I-35 in Southern Oklahoma

[rte66man]

From the September 2022 ODOT Commission members packet:

Multiple Counties — Districts III and VIl (CI-2379)

The Department has selected EST. Inc. to provide preliminary engineering for I-35: from Ladd Road to Mile Marker 7. Services to include preliminary engineering studies.

CI-2379 EST, Inc.
Total Not to Exceed Amount $2,000,000.00

I would hope this is the beginning of planning to 6-lane I-35 completely from OKC to the Red River.

[rte66man]

Marietta seems like a random place to end the widening.  Logically it should continue up to the northern US-70 interchange in Ardmore, but I guess, monies?

I just checked AADTs, and I agree.  There's no drop-off at Marietta.  In fact, if anything, the section between Thackerville and Marietta needs widening the least, but even that difference is very slim.

In the long-range planning OK-32 from Kingston to Marietta, not US-70 from Kingston to Ardmore is the focus of the lake region traffic.

For traffic from the north, that makes no sense.  From the south, US-82 to US-377 is the better alternative.  OK-32 has many dog legs to iron out, in addition to being 2-lane; not sure why money would be spent on it at all.  But, hey, it's Oklahoma.

I use OK 32 quite a bit to get from Megastar to Winstar casino, and then I use it to go from Winstar to Riverstar casino on US 81. As I've said before in a previous post we need a good east - west turnpike in this area that could go from I-44 to I-35 and possibly all the way to Durant and even the Indian Nation turnpike via mostly OK 32. I think it would really get used. Texans are always debating on other casinos groups about which casino they should visit this weekend ( Choctaw Durant or Winstar) , and I always say "why not both".

At the very least, making US 70 an expressway between Ardmore and Durant should be a priority, along with twinning the span over Lake Texoma.  Extending a US 70 bypass from the Exit 29 interchange to west of Lone Grove makes sense as well, since that area is filling in with local traffic.

Madill bypass and the start of replacing the Roosevelt Bridge are all on the 8-Year Plan.

They have been on the 8 Year Plan for 16 years.

Uhh, no. They were added 2 years ago. They were not in the FFY2020-FFY2027 plan

[Scott5114]

From the September 2022 ODOT Commission members packet:

Multiple Counties — Districts III and VIl (CI-2379)

The Department has selected EST. Inc. to provide preliminary engineering for I-35: from Ladd Road to Mile Marker 7. Services to include preliminary engineering studies.

CI-2379 EST, Inc.
Total Not to Exceed Amount $2,000,000.00

I would hope this is the beginning of planning to 6-lane I-35 completely from OKC to the Red River.

Holy shit, that's a distance of 94 miles. Just what sort of engineering are they expecting to get for $21,000 a mile?

[rte66man]

From the September 2022 ODOT Commission members packet:

Multiple Counties — Districts III and VIl (CI-2379)

The Department has selected EST. Inc. to provide preliminary engineering for I-35: from Ladd Road to Mile Marker 7. Services to include preliminary engineering studies.

CI-2379 EST, Inc.
Total Not to Exceed Amount $2,000,000.00

I would hope this is the beginning of planning to 6-lane I-35 completely from OKC to the Red River.

Holy shit, that's a distance of 94 miles. Just what sort of engineering are they expecting to get for $21,000 a mile?

I think the key word is "preliminary". Sort of a 30,000 ft overview to allow them to focus in on the next round.

[Plutonic Panda]

Update from Tulsa world: https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/oklahoma-transportation-officials-eye-widening-i-35/article_6086a4b0-50d3-11ee-89e1-8bf63ebc16a0.html

[rte66man]

https://blanton.events/ODOT_I-35_LoveCo_vpm/

Virtual open house for the Love County improvements (closed yesterday but still has posted material)

[Plutonic Panda]

In the February commission meeting ODOT brought up improvements to I-35 from the Canadian to the Red River which includes widening it to 6 lanes.

In addition, commissioners approved an engineering contract to begin preparations on expanding I-35 in McClain County from four lanes to six from Johnson Rd. north two miles. A final report on how to address the corridor expansion from the Red River north to the Oklahoma River is still underway and with it will come an interactive dashboard for motorists that will map out critical corridor needs and solutions.

- https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2024/february-commission-meeting-wrap-up-several-projects-underway-on.html

[Plutonic Panda]

Another six lane widening project is on the June Commission meeting:

The commission will vote on whether to award several contracts, among them a project to continue I-35 expansion to six lanes with an interchange reconstruction at I-35/SH-153 in Thackerville, Love County

- https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2024/june-transportation-commission-meeting-scheduled-for-monday--jun.html

[Plutonic Panda]

Don't forget a widening with a joint venture from TxDOT to expand I35 to 8 lanes from the Red River Bridge to MM 1 in Oklahoma should be begin soon as well.

[Plutonic Panda]

Another segment will be widened along with an interchange replacement at SH-153:

Commissioners approved a project to continue I-35 expansion to six lanes with an interchange reconstruction at SH-153 near Thackerville in Love County. This $40 million project picks up at mile marker 3, where six lanes were just completed, and extends north two miles to SH-153. This project is one of many programmed along the I-35 corridor between Oklahoma City and the Texas state line.

- https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2024/june-commission-meeting-wrap-up--odot-preliminary-budget-discuss.html

[Plutonic Panda]

Next phase of widening near Goldsby is set to begin soon with ODOT requesting a federal grant:

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/progress-and-performance/federal-grant-awards/build-grants/build-2026/build-2026-i35-johnson-rd.html

[Bobby5280]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

[Plutonic Panda]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

It's all going to be 3x3 to the Texas state line for some reason ODOT has more miles of I-35 widening planned from Ardmore to Thackerville than Goldsby to Purcell.

