive past daylight hours. We stopped at Gloss Mtn. just 3 weeks ago on the way to Alma, CO for Spring Break for a leg stretch, pit stop and some picture taking, so funny Bugo's picture should pop up. I find Oklahoma to be more scenic southeast of I-44 in general, Gloss Mtn. not withstanding. Oklahoma is certainly no Illinois! And section line roads and wind turbines aren't predominant features until you get out of the green country.
What most people that don't actually have experience with Oklahoma don't understand is that it's 8 different regions in a trenchcoat pretending to be a coherent state.
One of those zones is southeast of Idabel:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52009075700_be5123b7ed.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2neS7eJ)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52008612908_2f081e7bd3.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nePJEy)
TW Article outlining some of the major projects happening around the city:
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/ramp-closures-bridge-replacements-to-tie-up-traffic-in-west-tulsa-owasso/article_39664772-b93b-11ec-97c6-3bf1ebab1e89.html
Has ODOT put up any plans that show replacements for the cloverleaf at the BA Expressway and I-44?
Quote from: will_e_777 on April 21, 2022, 11:28:50 AM
Has ODOT put up any plans that show replacements for the cloverleaf at the BA Expressway and I-44?
ODOT has budgeted $6 million for right of way and utilities for 2025. But other than that, no.
They do have $5 million budgeted for the BA and US-169 for right of way and utilities in 2025 and another $31 million in 2027 for actual construction.
Quote from: skluth on March 23, 2022, 01:54:47 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:32:15 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 23, 2022, 01:28:27 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 23, 2022, 01:20:19 PM
I mean depending on how you look at it it isn't even in the top 20 flattest states.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/flattest-states
Funny how that map was made at the University of Kansas. Someone didn't like Kansas being called flat... :D
Hah I didn't catch that
It's not only Kansas that is flatter than Oklahoma by their criteria. It's Missouri (ever hear of the Ozarks), Wisconsin (has both the Canadian Shield and the Driftless Area), Virginia (I guess the western half including the Blue Ridge and Appalachians doesn't count), New York (Adirondacks, Catskills, etc), Pennsylvania (Alleghanies, etc), and California (yea, there's the Central Valley and Mojave, but the Sierra Nevada and Coastal Ranges aren't flat). OTOH, North Dakota and Illinois are among the least flat states by their criteria and both are ungodly flat with just a few hilly areas. The only real terrain in Kansas is the Flint Hills and they aren't all that hilly. That's the problem with garbage criteria. If I ever needed evidence to show garbage in -> garbage out, that might be Exhibit A.
Sorry this is a late reply, but umm... I think you read their table completely backwards, their rankings are exactly the opposite! Here's a summary:
The %Flattest column is the rating for percentage of the state is is completely flat, so a higher percentage here means the state is flatter.
Oklahoma's score for %Flattest is 3%.
The states you mentioned as being rated flatter all have the same or
lower score for %Flattest (meaning they are actually rated
less flat):
MO: 3%
WI, VA, CA: 2%
NY, PA: 1%
On the other hand, ND and IL are rated higher for %Flattest at 8% and 9%, respectively.
You can also look at the %Not Flat column if you want to look at it the other way, the scores there also line up with what you'd expect.
US-169 project in Owasso begins Monday: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/u-s-169-work-to-begin-monday-in-owasso-will-last-18-months/article_1c1c1ca2-e1e3-11ec-acdb-37c9fc733580.html
Update: US-169 overpass project to rehab expansion joints is about to switch to east side of overpasses NB at 55th and the RR just south of 51st Street South.
SB Looks like they're about switch to west side lanes over 71st and 81st already.
81st street between Memorial/Sheridan about to move to new lanes (eventually the EB side) while the new WB side gets built.
Yale Ave between 81st and 91st about to reopen to one lane each direction (thinking end of July).
They're going to open one lane of Yale in July? They had better hurry up if they plan on doing that.
Quote from: bugo on June 15, 2022, 05:31:33 PM
They're going to open one lane of Yale in July? They had better hurry up if they plan on doing that.
Agreed, but that's what the project manager is thinking/dreaming/hoping-LOL.
"Project Manager Elliot Stiles: the wall being built to widen the road is coming up and soon the road closed signs will be coming down.
