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[Scott5114]

Tom Cole forgets every urban area exists.

[Bobby5280]

I feel bad for Lawton. In regards to Oklahoma, it’s not a city that is insignificant either for the state. It should get more than it gets. The fucking traffic signals in some parts of the city look like they are from the 70s. Lawton needs a freeway loop around it.

There is a lot of things that look dated in Lawton. Regarding freeways, Rogers Lane (which runs between Fort Sill and Lawton) badly needs to be upgraded. It's a fake freeway that's little more than a glorified street. I don't even know how it can carry the US-62 designation since it doesn't even have any shoulders. On top of that the portion of I-44 that runs through Fort Sill needs to be improved. The stretch running past Key Gate looks like a throwback to the 1960's.

Lawton does need a Southern bypass, mainly to connect the big industrial district to I-44. There is an enormous Goodyear tire plant out there along with several other industrial facilities. 82nd Street is one outlet used to go South out of town to avoid Lawton traffic and connect with I-44 via OK-36. 82nd Street is just beat to hell. The road's deteriorating condition is wreaking havoc on trucks. Goodyear has complained about it. The only thing that appears to be happening is just one patch job on the street after another.

My hope is this, medicine park is a really cool low key area that hasn’t really been discovered yet. I suspect as OKC, WF, and Tulsa grow the demand to get out of these big cities to small towns for some R&R will only grow. MP has potential to become a pretty popular town one day if they make the right moves. Maybe this will draw more interest to Lawton.

Lawton has a lot of potential for tourism and other industries. But much of it is going unrealized. There is a lot of activity in Medicine Park though. It does appear more people from OKC, Tulsa and elsewhere have "discovered" it. They're visiting in greater numbers. There is a lot of selling and buying of properties out there lately. The downside is little is being done to improve infrastructure out there. The narrow streets can handle only so much traffic. I could have went out there this past weekend for 4th of July festivities, but I chose to keep my sanity instead.

[rte66man]

I feel bad for Lawton. In regards to Oklahoma, it’s not a city that is insignificant either for the state. It should get more than it gets. The fucking traffic signals in some parts of the city look like they are from the 70s. Lawton needs a freeway loop around it.

There are a lot of things that look dated in Lawton. Regarding freeways, Rogers Lane (which runs between Fort Sill and Lawton) badly needs to be upgraded. It's a fake freeway that's little more than a glorified street. I don't even know how it can carry the US-62 designation since it doesn't even have any shoulders. On top of that the portion of I-44 that runs through Fort Sill needs to be improved. The stretch running past Key Gate looks like a throwback to the 1960's.

Lawton does need a Southern bypass, mainly to connect the big industrial district to I-44. There is an enormous Goodyear tire plant out there along with several other industrial facilities. 82nd Street is one outlet used to go South out of town to avoid Lawton traffic and connect with I-44 via OK-36. 82nd Street is just beat to hell. The road's deteriorating condition is wreaking havoc on trucks. Goodyear has complained about it. The only thing that appears to be happening is just one patch job on the street after another.

Knew you would bring that up

I've often wondered whether the Army is the reason 44 didn't get improved after the original road was built in 1964. The railroads prevent effective widening to the east. Maybe the Army didn't want to give up any of the base?

[SoonerCowboy]

I feel bad for Lawton. In regards to Oklahoma, it’s not a city that is insignificant either for the state. It should get more than it gets. The fucking traffic signals in some parts of the city look like they are from the 70s. Lawton needs a freeway loop around it.

My hope is this, medicine park is a really cool low key area that hasn’t really been discovered yet. I suspect as OKC, WF, and Tulsa grow the demand to get out of these big cities to small towns for some R&R will only grow. MP has potential to become a pretty popular town one day if they make the right moves. Maybe this will draw more interest to Lawton.

The army could decide to further invest in Fort Sill. Perhaps a private company takes it upon itself to build a large manufacturing plant. I wish Stitt would promote SW OK more.

I agree the Medicine Park area has some real growth and tourism potential, along with the nearby Wichita Mountains Wildlife refuge. A big problem with the MP area is a friend of mine, has a band that has performed twice there, and they were telling me that all the restaurants and bars close super early, like even before the concerts were over. I do not know if it is covid related or not, but does seem like they are missing out on major business opportunities.

