Oklahoma

[Bobby5280]

That video from 2019 is pretty informative. The proposal would get rid of the turbine style loop ramp from EB I-40 to NB Gary Blvd. More importantly, exits 65 and 65A would effectively be combined into one single exit. That would eliminate the dangerous weaving issues present on WB I-40 between the exit 65A on ramp and exit 65 off ramp. I'm not a big fan of roundabouts. Motorists will have to do a good bit more back-tracking when going thru them. But that section of Interstate will be safer.

[Great Lakes Roads]

That video from 2019 is pretty informative. The proposal would get rid of the turbine style loop ramp from EB I-40 to NB Gary Blvd. More importantly, exits 65 and 65A would effectively be combined into one single exit. That would eliminate the dangerous weaving issues present on WB I-40 between the exit 65A on ramp and exit 65 off ramp. I'm not a big fan of roundabouts. Motorists will have to do a good bit more back-tracking when going thru them. But that section of Interstate will be safer.

That design from 2019 has since been replaced with a different design.

ODOT actually went with a diamond interchange for Gary Boulevard with a Texas turnaround. The Texas turnaround will be used for traffic heading to 10th Street/Neptune Drive from westbound I-40 as well as accessing eastbound I-40 from 10th Street/Neptune Drive. Yes, it will still be one interchange, but a different design than what ODOT preferred from the 2019 meeting.

2020 meeting: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/about-us/public-meetings/archive/2020/20201202.html

[rte66man]

That video from 2019 is pretty informative. The proposal would get rid of the turbine style loop ramp from EB I-40 to NB Gary Blvd. More importantly, exits 65 and 65A would effectively be combined into one single exit. That would eliminate the dangerous weaving issues present on WB I-40 between the exit 65A on ramp and exit 65 off ramp. I'm not a big fan of roundabouts. Motorists will have to do a good bit more back-tracking when going thru them. But that section of Interstate will be safer.

That design from 2019 has since been replaced with a different design.

ODOT actually went with a diamond interchange for Gary Boulevard with a Texas turnaround. The Texas turnaround will be used for traffic heading to 10th Street/Neptune Drive from westbound I-40 as well as accessing eastbound I-40 from 10th Street/Neptune Drive. Yes, it will still be one interchange, but a different design than what ODOT preferred from the 2019 meeting.

2020 meeting: https://oklahoma.gov/odot/about-us/public-meetings/archive/2020/20201202.html

Thanks for the update. I knew there were changes but I could not find them.

[Bobby5280]

The updated changes look like a much cheaper design. It still removes the weaving conflicts on WB I-40 currently present between exits 65A and 65. But the trade-off is traffic exiting WB I-40 to Gary Blvd will have to merge with vehicles coming from Neptune Drive to get on I-40.

The U-turn movement along Gary Blvd makes up for two I-40 ramps being removed at Neptune Drive. It isn't much of a bonus, considering the extra distances vehicles coming to/from Neptune Drive will have to cover. I think the short extension of Gary Blvd down to Chapman Road makes up for that a bit. I can't tell if the new I-40 exit with Gary Blvd will have traffic signals. The presence of signal lights could influence how locals access I-40, either using Chapman Road or Neptune Drive.

[BigOkie]

Great YT video by Road Guy Rob going over 'Tulsahenge' at US75 and I-44.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.news9.com/story/686d57c6daec6e8f6f9f189f/class-action-lawsuit-seeks-toll-free-status-for-will-rogers-turnpike-between-claremore-and-catoosa

Someone wants their money back lol...

[The Ghostbuster]

There was a Meatloaf song called "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanegVORJYE. Maybe that pertains in this case.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Road Guy Rob got a shoutout from the OTA.
(Shoutout from the director starts at the 24:23 mark of the video)

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/about-us/public-meetings/2025/20250909.html

A public meeting is coming for a project on I-40 at MacArthur Boulevard and Meridian Avenue in OKC.

It does the following:
-Widens I-40 from six to eight lanes (from three to four lanes in each direction)
-Rebuilds both interchanges to a single-point urban interchange (SPUI)
-Adds an auxiliary (merging) lane in each direction between interchanges

[Great Lakes Roads]

ODOT Nov. 13, 2025, letting:

- Interstate 40 rebuilding and widening from east of Kickapoo Turnpike (I-335) ~MP 171 to 1/2 mile west of McLoud Road (OK 102 North) ~MP 175.5. Replaces two overpasses (Harrah Newalla and Fishmarket Roads) and removing one overpass (Arena Road) while also reconstructing the Harrah Newalla Road interchange in-kind.

[Plutonic Panda]

The new eight year plan for ODOT. is out and it is depressing. So much so I don't even feel like going and grabbing the link, but you can just type the website up and look it up. It's not hard. Lots of projects are pushed back and delayed. Not really too mad at the Oklahoma Department of transportation, knowing that the state doesn't properly fund essential services like transportation or education.