"When we reach the end of July that is when we are going start looking at reopening to traffic, so our plan is to reopen on the 26th of July," Stiles explained."
https://www.fox23.com/news/city-tulsas-road-work-81st-yale-begins-phase-two/6QLUA5AY7NEEBNFA5XGIXXRHSI/
I was at 81st and Yale about 4 hours ago, and I didn't see any evidence of construction other than the road closed signs.
The Tulsa area has received several RAISE Grants:
QuoteTulsa, Jenks transportation projects get federal infrastructure grants
OKLAHOMA CITY – Officials on Thursday announced the receipt of federal grants totaling millions of dollars for transportation projects in Tulsa and Jenks, including one that will reconnect 51st Street under U.S. 75.
The projects are among six totaling $48.7 million for Oklahoma from the federal government's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity funds. Total allocations so far this year have totaled $2.2 billion.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation received $10 million in federal RAISE funds to reconstruct one mile of West 51st Street by reconnecting two ends of the street under U.S. 75.
The project will include a sidewalk along the entire length, a new pedestrian bridge over a railroad and a new connection to the Arkansas River trail system.
The project includes the construction of new bridges on U.S. 75 over 51st Street, as well as bridges on the southbound to westbound and westbound to northbound ramps in the Interstate 44-U.S. 75 interchange, the grant application says.
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The project is expected to reconnect neighborhoods that were severed with the construction of U.S. 75 more than 60 years ago, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said in its grant application.
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Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz said the project will have a bicycle and pedestrian component to tie into the trails on the river.
The I-44 and U.S. 75 interchange in the same area is currently under construction, he noted, adding that that the $250 million interchange is being built in phases.
"This 51st Street connection is a phase of that project that was pretty important," Gatz said. "It ties everything back together as we continue with construction."
In addition, the Indian Nations Council of Governments will receive $16.2 million to provide a multimodal trail system in connection with the south Tulsa and Jenks dam project that will separate bicyclists and pedestrians from motorized traffic along the east and west banks of the Arkansas River.
The project also includes several sustainable projects, such as low-impact development to protect water resources, electric-vehicle charging stations and a land buffer along the river to reduce erosion.
The funds will allow officials to build a trail system connecting Jenks, Tulsa and Muscogee Nation communities, said Jenks Mayor Cory Box.
The west bank connection will connect Jenks with trails on the west side of the river to Tulsa and the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness.
It is also another step closer to making the south Tulsa and Jenks low-water dam a reality, Box said.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said this moves the area "one step closer to realizing a dream Tulsans have had for over 50 years and is yet another reminder of the better city we can build when we work together."
In 2016, both Jenks and Tulsa residents passed Vision Tulsa ballot measures to invest in the Arkansas River by building a low-water dam between the river's south Tulsa and Jenks banks. The dam is expected to have a major economic impact along that stretch of the river.
With the multimodal trail system funded, officials said they are close to closing the loop on funding the dam project.
"For 50 years, city leaders have envisioned developing two lakes in our river," said Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin. "This project will give us unlimited opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, exercise and gather as a community."
- https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/tulsa-jenks-transportation-projects-get-federal-infrastructure-grants/article_7eff8ee8-1998-11ed-92b9-bbf9a4f3df9c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
Yale Avenue between 81st and 91st is now open to traffic. Only two lanes are open, mostly on the original alignment, but there are lots of signs of construction.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials open new lanes over Keetonville HillQuoteThose driving between Claremore and Owasso took a different turn Thursday morning after the Oklahoma Department of Transportation opened up the new four-lane highway over the top of Keetonville Hill.
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2022-09-01/oklahoma-department-of-transportation-officials-open-new-lanes-over-keetonville-hill
Quote from: bugo on August 14, 2022, 07:25:03 PM
Yale Avenue between 81st and 91st is now open to traffic. Only two lanes are open, mostly on the original alignment, but there are lots of signs of construction.
Just drove this a couple days ago. Lots and lots of work happening on this stretch of road. I could be wrong, but it almost looks like the NB lanes and SB lanes are being built at different heights as a result of the steep hill it traverses. It looks like retaining walls are being built. Also the 81st project is looking pretty good; new pavement is almost completely poured from what I can tell.
