They link takes you to the middle of the thread. The photos are at or near the last post.

Images from the other forum:

http://i.minus.com/ibzMnwdcSMPtth.JPG

http://i.minus.com/imCtK7M87BAZT.JPG

http://i.minus.com/iLKR068hM8w5T.JPG

http://i.minus.com/ivJj3TQwNQYsw.JPG

Anyone know when the stretch from Kilpatrick Turnpike to Garth Brooks Bvld will be widened?

I've been wondering that myself. You'll have very nice road from west of Yukon to Garth Brooks, crap, brand new from Kilpatrick to Council, ok from council to Meridian, crap from Meridian to I-44, and then brand new and very nice from I-44 on into Midwest City.

Is there a highway being built into Midwest City from I-44 or are you talking about existing highway?

Oh I think I understand what you are saying. Are you meaning from the I-44 exit on 40 on to MWC?

yes

Anyone know when the stretch from Kilpatrick Turnpike to Garth Brooks Bvld will be widened?

It starts in 2014.... it's in an ODOT link earlier in this thread I believe.

Anyone know when the stretch from Kilpatrick Turnpike to Garth Brooks Bvld will be widened?

This has all of the future start dates for metro road construction.



http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/cwp-8-year-plan/cwp_ffy2012-ffy2019/pdfs/cwp_ffy2012-2019_division4_okc_metro-map.pdf

Work sure is progressing fast now. Google updated their satellite images to October 12 and there has already been a lot of work done since then. The most obvious example being the eastern connection and the Lincoln bridge.

I guess just need to stop driving I-35 between I-44 and Ft Smith everyday. I was hoping to see additional lanes added at some point.

I guess just need to stop driving I-35 between I-44 and Ft Smith everyday. I was hoping to see additional lanes added at some point.

Whatever floats your boat Jack.

I guess just need to stop driving I-35 between I-44 and Ft Smith everyday. I was hoping to see additional lanes added at some point.

The raod in that area is going to have work done in 2017 and 2018, not sure if they are adding lanes though.

They are doing some work on the Southbound I235 to Westbound I40 ramp, looks like a temporary route will be near where the old Lincoln ave went under the existing bridge.

They are doing some work on the Southbound I235 to Westbound I40 ramp, looks like a temporary route will be near where the old Lincoln ave went under the existing bridge.

I'd bet this is the path to divert to the new I-40 westbound, then they can extend the bridge for the final tie in to the new I-40.......hope that made sense....

They are doing some work on the Southbound I235 to Westbound I40 ramp, looks like a temporary route will be near where the old Lincoln ave went under the existing bridge.

Thats pretty close to where that ramp will end up permanently. The ramp from north bound I-35 will merge at this same point to when the project is completed. The old bridge approach to the I-40 crosstown need to be demolished first though.

This is a little late, but I just read it. In last weeks gazette, the article from ODOT said that the East bound traffic would open first, then 30 to 45 days later the West bound traffic would move to the new highway. I presume that the East side will open in late December.

This is a little late, but I just read it. In last weeks gazette, the article from ODOT said that the East bound traffic would open first, then 30 to 45 days later the West bound traffic would move to the new highway. I presume that the East side will open in late December.

If thats true then their not going to bother with temporary lanes for westbound. Their just going to finish building the permanent westbound lanes when eastbound is moved over. It took about that long for that section of westbound to be completed.

So who is going to try and be the last civilian car to drive on the Crosstown before it is closed?

The article said they are also going to take their time to remove the old crosstown structure, due to the fact that parts of the bridge would be recycled..It has to be some of the large steel girders.....It states that more than likely the new boulevard would be 4 lanes only for pedestrian friendly purposes, that they would push the road to the south side of the easement to increase the footprint of the new convention center and that it (the road) would be completed by 2014.

Not necessarily increase the footprint, but allow for loading and unloading docks along the new avenue. Hopefully there's some kind of barrier wall that maybe there can be a mosaic on or something. Otherwise, that dock is going to be a thing of beauty (sarcasm).

So who is going to try and be the last civilian car to drive on the Crosstown before it is closed?

No thanks! I would rather be asleep at 2:00 in the morning. That must be a crazy overnight ordeal having to close off ramps, move barricades, and take down all the I-40 signs that no longer lead you to the right ramps.