[swake]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

Won't the extension of the turnpike lessen traffic on I-35? How would that cause the highway to need to be widened?

[okroads]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

Won't the extension of the turnpike lessen traffic on I-35? How would that cause the highway to need to be widened?

The turnpike will meet I-35 between Goldsby & Purcell at mile marker ~98 and Purcell exits are 95 & 91. It won't bypass Purcell.

[Bobby5280]

The I-35/I-335 interchange itself will need more lanes (probably 4x4 rather than 3x3) to lessen weaving conflicts. A 4x4 lanes configuration may be needed at least some distance South of the I-35/I-335 interchange, probably down to Exit 95 on the North side of Purcell. That's the "Y" split of US-77 from I-35.

[Plutonic Panda]

The I-35/I-335 interchange itself will need more lanes (probably 4x4 rather than 3x3) to lessen weaving conflicts. A 4x4 lanes configuration may be needed at least some distance South of the I-35/I-335 interchange, probably down to Exit 95 on the North side of Purcell. That's the "Y" split of US-77 from I-35.

The next expansion will likely be express/tolled lanes in the 2030s. Hopefully they add 2 each way.

[Bobby5280]

I think ODOT will have enough on its plate just making I-35 a 3x3 lanes configuration from the OKC metro down to the Red River.

[Plutonic Panda]

I think ODOT will have enough on its plate just making I-35 a 3x3 lanes configuration from the OKC metro down to the Red River.

I don't know the exact laws in Oklahoma about toll lanes, but I'm sure they would probably do something in conjunction with the Oklahoma turnpike authority. I don't really anticipate much progress on a widening I-35 unless they get a major infusion of cash from the legislature. I wish they would deal with Missouri did with I 70.

[Bobby5280]

If I-35 was to add dedicated express-toll lanes nearly all the funding would have to come via the OTA. It's impossible for ODOT to do such a thing on its own unless it's getting nearly all the money from federal grants or other federal sources.

Oklahoma's state constitution has a balanced budget law (Article X, Section 23); state agencies can't spend more than what is collected in tax revenue. If spending goes beyond a 95% threshold then automatic spending cuts take effect. That law might be fine for "fiscal responsibility," but it also explains why something like a partial cloverleaf interchange between I-44 and I-235 took over 10 friggin' years to build. The turnpike authority has more flexibility by being able to sell bonds to finance multi-year debt.

Aside from that, I-35 going thru Norman and Moore is one of the most congested highways in the OKC metro. Unfortunately there is hardly enough room to widen I-35 from its current 3x3 lanes configuration to something like 4x4 or even 5x5 lanes. Doing something like a 4x2x2x4 roadway would require a hell of a lot of properties to be bought and cleared. Let's not forget that dedicated express-toll lanes often require additional on/off ramps at important interchanges. That makes the required real estate foot print even bigger.

[Plutonic Panda]

They are definitely going to have to have some sections that are gonna be elevated or below grade. But that's what I've heard is the plan is to work with OTA. I'm not sure how they're gonna do that or what the legalities are of that.

[rte66man]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

It's all going to be 3x3 to the Texas state line for some reason ODOT has more miles of I-35 widening planned from Ardmore to Thackerville than Goldsby to Purcell.

?? Ladd Road to Goldsby is scheduled for FFY2026 and Ladd Road to Johnson Road is scheduled for FFY2027. Johnson Road south is a part of the Access Oklahoma bond and isn't scheduled until 2034.

FFY2031 is the earliest grade, drain, and surface project in Carter County on I-35. For some odd reason, they are widening 35 from US70 north to OK53 at Springer first.

[Plutonic Panda]

All of the segment of I-35 between Goldsby and Purcell needs to be widened to 3x3 pretty soon to help set the stage for the eventual extension of the Kickapoo Turnpike down to I-35. The portion of I-35 going through that system interchange might need to be a 4x4 configuration.

It's all going to be 3x3 to the Texas state line for some reason ODOT has more miles of I-35 widening planned from Ardmore to Thackerville than Goldsby to Purcell.

?? Ladd Road to Goldsby is scheduled for FFY2026 and Ladd Road to Johnson Road is scheduled for FFY2027. Johnson Road south is a part of the Access Oklahoma bond and isn't scheduled until 2034.

FFY2031 is the earliest grade, drain, and surface project in Carter County on I-35. For some odd reason, they are widening 35 from US70 north to OK53 at Springer first.

Well, maybe things have changed, but the last plans I looked at seem to have a lot of funding going towards the southernmost part of I- 35 being widened. All in all I don't think current traffic counts make this a dire need, but it would be nice for Odo to stay ahead of the curve and widening I 35 throughout the entire state, especially south of Oklahoma City, unlike waiting, which is what Texas did and then by the time they widen it to six lanes arguably it needs to be eight and a lot of areas that they just widened.

[Scott5114]

Just a couple of nitpicks, but...

Ladd Road to Goldsby

Ladd Road is in Goldsby.

but it would be nice for Odo to stay ahead of the curve

[Plutonic Panda]

Just a couple of nitpicks, but...

Ladd Road to Goldsby

Ladd Road is in Goldsby.

but it would be nice for Odo to stay ahead of the curve

Oklahoma department of [fill in the blank]