I Hate Bad Drawings Made By Bad Peoples:
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2022-09-01/oklahoma-department-of-transportation-officials-open-new-lanes-over-keetonville-hill (https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2022-09-01/oklahoma-department-of-transportation-officials-open-new-lanes-over-keetonville-hill)
Quote
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classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
KWGS Public Radio Tulsa
Local & Regional
Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials open new lanes over Keetonville Hill
Public Radio Tulsa | By Cassidy Mudd
Published September 1, 2022 at 5:38 PM CDT
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hw_20_construction_powered_parachute
A photo of the ongoing construction on State Highway 20 taken by Michael Mudd from a powered parachute on July 29, 2022.
Those driving between Claremore and Owasso took a different turn Thursday morning after the Oklahoma Department of Transportation opened up the new four-lane highway over the top of Keetonville Hill.
T.J. Gerlach with the transportation department said the new road is part of ODOT's ongoing project to help make the area's commute safer for drivers.
"The new main line of highway 20 is going to eliminate the curvy portion at the bottom of the hill, and that's a very high maintenance area for us," Gerlach said.
Over the past several years, Gerlach said crews have struggled to manage the portion of State Highway 20 on Keetonville Hill due to a number of issues caused by landslides.
"You know, rocks and stuff come down from up above," Gerlach explained. "Especially during heavy rainfalls and such, the surface of the road itself gets undermined and slides down the hill."
Gerlach said the old portion of Highway 20 will be turned over to Rogers County officials who will decide what to do with the road next.
In the meantime, transportation crews will continue working to finish the project.
(https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16834c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/853x1137+0+71/resize/150x200!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F70%2F19%2Fdddcdca34d73ae87798c2f6fef8f%2Fcassidy-mudd-bio-pic.jpg)
Cassidy Mudd
Before making her way to Public Radio Tulsa, KWGS News Director Cassidy Mudd worked as an assignment editor and digital producer at a local news station. Her work has appeared on ABC, CBS, and NBC affiliates across the country.
© 2022 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577
A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
The US-62 bridges over the Arkansas river were reportedly demolished by explosives this morning as part of the replacement project. Anyone have any footage?
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on March 14, 2023, 10:43:24 AM
The US-62 bridges over the Arkansas river were reportedly demolished by explosives this morning as part of the replacement project. Anyone have any footage?
http://www.news9.com/story/6411cca6a2cca607242b7bde/highway-62-bridge-over-the-arkansas-river-closes-for-bridge-replacement
Some pictures of the construction along Yale between 81st and 91st that were taken on December 5, 2022.
(https://i.imgur.com/63zLT1Y.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5NlyOvR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IGrVUl9.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/AKydvxH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wlbFBRm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uUw5qg6.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/HVn1Xzg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/E8udMcS.jpg)
What did they do with all the fill they've removed? Looks like they removed a lot of the grade.
Some pictures of the construction along Yale Aveue headed southbound between 81st and 91st that were taken on May 18, 2023.
(https://i.imgur.com/I7aQdt6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MPT6mQp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/85Lq7Zx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8JtGGQW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZMLwnpa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vfXP1le.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/uboRWXB.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/5y6cocN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aTnxAKT.jpg)
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81st between Sheridan and Memorial is virtually finished. Only one lane is open eastbound, but the road looks otherwise complete except for a couple of signs that need to be installed.
FYI, google maps has updated their aerial imagery for the Tulsa area and it shows many road projects underway like this one at RT 66 and the 44: Dropped pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YvE6vE6K1TJs5poD8?g_st=ic
All four lanes of 81st Street between Sheridan and Memorial are now open and all construction signs and barrels are gone. Now they need to work on Sheridan between 81st and 91st. Does anybody know if there are plans to widen it?
Highway 75 bridge repairs causing major traffic delays
One lane is closed heading northbound along Highway 75 at Polecat Creek
TULSA, Okla. – During a routine bridge inspection on Tuesday, crews discovered an 11-inch crack in one of the beams, forcing them to shut down one lane along Highway 75 heading northbound, and it's been a traffic nightmare for drivers ever since.
"This bridge is impacting so many people in our Tulsa community," says Sally Mulready.
Mulready is a local real estate agent who lives in the area and spends a majority of her day in her car.