[Bobby5280]

I've often wondered whether the Army is the reason 44 didn't get improved after the original road was built in 1964. The railroads prevent effective widening to the east. Maybe the Army didn't want to give up any of the base?

I doubt if the Army is an issue. Several other major military installations have very good super highway access. In Georgia I-185 effectively continues as a freeway for miles into Fort Benning. I-781 in Upstate New York was built as a connector for Fort Drum. Watertown nearby doesn't have any freeway loop or spur. Fort Bliss in the El Paso area is surrounded by Loop-375 and US-54 and is divided by the Spur 601 freeway. Fort Hood was part of the pitch to get the US-190 freeway in Killeen re-signed as I-14. The long term pitch for that route is connecting other military installations in the Deep South. To me it appear the military kind of likes super highway access to its installations.

In Lawton, I think the recent work they did to improve the Rogers Lane exit at I-44 was done partly to benefit the Army. The entrance to Fort Sill Gate 2 was re-configured in that project.

It would not be difficult to widen I-44 through the Key Gate area in Fort Sill. The old Rock Island rail line that came up into Lawton from Walters was decommissioned years ago. That rail line is what runs nearest to I-44 by Key Gate. The active BNSF line is adjacent to it about 40-50 yards to the East. If ODOT could get the old rail line ROW they would have more than enough room to add proper width shoulders or even additional lanes to I-44 there.

Of course there's plenty of room to expand Rogers Lane as well. The old "Artillery Village" housing area on the other side of the Rogers Lane sound wall was demolished 15 years ago. It's just unused, vacant land now.

I agree the Medicine Park area has some real growth and tourism potential, along with the nearby Wichita Mountains Wildlife refuge. A big problem with the MP area is a friend of mine, has a band that has performed twice there, and they were telling me that all the restaurants and bars close super early, like even before the concerts were over. I do not know if it is covid related or not, but does seem like they are missing out on major business opportunities.

Perhaps shorter hours could be a COVID-19 thing. I know the Park Tavern stays open til 2:00am on weekends and midnight during the week. Restaurant hours can vary. The Old Plantation stays open til 9:00pm. My thinking is if Medicine Park continues to gain popularity and new places to eat or socialize open the various night spots out there will stay open longer. Just be careful about the police out there. They'll pull you over if you're speeding just a little bit.

[Rothman]

I-781 was built because the Army was threating to shut down Fort Drum if it wasn't (BRAC).

[Bobby5280]

I wish the Army would apply some leverage like that down here. The need for upgrades is quite a bit more legit, IMHO.

[rte66man]

I've often wondered whether the Army is the reason 44 didn't get improved after the original road was built in 1964. The railroads prevent effective widening to the east. Maybe the Army didn't want to give up any of the base?

It would not be difficult to widen I-44 through the Key Gate area in Fort Sill. The old Rock Island rail line that came up into Lawton from Walters was decommissioned years ago. That rail line is what runs nearest to I-44 by Key Gate. The active BNSF line is adjacent to it about 40-50 yards to the East. If ODOT could get the old rail line ROW they would have more than enough room to add proper width shoulders or even additional lanes to I-44 there.

I had missed the diversion of the UP line to the BNSF tracks just north of the Main exit to the fort

[bugo]

For 10+ years, what was US62 (didn't become I-44 until the 80's) took a hard 100 degree turn just north of SW 74th.  That part was built to act as a connector to the H.E. Bailey turnpike when it was opened in 1964. For a couple of years years, US62 narrowed to 2 lanes from 74th south to the South Canadian River. The other lanes were graded, but I'm assuming ODOT didn't have the funds to pave immediately. What was I-440 wasn't completed north until the mid 70's.

Here is a link to an aerial of this curve in 1969.

https://www.historicaerials.com/location/35.393701060303385/-97.5719383238522/1969/16

[Plutonic Panda]

It looks like ODOT is planning a grade separation for SH-4 at Fox Lane:

https://sh4atfoxlane.publicmeetinghub.com/alternatives-considered

ODOT would be wise to buy ROW at SH-37 for a grade separation.

[bugo]

Is there still a 4 way stop at OK 3/OK 4? There was in 2007.

[Bobby5280]

It looks like ODOT is planning a grade separation for SH-4 at Fox Lane:

https://sh4atfoxlane.publicmeetinghub.com/alternatives-considered

The preferred alternative (3A2) is a diamond exit, which is what they need to build, even if they end up having to build it in phases with first a Super 2 arrangement and then Interstate quality dual roadways.