[Scott5114]

[Great Lakes Roads]

Judge to decide if part of Will Rogers Turnpike should become a free road

This entails the segment of I-44 between Catoosa and Claremore. We'll see what the judge has to say on this matter.

[Plutonic Panda]

Hopefully they remove the tolls!

[The Ghostbuster]

They should probably leave the tolls in place. If they do remove the tolls, they should retain the pair of service areas.

[splashflash]

If tolls go, then expect the roads to become like US 93 in northwest Arizona.  Sales taxes are regressive compared to tolls that are raising money from economic activity closest to the infrastructure being built/maintained.

[swake]

Judge to decide if part of Will Rogers Turnpike should become a free road

This entails the segment of I-44 between Tulsa and Catoosa. We'll see what the judge has to say on this matter.

The the section at issue is between Catoosa and Claremore. Tulsa to Catoosa is a free road today, the toll road starts when I-44 turns north in Catoosa north of the 193 E Ave exit. 

[rte66man]

Judge to decide if part of Will Rogers Turnpike should become a free road

This entails the segment of I-44 between Tulsa and Catoosa. We'll see what the judge has to say on this matter.

The the section at issue is between Catoosa and Claremore. Tulsa to Catoosa is a free road today, the toll road starts when I-44 turns north in Catoosa north of the 193 E Ave exit. 

What is the logic in making it a free road? OK66 is a viable free alternative.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Judge to decide if part of Will Rogers Turnpike should become a free road

This entails the segment of I-44 between Tulsa and Catoosa. We'll see what the judge has to say on this matter.

The the section at issue is between Catoosa and Claremore. Tulsa to Catoosa is a free road today, the toll road starts when I-44 turns north in Catoosa north of the 193 E Ave exit. 

I had a brain fart moment LOL

[Scott5114]

If tolls go, then expect the roads to become like US 93 in northwest Arizona.  Sales taxes are regressive compared to tolls that are raising money from economic activity closest to the infrastructure being built/maintained.

The suit seeks to strike down the tolls on a specific section of I-44 in northeast Oklahoma. The remainder of the toll system in Oklahoma would remain unaffected either way.

I am not sure, if the lawsuit is successful, whether this section of road will remain under turnpike authority maintenance or if it would be transferred to ODOT. I suspect it won't really matter, since I don't think this lawsuit will be successful; it seems like it's based on public promises by politicians which weren't made in a way that would be legally binding.

[Bobby5280]

Just a reminder: in a scenario where state lawmakers were to get rid of the tolls on the state's turnpikes (and abolish the OTA) we would see one hell of a gasoline tax price hike as a result.

[Scott5114]

Just a reminder: in a scenario where state lawmakers were to get rid of the tolls on the state's turnpikes (and abolish the OTA) we would see one hell of a gasoline tax price hike as a result.

More likely, that never happens (God forbid the Oklahoma Legislature ever raise taxes) and then ODOT just kind of gives up on doing anything but patching a pothole here or there.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Raise taxes to eliminate toll roads? Really bad idea | Opinion

TLDR- Oklahoma wants to raise the gas tax DOUBLE from 20 cents a gallon to 40 cents a gallon while also getting rid of toll roads. This ain't happening!

[Bobby5280]

More likely, that never happens (God forbid the Oklahoma Legislature ever raise taxes) and then ODOT just kind of gives up on doing anything but patching a pothole here or there.

In a complete tolls-free system, Oklahoma's state government would have no choice but to raise gasoline taxes. ODOT would have 630 miles worth of toll roads dropped into its maintenance burden.

ODOT could try to do other things to lessen the amount of the gasoline tax price hikes.

They could decommission lesser traveled state highways, dumping them off to county governments. The bad thing with that kind of move is most rural counties in Oklahoma are slowly losing population. And the average age of taxpayers in those areas is growing older and older -which translates to fewer working age taxpayers.

ODOT could try making the oil and gas industry pony up more bucks to help offset the wear and tear their vehicles do to roads in the rural areas of the state.

I could also see at least one or more turnpikes downgraded into ordinary divided highways. The Indian Nation Turnpike is one example. The Chickasaw Turnpike is another. Most of Oklahoma's turnpikes wouldn't exist if not for tolls and the cross-pledging arrangement with turnpike bonds. I-44 from Oklahoma City down to Wichita Falls would never have been built if it had to be funded with gasoline taxes. The Turner Turnpike and Will Rogers Turnpike are the only long distance turnpikes in Oklahoma that are profitable.

[Plutonic Panda]

Raise taxes to eliminate toll roads? Really bad idea | Opinion

TLDR- Oklahoma wants to raise the gas tax DOUBLE from 20 cents a gallon to 40 cents a gallon while also getting rid of toll roads. This ain't happening!

I wish it would happen.