"To have Highway 75 backed up and down to one lane, I tell you it's difficult. There is only that one highway from all things south and Glenpool to really be able to get up to the downtown area," she said.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the area most impacted by the bridge repair is on the northbound 75 bridge over Polecat Creek, between the Creek Turnpike and 96th street in Jenks
https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/highway-75-bridge-repairs-causing-major-traffic-delays
The stretch across Polecat Creek and Nickel Creek needs to be redone. The shoulders are narrow, and the guardrail o both sides of the road make it feel claustrophobic and drivers often feel like they have to slow down. I used to drive from Glenpool to I-44/US 75 several days a week, and US 75 isn't a relaxing drive at all, especially at 6am through rush hour. Miserable drive.
Quote from: bugo on July 29, 2023, 10:15:22 PM
The stretch across Polecat Creek and Nickel Creek needs to be redone. The shoulders are narrow, and the guardrail o both sides of the road make it feel claustrophobic and drivers often feel like they have to slow down. I used to drive from Glenpool to I-44/US 75 several days a week, and US 75 isn't a relaxing drive at all, especially at 6am through rush hour. Miserable drive.
ODOT has buying the ROW to redo 75 in Jenks and Glenpool on the 8-year plan. That stretch carries 55k cars a day. In a decade when they get around to replacing those 60 year old bridges and widening that stretch of highway it will likely be 70k a day. The traffic jams will be enormous and it should have been done 20 years ago.
It necessary all small projects but a summary of many projects to come to the Tulsa Metro: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/odot-construction-work-plan-includes-nearly-670-million-for-tulsa-county-projects/article_e06d4f42-7a7e-11ee-b428-3b300ebfe9ed.html
From https://m.facebook.com/groups/4131525413606894/posts/6116272488465500/
---The city manager gave an update on the HWY 75 and 141st Street project. The final designs are in from ODOT. The project will not involve the need for any extra right of way by ODOT. It calls for an over pass to go over 141st street with signalization underneath. There will be no access to westbound 146th street if you are coming from the south heading north and no access to eastbound 146th street if you are coming from the north heading south. There also will be no access to Domino's, the sod store, the strip mall with the tag agency, donut shop, Whistler's, pool hall etc. for anyone coming from the north and heading south. Nor will anyone leaving those areas be able to cross the highway and go south. All traffic flowing out of those areas will need to go north to 121st and then come back south. The city understands this may cause a problem for residents and businesses and they asked ODOT to change that plan and ODOT has thus far refused. There is a public hearing on November 28th at the Conference Center from 5:30-7:30 pm where ODOT will present their final plan to the public. Citizens who may have a concern with the plan are urged to attend the hearing and voice those concerns directly to ODOT. The bid timeline for the project is Spring of 2024 with hopeful construction beginning in Summer of 2024. The project is expected to take 10 months to complete at a price tag of $27 million. This is considered a temporary fix as ODOT has long range plans to widen 75 to 6 or even 8 lanes as it comes through Glenpool. Any bridge work done will be done with that expansion in mind so new bridges will not need to be built in the future. That project has not made it onto ODOT's 8 year plan as of yet.
ODOT meeting notice with project documents:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2023/public-meeting-set-for-nov--28-in-glenpool-to-present-intersecti.html
This has been mentioned on the TM forum, but I don't think it's made it here yet. Several highway designation changes have been made in Sapulpa, which have been discussed in this thread (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=5496.msg33821) over on TM. I happened to drive through part of Sapulpa today, and snapped a couple of pictures:
This assembly is at the OK 66/OK 117/(former OK 117) intersection on the SE side of Sapulpa, looking west:
(https://imgur.com/p9YdBTl.jpg)
GSV of old assembly at this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gYUhTKT1omJnU3LB9
This assembly is at the former OK 66/OK 117A intersection, looking north:
(https://imgur.com/AD5wTbb.jpg)
GSV of old assembly at this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTJrDy7RtxtWy7NN8
It seems like OK 66 is fully rerouted to the new alignment following OK 117 and OK 117A, while OK 117A has not been decommissioned yet. I unfortunately did not stop by OK 97 or US 75A to see those changes.
A $57 million project starts Monday to completely rebuild five miles of I-244 in west Tulsa from the I-44 split north to the Arkansas River bridge going into downtown.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/interstate-244-west-of-downtown-is-going-to-be-a-much-smoother-ride-but-it/article_65233880-c07c-11ee-a9e0-b350fe939177.html
Quote from: swake on February 01, 2024, 11:06:15 PM
A $57 million project starts Monday to completely rebuild five miles of I-244 in west Tulsa from the I-44 split north to the Arkansas River bridge going into downtown.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/interstate-244-west-of-downtown-is-going-to-be-a-much-smoother-ride-but-it/article_65233880-c07c-11ee-a9e0-b350fe939177.html
About time! :clap:
Too bad they're not going to remove the left exit at US 75.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on February 02, 2024, 12:22:11 AM
Too bad they're not going to remove the left exit at US 75.
