Oklahoma Highways | Small projects and construction

[Plutonic Panda]

Didn't see a thread for minor projects around the state.

Durant is getting a nice makeover to improve US-69/75 Corridor in Bryant County to upgrade to interstate standards.

From ODOT

Thanks to U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, a federal grant will bring convenience, access and safety to the US-69/75 corridor near Durant, putting highway improvements into the fast lane.

The $62 million FASTLANE grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will help improve safety and efficiency for the significant freight traffic on the US-69/75 corridor by improving approximately four miles of existing highway from Chickasaw Rd. in Calera to US-70 in Durant. This segment has numerous access points, including three signalized intersections and a rail crossing, which create traffic congestion and serious safety concerns. This grant will fund projects to upgrade US-69/75 to a controlled-access highway with grade separations and frontage roads, as well as improvements to rail crossings.

"Without this grant there was no funding solution for this project,"  said ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. "We are thankful to Senator Inhofe, Congressman Markwayne Mullin and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who have all been instrumental in the application process. We have been encouraged by the broad support from entities that are impacted by freight movement in this region."

US-69/75 is a major freight corridor connecting eastern Oklahoma with nearby regional centers like Dallas, Texas and St. Louis, Mo. and with national border crossings.

This was a very competitive grant process, and Oklahoma's application was one of only 18 projects selected out of more than 200 submissions nationwide.

In addition to improving freight movement through this stretch of highway, the upgrades are expected to significantly improve driver safety by reducing intersection-related crashes. Of the 346 collisions on US-69/75 in this area from 2010 to 2014, 63 percent occurred at an intersection and 19 percent involved a commercial motor vehicle. The existing crash rate is four and a half times higher than that of a similar grade-separated, controlled-access segment of US-69/75 in Pittsburg County.

With funding set, ODOT will expedite work to complete the environmental review, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation by Federal Fiscal Year 2018. Construction is tentatively set to begin in FFY 2019. Before announcement of this grant, the right-of-way and utility phases were scheduled for FFY 2023 and construction was not even scheduled in ODOT's Eight-year Construction Work Plan due to no available funding solution.

- https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=23200

Some other articles here:

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=23420

http://durantdemocrat.com/news/5904/grant-awarded-for-highway-6975-upgrade

[Plutonic Panda]

2 more miles of US 69 is getting upgraded to a fully controlled facility in McAlester. Construction to begin later this year.



Meeting materials here: https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20151105.html

[Bobby5280]

It's too bad ODOT can't funding to upgrade a LOT more of US-69 to Interstate standards. There is a huge amount of truck traffic on that corridor. At least these upgrades in Calera and McAlester will be relatively painless. There's next to nothing in terms of property to buy and demolish to make room for the new road. Frontage roads already run alongside those segments.

[Plutonic Panda]

New left lane passing only signs are coming in 2017.

At its Tuesday, Sept. 6 meeting, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a planned Oklahoma Department of Transportation project to place signs on I-35 and I-40 statewide to encourage motorists to use the right lane and not impede left lane traffic. The project to install these signs will use federal funds and is expected to go to bid in early 2017.

- https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=25261

[Scott5114]

NICE

[Otto Yamamoto]

How about DRIVE RIGHT (OVERTAKE) PASS LEFT?

XT1585

[Bobby5280]

Why not "KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS"?

That phrase doesn't speak as directly to thick-headed drivers who insist on driving slow in the left lane. Those new designs have a sternly worded tone, particularly with the "state law" header applied to them.

Some of the rolling road block morons out there don't realize they can get a ticket for driving slow in the left lane and blocking passing traffic on Oklahoma's Interstates and turnpikes. Those new designs should remove any of the "I didn't know" excuses when they get stopped by OHP.

[Plutonic Panda]

New 8 year plan is out.

Here is the press release: https://ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=25968

Links to the districts: https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_______Projects/8_Year_Construction_Work_Plan/

[Plutonic Panda]

Not really anything project related but didn't want to post a new thread for this, OKDOT now has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OKDOT/

Just thought I'd share.

[Plutonic Panda]

Oklahoma's first J-Turn intersection coming to Muskogee.

An upcoming project beginning in spring 2017 will convert the intersection of US-62 and 2-Mile Rd. near Fort Gibson to a J-Turn, the first intersection of this design constructed by ODOT. Image courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration.



