ACCESS Oklahoma

[Great Lakes Roads]

By curiosity, I wondered why the future interchange on I-44 with the future Chickasa bypass wasn't included in the ACCESS  Oklahoma?

Because that's an ODOT project.

[Great Lakes Roads]

President of OU in Norman speaks about the Southern Extension Turnpike with adding two interchanges on the east side of Norman as well as impacts to OU.

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't know if they're just doing this because of the controversy around it or what but I've never really seen any press release about dedicated artwork as part of an Oklahoma Highway project but I'm glad it's happening:

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-turnpikes-public-art-toby-keith-expressway/73348448?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwdGRleATgT0JwZG9mBWZkaWQWUL41Re0lf0vuueZp57xrcXPgJIi6BmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5ntqQ1pph3tEYZexlleTU-iwF5aOBR4O5MMQlJyLV7OFibNzwEioegk2LXSA_aem_xnPR8LkWF_XFBBG3ZIPxyA

[Great Lakes Roads]

Only one ACCESS Oklahoma project to be awarded at the September 1st Commission meeting.

1. EWC-28603A - Interchange at Western Ave (Grade, Drain, Bridge & Surface) 
Sherwood Construction Co., Inc.
$45,300,575.99
East-West Connector Turnpike Toby Keith Expressway
CONST
ACCESS Bond Program

[Great Lakes Roads]

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Abandons Plan For Three Interchanges In Norman

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is abandoning its proposal to add three interchanges to the pending South Extension Turnpike after City Councilors in Norman voted 5-4 to reject them, The Norman Transcript reports.

"At an OTA board meeting Tuesday, Executive Director Joe Echelle said that due to the resolution's rejection, the authority is considering a larger State Highway 9 interchange while preserving the possibility that Norman could request other interchanges in the future." However, such a future request would put the onus of engineering, design, utility relocation and right-of-way acquisitions in Norman's hands, Echelle said.

Also at the meeting, the Echelle was authorized "to negotiate separate project agreements with Norman, Noble, Purcell and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, allowing OTA to pursue potential South Extension and Toby Keith Expressway partnerships without having to return to the board each time an opportunity arises."

[rte66man]

While browsing the AccessOklahoma map, I noticed an update. The proposed 4-level interchange between the Gilcrease and the Tisdale has been reduced to a basic diamond. Understandable as I don't believe the Tisdale will ever be extended north past Sperry.

[Bobby5280]

If they cancelled those 3 interchanges along the South Extension Turnpike hopefully that will speed up the time table for adding new interchanges elsewhere, such as the two on I-44 between Lawton and Chickasha and two others on I-44 between Chickasha and Newcastle.

[Plutonic Panda]

What would be really cool to see a five stack interchange proposed that Highway 9 with Highway 9 being upgraded to a freeway. That'd be hilarious to see how the Nimby's in Norman would react to that.

[Plutonic Panda]

Some more information about more contracts awarded:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/ota-board-awards-133m-in-new-construction-contracts/72162

[Stephane Dumas]

If they cancelled those 3 interchanges along the South Extension Turnpike hopefully that will speed up the time table for adding new interchanges elsewhere, such as the two on I-44 between Lawton and Chickasha and two others on I-44 between Chickasha and Newcastle.

And let's see if they'll regret to have cancelled these interchange in 10-20 years.

Still and I go into fictional roads territory, one interchange they could add on I-44 is at OK-76/Council Road (or Council Ave).

As for the Toby Keith Expressway, it could be numbered as Toll OK-37 since it'll sort of act as a defacto extension of OK-37 although they could also number it as OK-337 and speaking of OK-37, let's see if it'll have an increase in traffic between Tuttle and I-44 once the Toby Keith Expressway will open.

[Bobby5280]

It would sort of make sense to add an interchange on I-44 where it crosses OK-76. The H.E. Bailey Turnpike Extension has an interchange with OK-76 just a couple of miles South of that point. Farther South they have a future interchange proposed at I-44 and OK-92. That's just North of Chickasha and near the Love's Travel Plaza. But the second proposed interchange a few miles Northwest is at CR-1280. That's not exactly a major intersection. I think I probably would have swapped out that one in favor of an interchange with OK-76.

I'm guessing they chose not to build an interchange at I-44/OK-76 since it's about 3 or 4 miles away from the US-62/I-44 interchange.

[Scott5114]

But the second proposed interchange a few miles Northwest is at CR-1280. That's not exactly a major intersection. I think I probably would have swapped out that one in favor of an interchange with OK-76.

CR-1280 is a straight shot into the town of Amber. So while it may not be a major road now, I would expect that interchange to do a lot for Amber. It would effectively be on I-44 then.

CR-1280 is also a straight shot to Saltcreek Casino on US-81, for whatever that's worth. That casino is awkward as hell to access from the OKC area and this will greatly simplify that. I wonder if the Chickasaws kicked some cash in for that interchange.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Toby Keith Expressway Bridge Aesthetics

This artist's rendering depicts the future Toby Keith Expressway interchange at I-35 and features bridge aesthetics that honor the late Oklahoma singer's legacy. These include images of running horses and a guitar pick symbol with Toby Keith's initials.

[Stephane Dumas]

But the second proposed interchange a few miles Northwest is at CR-1280. That's not exactly a major intersection. I think I probably would have swapped out that one in favor of an interchange with OK-76.

CR-1280 is a straight shot into the town of Amber. So while it may not be a major road now, I would expect that interchange to do a lot for Amber. It would effectively be on I-44 then.

CR-1280 is also a straight shot to Saltcreek Casino on US-81, for whatever that's worth. That casino is awkward as hell to access from the OKC area and this will greatly simplify that. I wonder if the Chickasaws kicked some cash in for that interchange.

Good question, it could be possible. Also, an eastern extension of CR-1280 to the town of Blanchard could also be an avenue to explore.

[Scott5114]

Also, an eastern extension of CR-1280 to the town of Blanchard could also be an avenue to explore.

I dunno about that. It looks like the reason CR-1280 dead-ends east of I-44 is because it would have to cross a few miles of terrain with ponds and several tributaries of Walnut Creek in the way. That would make it kind of expensive for a road that would ultimately serve so few people, and Grady County isn't exactly made of money (their existing CR grid is in pretty sorry shape). There are a few different county roads that will get you to CR-1280, and Blanchard proper already has good access to the turnpike system via SH-76 and SH-4. Blanchard is close enough to south OKC that they tend to do their business there rather than in Chickasha, so connections to the south and west aren't super important at the moment.

I imagine CR-1280 will be extended at some point, but it will probably be a couple dozen years in the future and would be spurred by growth in Blanchard and/or Amber.

[Great Lakes Roads]

This 3D rendering is to show the design of the future interchange at the Toby Keith Expressway and I-35 in the Moore/Norman area.

[Plutonic Panda]

This is very exciting. I hope that we see these Texas style interchanges and freeways all around the OKC area.

[Bobby5280]

While I'm glad to see the TKT/I-35 interchange will be a five level stack, I'm slightly disappointed none of the flyover ramps will be 2-lane ramps. The bridge piers in the rendering look fairly plain too. Hopefully they'll have a little more style to them when they're actually built. IIRC this interchange will cost over $800 million. It looks like the turnpike may be in a 2x2 lanes configuration throughout. I hope the tolls aren't crazy expensive. I'm hoping the combination of the Toby Keith Turnpike and Kickapoo turnpike will end up being a convenient OKC bypass for road trips to/from Tulsa. It's not going to be so great if the toll levels are high.