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Gilcrease Turnpike extension plans approved by Oklahoma Transportation Commissio
Baloo Uriza:
--- Quote from: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/gilcrease-turnpike-extension-plans-approved-by-oklahoma-transportation-commission/article_8d5f877b-6c17-5018-bab6-ad0eb5795116.html ---OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Transportation Commission on Monday approved the route for a toll road to complete the Gilcrease Expressway.
Last month, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority adopted a resolution to further work on the project, which has been on the books for decades. The estimated cost of completing the final leg of the project is $290 million.
The five-mile, four-lane roadway will include an adjacent multiuse trail and feature 22 bridges, the most expensive of which will be two Arkansas River crossings.
The extension from Interstate 44 in west Tulsa north to Edison Street will be a toll road owned and operated by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.
“The department has completed a review of the proposed alignment and believes that this facility will enhance the safety and functionality of the existing transportation system,” the agency said in a press release.
“The addition will assist in alleviating the growing congestion on major urban interstates and highways in the area and is anticipated to subsequently reduce the number and severity of accidents and improve mobility in the region.”
Department of Transportation Executive Director Mike Patterson said opposition to expanding turnpikes is common but that he has not heard any about the Gilcrease Expressway project.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Executive Director Tim Gatz said the project will help an area of Tulsa that has been underserved.
Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley called the project “long overdue” and said the goal is to have the project under construction before Gov. Mary Fallin leaves office in less than two years.
Ridley said that when Fallin became governor, she told him she wanted the issue resolved. Fallin took office in January 2011 and will finish her second term in January 2019.
The project involves a funding partnership among the city of Tulsa, Tulsa County, the Indian Nations Council of Governments, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the federal government and a private investor.
Fallin said the project is important for the city of Tulsa in the area of economic development and job creation.
In unrelated action, Fallin issued a proclamation declaring April and May work zone awareness months. She encouraged residents to be attentive and patient on the roadways.
Preliminary statistics show that in 2016, some 17 people were killed and 212 were injured in 181 collisions in Oklahoma work zones, according to the department.
Some 60 Oklahoma Department of Transportation employees have been killed in the line of duty in the agency’s history, according to the department.
“If your hands are on the wheel, then you are responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone around you, including yourself,” Patterson said. “We do our part to set up safe work zones in order to make critically needed repairs, but drivers have to do their part, too.”
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I believe this is going to be OK 12 Toll based on OklaDOT section 72-87P, but it appears that the plans have been updated compared to what appears in those control sections. I would presume there's a finalized plan for it to have been approved, and I'm curious where this plan would be available for inspection. A GeoTIFF would be perfect, but a vector of some form would be nice. Bonus if it also has the plans for the lane layout as well.
Henry:
Well, this is good news!
Baloo Uriza:
--- Quote from: Henry on April 11, 2017, 09:58:03 AM ---Well, this is good news!
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An expensive road to nowhere while mass transit barely serves the west side? Not really, no.
Scott5114:
And this is a roads forum.
Baloo Uriza:
--- Quote from: Scott5114 on April 11, 2017, 08:30:37 PM ---And this is a roads forum.
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You can be a roadgeek and enjoy driving and still call out stupid situations when they're stupid.
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