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[bugo]

What ODOT should really be focusing on is getting rid of some of the roads they own and maintain. Oklahoma has way too many state maintained roads. A lot of them are in areas that are pretty much on the decline.

I can't agree with that. Oklahoma's state highway system is much more sparse than some states. For example, Oklahoma's state highway system is 12,254 miles, and the area of the state is 68,578 square miles. Its neighbor to the east, Arkansas, has a state highway system of 16,442 miles and the total area is 53,179 square miles. A ton of county roads in Oklahoma would be state highways in other states.

[Bobby5280]

The funny thing is a lot of these non-descript county roads and section line roads positioned on what seems like every mile notch across the state get a lot of state funding. The roads themselves are one thing. Many of them have numerous bridges to maintain too.

As rural counties in Oklahoma continue to see their median populations shift older (partly from young adults fleeing to OKC, Tulsa, DFW, etc) there is going to be less and less justification to continue maintaining those roads. I'm sure the agri-business industry will need to keep as many of those roads open as possible. But I can see a day when Oklahoma shifts the responsibility of maintaining those roads to those commercial businesses rather than the taxpayers.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma does have highway corridors it seriously needs to improve and expand.

[roadman65]

I was on a portion of US 60 in Northeastern Oklahoma when a funeral procession passed in the opposing direction. During the moment, every car in my direction pulled aside despite not being in the path of the procession.

Is that a state law? Or is that just old school protocol where people just want to show respects to the family of the deceased? 

[Scott5114]

Just old school habits dying hard.

[roadman65]

Figured.

Hey I see on Wiki that US 412 was considered by the Governor in 2021 to be considered an interstate corridor.  Has anyone yet speculated what number would be assigned for it, or is it too early in the game. Logically it should be I-42, but NC has that number taken. If it were to continue to I-35 north of  Oklahoma City, I would say I-46 is available and would be justified as part of it would be north of I-44.

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/11/converting-us-412-to-interstate-standard-faces/

However obstacles remain. It would probably take as long as to complete I-49 from Dyersburg to Texas.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Figured.

Hey I see on Wiki that US 412 was considered by the Governor in 2021 to be considered an interstate corridor.  Has anyone yet speculated what number would be assigned for it, or is it too early in the game. Logically it should be I-42, but NC has that number taken. If it were to continue to I-35 north of  Oklahoma City, I would say I-46 is available and would be justified as part of it would be north of I-44.

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/11/converting-us-412-to-interstate-standard-faces/

However obstacles remain. It would probably take as long as to complete I-49 from Dyersburg to Texas.

They have settled for I-42...

[-- US 175 --]

It would probably take as long as to complete I-49 from Dyersburg to Texas.

I believe that would be I-69 (?).

[The Ghostbuster]

It didn't take long for two non-continuous future Interstate 42's to pop up in the country. It took significantly longer for the country to get two Interstate 76s, two Interstate 84s, two Interstate 86s, two Interstate 87s, and two Interstate 88s. I'm not counting the multiple Interstate 69s and Interstate 74s, since they are (or were) proposed to ultimately be one continuous Interstate corridor (good luck with that).

[roadman65]

It would probably take as long as to complete I-49 from Dyersburg to Texas.

I believe that would be I-69 (?).

Damn. A two off typo. Or one of those thinking purple but saying pink moments.

Yeah I meant I-69. Of course I-49 will eventually get done. Arkansas is just having trouble funding it. Louisiana is just having trouble with Shreveport and I’m guessing money is the issue with US 90 upgrades east of Lafayette.

[Plutonic Panda]

Improvements to US-259 in Hochatown are coming in 2024:

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/programs-and-projects0/public-meetings-and-hearings0/public-meetings-and-hearings/20221027.html

[bwana39]

I was on a portion of US 60 in Northeastern Oklahoma when a funeral procession passed in the opposing direction. During the moment, every car in my direction pulled aside despite not being in the path of the procession.

Is that a state law? Or is that just old school protocol where people just want to show respects to the family of the deceased?

Old School protocol. SOMETIMES family members will make the point in not so innocuous ways. ESPECIALLY on the rural freeway or divided highway. (Do not overtake the hearse. )

[bwana39]

Improvements to US-259 in Hochatown are coming in 2024:

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/programs-and-projects0/public-meetings-and-hearings0/public-meetings-and-hearings/20221027.html

Hochatown is a boomtown. Either it is the ultimate resort location in Oklahoma or it is as I have heard posited elsewhere a really neat way to get an Oklahoma pot card.  (IE build a home there and get a card fairly easily then rent it on AirBnB or VRBO.)

Traffic is terrible. 259 was 2-lane without shoulders. They have put up three or 4 traffic signals. They have added some shoulders.  It is still a mess. Choctaw is building a HUGE casino there. Land prices are huge. Vacancy rates are up and rental prices are falling.

A couple of decades ago, this land was practically worthless. Ranchers and rodeoers from Texas would buy or rent it for dirt prices and let horses and cattle winter there (with minimal feed or hay). There was literally enough land you could rent enough to let the livestock forage on it cheaper than you could feed them at home.

[bugo]

I was on a portion of US 60 in Northeastern Oklahoma when a funeral procession passed in the opposing direction. During the moment, every car in my direction pulled aside despite not being in the path of the procession.
Is that a state law? Or is that just old school protocol where people just want to show respects to the family of the deceased?

Old School protocol. SOMETIMES family members will make the point in not so innocuous ways. ESPECIALLY on the rural freeway or divided highway. (Do not overtake the hearse. )

This is a custom that needs to die (no pun intended). Somebody dies each and every day, and inconveniencing drivers for an archaic, outdated tradition is unnecessary. Society needs to start looking at moving completely away from cemeteries because they take up valuable space and move towards cremation as the default method of disposing of bodies. If I died, I certainly wouldn't want to hold up traffic just because it would make my lazy family think they were doing something.