It's signed as a left exit, but it's actually a major split.
Quote from: bugo on February 02, 2024, 12:32:51 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on February 02, 2024, 12:22:11 AM
Too bad they're not going to remove the left exit at US 75.
It's signed as a left exit, but it's actually a major split.
Assuming this becomes I-45 one day maybe they should keep US-75 in together and have I-244 exit onto it or vice versa.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on February 02, 2024, 01:03:21 AM
Quote from: bugo on February 02, 2024, 12:32:51 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on February 02, 2024, 12:22:11 AM
Too bad they're not going to remove the left exit at US 75.
It's signed as a left exit, but it's actually a major split.
Assuming this becomes I-45 one day maybe they should keep US-75 in together and have I-244 exit onto it or vice versa.
The plan is to widen US-75 to six/eight lanes from the I-244 split to 151st over the next several years. It will become the much larger highway. I don't see a need to ever widen I-244 to move than four lanes south of the US-75 split. Next year is going to be a very tough year to drive US-75
Starting this fall widening to six lanes from 41st to I-44
Starting this fall completion of the I-44 interchange
Starting this fall widening to 6-8 lanes from I-44 to 65th St
Starting this fall the 61st St interchange to be rebuilt
Starting late next year the 81st interchange will be rebuilt including widening from 75th St to past 81st St
Starting next year rebuilt bridges over Bird Creek (at about 101st ST)
Starting this summer building a new interchange with service roads at 141st ST
^^^cool! Lots of good projects happening. Not sure if I've ever been on US-75 in the Tulsa area. Sounds like a lot of stuff is overdue though.
It's good to hear they're going to widen US-75 going South out of Tulsa down to Glenpool. But if there is any long term desire to install Interstate shields on this corridor from Tulsa to Dallas ODOT has to start laying the groundwork for freeway upgrades South of Glenpool.
It's going to be pretty odd if they widen US-75 to a 3x3 configuration down to the interchange with OK-67 but then have US-75 start hitting at-grade intersections immediately South of that exit, starting with E 156th Street.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on February 02, 2024, 08:11:55 PM
It's good to hear they're going to widen US-75 going South out of Tulsa down to Glenpool. But if there is any long term desire to install Interstate shields on this corridor from Tulsa to Dallas ODOT has to start laying the groundwork for freeway upgrades South of Glenpool.
It's going to be pretty odd if they widen US-75 to a 3x3 configuration down to the interchange with OK-67 but then have US-75 start hitting at-grade intersections immediately South of that exit, starting with E 156th Street.
They do plan to widen US-75 to 6/8 lanes fully interstate quality from OK-67/151st ST north to downtown within the next decade or so. It will be weird to go from a rural style 4 lane divided highway at 156th St with curb cuts and at grade intersections to suddenly a 6+ lane major urban highway with service roads at 151st St. That's Oklahoma.
I'm talking about the situation South of Glenpool -going South of the intersection with E 151st Street toward Olkmulgee. They're probably going to need to add continuous frontage roads outside of the main lanes. Doing that is going to be a tight squeeze in more than a few locations. If they copy some of the design ideas used in Indiana on the I-69 upgrade of IN-37 they might be able to make it work. They'll have to sandwich frontage roads to the main lanes and separate them using a concrete Jersey barrier. That will save a good amount of space.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on February 03, 2024, 05:28:43 PM
I'm talking about the situation South of Glenpool -going South of the intersection with E 151st Street toward Olkmulgee. They're probably going to need to add continuous frontage roads outside of the main lanes. Doing that is going to be a tight squeeze in more than a few locations. If they copy some of the design ideas used in Indiana on the I-69 upgrade of IN-37 they might be able to make it work. They'll have to sandwich frontage roads to the main lanes and separate them using a concrete Jersey barrier. That will save a good amount of space.
The state is slated over the next few years to purchase the needed ROW on US-75 all the way south to 211th St, which is the Tulsa County line.