All the at-grade alternatives on that page suck. I can't even believe they have roundabouts as possible "solutions." Ugh. I pray the 3A2 alternative wins out. That would at least extend a 4-lane freeway from the OK-4/I-44 interchange a little farther. It's also important to note the ROW needed for the diamond exit at Fox Lane is already secure. In Google Earth you can see the easement barriers for the roadway based on how the terrain looks. ODOT or OTA could get a 4-lane freeway extended as far North as Rock Creek Road without having to buy any extra ROW.

ODOT would be wise to buy ROW at SH-37 for a grade separation.

They'll have to buy and clear several properties along OK-4 leading up to the OK-4/OK-37 intersection. Three of the four corners at that intersection are occupied by properties. ODOT/OTA would have to buy and clear the properties on at least one side of the road to make room for the freeway and exit. The Western side of the road has fewer properties, but some are going to be pissed about a church getting bulldozed to make way for a super highway. But it's something ODOT/OTA need to do to be honest. That H.E. Bailey turnpike extension needs to at least make it over the Canadian River (and those twin bridges they built in the 1990's). If a OK-4 freeway/turnpike could at least make it into the South edge of Mustang it would leave a fairly short Breezewood along S Sara Road and OK-152. Over time ODOT/OTA could come up with some creative way to bridge that gap.

Is there still a 4 way stop at OK 3/OK 4? There was in 2007.

Do you mean the OK-3/OK-4 intersection on the Northwest outskirts of OKC? Or do you mean the OK37/OK-4 intersection in Bridge Creek? In either case, the answer is yes. Both intersections have traffic signals.

[okroads]

I think bugo's question was regarding there being a 4-way stop sign at OK 3/OK 4 near Piedmont, which there was for a long time. January 2008 is the earliest street view of the area, and the intersection was signalized by then.

[Stephane Dumas]

It looks like ODOT is planning a grade separation for SH-4 at Fox Lane:

https://sh4atfoxlane.publicmeetinghub.com/alternatives-considered

The preferred alternative (3A2) is a diamond exit, which is what they need to build, even if they end up having to build it in phases with first a Super 2 arrangement and then Interstate quality dual roadways.

All the at-grade alternatives on that page suck. I can't even believe they have roundabouts as possible "solutions." Ugh. I pray the 3A2 alternative wins out. That would at least extend a 4-lane freeway from the OK-4/I-44 interchange a little farther. It's also important to note the ROW needed for the diamond exit at Fox Lane is already secure. In Google Earth you can see the easement barriers for the roadway based on how the terrain looks. ODOT or OTA could get a 4-lane freeway extended as far North as Rock Creek Road without having to buy any extra ROW.

And there'S also an intersection with a local street (CR-1226) to get rid of. https://goo.gl/maps/Z9JUy1p2R2h7FZCNA

[Bobby5280]

Yeah, they're just going to have to get rid of that side street entrance (aka CR-1226). It doesn't look like there is enough room to build a frontage road alongside OK-4 from Sooner Road up to Fox Lane. Still, everything in that subdivision next to OK-4 has outlets onto Sooner Road. Mustang Road can be used to drive up to the OK-4 exit at Fox Lane. With a bit of extra ROW on the left side of OK-4 they could re-direct CR-1226 up to Fox Lane. Also, that service barn near the CR-1226 intersection might have to be moved.

[rte66man]

The Texas turnaround at Penn and Memorial was opened for traffic today:

https://twitter.com/OKDOT/status/1534218787775516672?cxt=HHwWgMC40fv20coqAAAA

[Plutonic Panda]

Not sure if I posted this before but ODOT is once again looking at improvements to I-35 in the south metro. The main improvements shown were major investments in the service roads by one way conversions and auxiliary lanes. This would do a lot to help but I still content they need to move the Flood Ave. ramp to the right side of the freeway eliminating the left exit.

Eventually new GP lanes will be needed. I wouldn’t be against HO/T lanes so as long as they were two each way but I seriously doubt that would go over well here especially with the current turnpike controversy. ODOT seemed to hint at a possibility of studying for future GP lanes on I-35 but I can’t remember how they worded it.