How the US-62 J-Turn will work

All north and southbound county road traffic on 2-Mile Rd. will yield at the intersection with US-62 and then make a right turn onto the highway
Through traffic and left-turning traffic will then use a nearby highway median opening to make a U-turn and go back the opposite direction toward 2-Mile Rd.   
Some J-Turn designs include left-turn lanes on the highway and traffic signals. The planned US-62 intersection does not.

https://www.ok.gov/odot/J-Turn_Intersections_101.html

[DJStephens]

Those (J-turn) exist in Missouri.  An attempt to reduce T-bones, no doubt.   

[Plutonic Panda]

Have they worked?

[Plutonic Panda]

https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20170323.html

[Stephane Dumas]

Short news about the Gilgrease expressway. https://tollroadsnews.com/news-briefs/daily-news-briefs-march-3-2017/
Including a map showing the interchanges locations. http://www.newson6.com/story/34653486/city-ok-turnpike-authority-agree-to-build-west-leg-of-gilcrease-turnpike

[Plutonic Panda]

The Jacobs St. bridge in Ardmore was apparently severely damaged by a collision and now needs to either be significantly repaired, replaced, or permanently torn down. Hopefully they replace it and make it nice.

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=37706

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm it sure. I would have to see the traffic counts. But to me, any bridge lost is a step backwards because it's a decrease in mobility. Even if it only served a small amount of people, it could prove useful in times of emergencies or special circumstances. Though I must admit, I'm speaking out of my ass here because I am not familiar with this bridge, the area, or why it was built.

[compdude787]

I'm amazed that an overpass was even built there in the first place. I'm sure that there won't be many tears shed over its loss.

[MCRoads]

I-35/Shields split is getting an APL. thanks for the new APLs Action Safety!

[Scott5114]

The plans I saw showed a diagrammatic there, not an APL.

[kphoger]

thanks for the new APLs Action Safety!

What does this mean?

[Scott5114]

Action Safety is one of ODOT's contractors.

[kphoger]

Thanks!  I was trying to rearrange words and figure out misspellings, nothing was making sense.  Figures, all that was missing was a comma...

[Bobby5280]

Construction on the new H.E. Bailey Turnpike toll plaza (on I-44 near mile marker 66) is finished. However OTA is not going to start operating the toll plaza until January 2018. I thought the plaza was supposed to open this fall. On a local news report they said OTA had all kinds of different testing and other work to do before bringing the new toll plaza into service. Once that plaza becomes operational OTA will demolish the old toll plaza just South of Chickasha. The demolition project will take about 3 weeks to complete. Removal of that old toll plaza will help make room for a new cloverleaf interchange that will be part of a new US-81 bypass. I don't know when construction of that bypass project will begin. Given the sorry condition of the state government's finances I imagine it could be at least a few years before construction begins.

I'll be somewhat glad when the new toll plaza is working and the old one is removed. It's a pain slowing down through there on road trips to OKC. But word has it OTA is going to raise toll prices early in 2018. So that will temper some of the enthusiasm.

Down here in Lawton, ODOT announced a $6 "upgrade" of the Roger's Lane and I-44 interchange in Lawton. The project will begin early in 2018 and be finished by early 2019. I put the "upgrade" part in quotes because I don't think it is much of an upgrade.

They're going to change ramp configurations so they can remove one of the two traffic signals on Rogers Lane, the signal on the East side of the interchange. Their solution is adding a pair of U-shaped cloverleaf ramps so EB Rogers Lane traffic can enter WB I-44 without having to turn left at a signal. The second U-shaped ramp will allow WB I-44 traffic to enter WB Rogers Lane without being held at a signal (but it's still going to be a nearly hard right turn getting on Rogers Lane. The big problem I have with this solution is it absolutely will create a lot of traffic weaving issues under the Rogers Lane bridge over I-44.

So many other places are using braided ramps and newer interchange designs like SPUIs and DDIs. Here in Lawton we're going to get old fashioned, cheapskate remedies. I have to wonder why even bother with this project? It's not even the biggest traffic heading involving I-44 in Lawton. That prize goes to the Gore Blvd interchange with I-44. There's 3 traffic lights in short succession along Gore Blvd through there. IMHO, the Gore Blvd interchange needs to be replaced with a SPUI and the signal just East at Laurie Tatum Road & the entrance to Comanche Nation Casino and Best Western needs to removed and replaced with barrier-separated RIRO turns. That would solve the traffic back-ups through there.

[Scott5114]

Down here in Lawton, ODOT announced a $6 "upgrade" of the Roger's Lane and I-44 interchange in Lawton. The project will begin early in 2018 and be finished by early 2019. I put the "upgrade" part in quotes because I don't think it is much of an upgrade.

I can't imagine it'd be much of one if they're only spending six dollars on it. Then again, that is in line with ODOT's budget...

[compdude787]

Gee, if only every road project was that cheap!