South of there to Okmulgee there really aren't that many at grade intersections. There's an interchange now at Beggs (OK-16) and one under construction at Preston. Upgrading US-75 to limited access to Okmulgee wouldn't be that big a job. Building something around Okmulgee would be very big and expensive. It would be good to do, all those semis going through the heart of Okmulgee hitting a dozen or so stop lights is pretty dangerous and stupid.
It's good news they're starting to build an interchange on US-75 in Preston. That's one of the more tricky locations along US-75 between Glenpool and Olkmulgee. The intersection with Hectorville Road, just South of the Tulsa County line will need an interchange. It would be interesting to see how it would get built.
The most difficult task is a bypass around Olkmulgee. That partial loop OK-56 loop in town probably isn't going to be any good to use for upgrading into a freeway. They might have to build a new route farther East or West around town.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on February 03, 2024, 08:39:13 PM
It's good news they're starting to build an interchange on US-75 in Preston. That's one of the more tricky locations along US-75 between Glenpool and Olkmulgee. The intersection with Hectorville Road, just South of the Tulsa County line will need an interchange. It would be interesting to see how it would get built.
The most difficult task is a bypass around Okmulgee. That partial loop OK-56 loop in town probably isn't going to be any good to use for upgrading into a freeway. They might have to build a new route farther East or West around town.
Making 75 a freeway from the Tulsa County line south to Henryetta will NEVER happen; mostly for all the reasons listed above. IF I45 is ever extended into Oklahoma, it will track 69 to Checotah and end there at the junction with I40.
With the way Texas has been handling super highway route designations for the past 30 years I think chances are pretty slim for I-45 to get extended North from Downtown Dallas. The chances aren't zero, but they're still pretty low.
Oklahoma could boost the chances of I-45 being signed in the Sooner State, but only if the state's lawmakers make any noise about it. These days they're more obsessed with culture wars than infrastructure issues.
I do think much of US-69 from the Red River to Big Cabin will be Interstate quality. But lesser quality gaps will remain. People in Muskogee blocked efforts for a limited access bypass. That's probably the biggest factor why an I-45 extension would end at I-40 in Checotah. Although ODOT could just simply build a new bypass farther around Muskogee, outside city limits and that local government's jurisdiction. Or ODOT could slow-walk maintenance on US-69 in that town in order to let heavy trucks beat that town's streets more to shit. Over the long term, if I-57 gets completed between Little Rock and Sikeston that could draw commercial traffic away from the US-69 corridor. That could speed up the process of towns like Atoka of drying up.
Regarding Okmulgee, rather than build an all new bypass, I would like to see ODOT simply extend the OK 56 Loop bypass to the south back to US 75, four lane it, and build some kind of interchange at the current US 75/OK 56 Loop intersection (maybe something similar to the US 61/Devereux Drive interchange in Natchez?). I think that would be perfectly adequate for the traffic going through town.
As for the rest of US 75, the only place where I would want an interchange is at 141st. That desperately needs an interchange. I've been stuck at that light for 4 cycles in a row during rush hour; it needs to go. I could see ODOT building interchanges to improve safety between Glenpool and Okmulgee, but I don't think it should be a priority, as traffic flows fine along that section of the route. My personal wish for 75 that ODOT would remove the ramps from US 75 to 111th. With OK 364 being right there, it causes way too many merging conflicts.
They could
double-barrel that OK-56 partial loop in Okmulgee. But they don't have nearly enough ROW to make it limited access. There isn't any room for frontage roads to handle all the driveways currently connecting into the main road. The intersection with OK-56 and US-75 on the North end of town doesn't have any spare room at all for freeway directional ramps. Even if they four lane OK-56 the intersection there at US-75 would be like that of a busy urban intersection with a traffic signal.
The situation in Olkmulgee is further complicated by all the Creek Nation trust land in town. The Creek Nation tribal complex is built next to one of the corners at OK-56 and US-75. Just like the situation in Muskogee, the prospect of building a freeway (or tollroad) bypass around town would require going well outside of city limits.
QuoteAs for the rest of US 75, the only place where I would want an interchange is at 141st.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/business/new-interchange-planned-for-u-s-75-and-141st-street-in-glenpool/article_b01dc40e-88b9-11ee-bd74-dff51957a607.html
I noticed in the latest 8 year ODOT plan, there is work on "selected movements" for I-44/BA Expressway, BA Expressway/169 interchanges. Are there any plans that show what that will look like? Thanks,