Once more information comes out I’ll post a dedicated thread.

The Oklahoma City Department of Transportation is seeking solutions for traffic issues.

The OKC metro does not have the traffic nightmares seen in some other American cities, but it can get worse, especially during the evening rush hour.

Interstate 35 south of the Oklahoma River can turn into a parking lot. At an ODOT meeting on Monday, the traffic experts said traffic will get a whole lot worse in the years and decades to come.

Residents pleaded for improvements for safety and access to the interstate and proposed claims of auxiliary lanes be added and options such as transits, commuter rails and Amtraks.

The master plan needed for this project is set to finish within the next year.

- https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-transportation-solutions-traffic-issues/40210225

[Plutonic Panda]

Expect construction at the SH-74 Hefner parkway Kilpatrick interchange. Minor projects:

The finished $4.4 million project will add protected turnarounds on the east and west sides of the interchange to ease current traffic congestion and increase safety.

- https://kfor.com/news/get-ready-for-traffic-jams-memorial-rd-kilpatrick-tpk-lake-hefner-pkwy/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR3ki7ZXU4xufQD6Udto2cZFBnAMKyGYoz-WYDx9Wp57p5OAhdgwzLCzqiQ

[Bobby5280]

Aren't they planning to add a couple more flyover ramps at the Kilpatrick-Hefner Parkway interchange?

[Plutonic Panda]

Aren't they planning to add a couple more flyover ramps at the Kilpatrick-Hefner Parkway interchange?

Yes. They will complete the entire interchange two more ramps

[rte66man]

Aren't they planning to add a couple more flyover ramps at the Kilpatrick-Hefner Parkway interchange?

Yes. They will complete the entire interchange two more ramps

ODOT's share of the cash for the flyover ramps has already been allocated. Now its a matter of getting OTA to prioritize it over the seemingly 100's of other projects in Access Oklahoma

[Bobby5280]

Yes. They will complete the entire interchange two more ramps

Currently, with 2 existing flyover ramps on the SE corner, the interchange is technically 25% complete. Another 2 ramps for the SW corner would make the Southern half of the interchange complete. There's still the Northern half to consider.

ODOT's share of the cash for the flyover ramps has already been allocated. Now its a matter of getting OTA to prioritize it over the seemingly 100's of other projects in Access Oklahoma

If the project is funded OTA had better get on the ball with it soon. Otherwise the effects of inflation will have the actual project costs bleeding into the red.

[In_Correct]

I Hate Trending:



https://kfor.com/news/get-ready-for-traffic-jams-memorial-rd-kilpatrick-tpk-lake-hefner-pkwy/

NEWS
Construction project starting along busy OKC roadways
by: Heather Holeman/KFOR

Posted: Sep 26, 2022 / 01:52 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 27, 2022 / 07:18 AM CDT

SHARE
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is warning motorists to prepare for traffic tie-ups until spring of 2023 in one of Oklahoma City’s busiest areas.

The John Kilpatrick Turnpike, SH-74 ramps (Lake Hefner Parkway), and Memorial Road will all be reduced to one lane in specific areas starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27th.

Oklahoma City activist arrested following allegations of elder neglect
The finished $4.4 million project will add protected turnarounds on the east and west sides of the interchange to ease current traffic congestion and increase safety.

According to a press release from the OTA, these are the changes motorists can expect until spring, weather permitting:

• The eastbound and westbound John Kilpatrick Turnpike off-ramps to Memorial Rd. will be narrowed to one lane;
• Eastbound and westbound Memorial Rd. will be narrowed to two lanes in each direction between May Ave. and Meridian Ave. with work concentrated at the JKT and SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway interchange. The ramp lane will be closed.
• SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway northbound and southbound service roads (Portland Ave.) will be narrowed to one lane between the JKT bridge and Memorial Rd.
• Northbound and southbound SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway off-ramps to Memorial Rd. will be narrowed to one lane.

The OTA states that motorists should expect delays and to plan extra time in those areas until the project is complete.

[Plutonic Panda]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

[Scott5114]

SH-74 Bridge over I-35 is set to be replaced and allow for a widening of the interstate to six lanes: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/odot-seeks-virtual-public-comments-for-sh-74-at-i-35-goldsby-pro.html

Bizarre timing, considering they just completely redid that interchange. Wonder why they didn't replace it then?