Just for reference, the aforementioned Gazette article: http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-13642-life-is-an-expressway.html

If thats true then their not going to bother with temporary lanes for westbound. Their just going to finish building the permanent westbound lanes when eastbound is moved over. It took about that long for that section of westbound to be completed.

The only significant westbound stretch that will be need to be paved after the eastbound opening is this one mile stretch between Agnew and I-44:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mDEZddlvFio/TtIouUj5xJI/AAAAAAAAARU/Xz4uE85sFrw/s912/westbound%252520I40%252520construction.jpg

There is a similar but much shorter westbound stretch at the 235 junction on the other end. So definitely no need for any more temporary lanes to my knowledge.

I am going to miss the old I-40, it's elevated section and the close proximity to downtown. I like how one can see what is happening as you drive by and look through the downtown area.

Will there be a Walker exit along the new I-40?

I am going to miss the old I-40, it's elevated section and the close proximity to downtown. I like how one can see what is happening as you drive by and look through the downtown area.

Will there be a Walker exit along the new I-40?

They talk about downtown access in the Gazette article in post #686.

^^ Thanks, the answer to my question is No.

There will not be a Walker Ave exit, Western and Shields will be the new downtown exits.

^^ Thanks, the answer to my question is No.

There will not be a Walker Ave exit, Western and Shields will be the new downtown exits.

Meh, not that big a deal but it would still be nice if they would've included a Walker exit..

Meh, not that big a deal but it would still be nice if they would've included a Walker exit..

I think the overall intent is for the majority of traffic exiting to downtown will take the new boulevard....with limited access from the rest of I-40. I'm sure everyone already knows that though.

Not necessarily increase the footprint, but allow for loading and unloading docks along the new avenue. Hopefully there's some kind of barrier wall that maybe there can be a mosaic on or something. Otherwise, that dock is going to be a thing of beauty (sarcasm).

Didn't the most recent version of a plan have the loading docks below ground

I honestly don't know. I remember the gazette article mentioning that.

I personally can't wait to see new buildings/hotels replacing the old ugly warehouses along the new I-40.. I CAN NOT WAIT TO DRIVE ON IT!!!

I think the overall intent is for the majority of traffic exiting to downtown will take the new boulevard....with limited access from the rest of I-40. I'm sure everyone already knows that though.

Bad idea IMO. One accident could cause gridlock. The more options the better for traffic flow.

Bad idea IMO. One accident could cause gridlock. The more options the better for traffic flow.

I disagree, for one, most of the traffic is pass through. I drive through twice daily and during East bound traffic, most that go to downtown get off on Walker. For the new road, I can see 2 lanes funneling off at Agnew and the 4 lane road of the new boulevard should handle it just fine.

One thing is for sure, we're going to get to see both ways over the next 3 years.

Bad idea IMO. One accident could cause gridlock. The more options the better for traffic flow.

This is why I would prefer they just restore the original grid and drop the boulevard. The pie pieces left over at each intersection is a walkability nightmare.

At least the boulevard restores direct access to Bricktown from I-40. Lincoln ramp has been closed for about 3-4 years now.

Does anyone else find it ironic that they have much more protection for people/items going over the parapets above the train tracks vs the roads; as their are probably less than 30 trains per day going through here but outside of like midnight to five AM anything falling on the interstate lanes is almost assured to get hit by at least one possibly multiple vehicles.

http://www.40forward.com/gallery/photos/Western_%2001.jpg

Does anyone else find it ironic that they have much more protection for people/items going over the parapets above the train tracks vs the roads; as their are probably less than 30 trains per day going through here but outside of like midnight to five AM anything falling on the interstate lanes is almost assured to get hit by at least one possibly multiple vehicles.



Those "throw fences" are pretty much required by the railroads these days if you want to build anything over their right-of-way. Not sure why as I never heard of a bunch of trains having stuff thrown at them. Some looney somewhere probably did something spectacularly stupid and now they are required.

I used to work on the railroad and it's normal to have kids throwing things at the trains. Doesn't sound too bad until you find out it includes item such as bricks and large rocks. One crew ended up with a 12" X 18" rock breaking through the front window of the cab of the locomotive, they were lucky no one was seriously hurt. This was entering Kansas City during the 80's. Thrown derbis was at least an every other trip event.

Those "throw fences" are pretty much required by the railroads these days if you want to build anything over their right-of-way. Not sure why as I never heard of a bunch of trains having stuff thrown at them. Some looney somewhere probably did something spectacularly stupid and now they are required.


I used to work on the railroad and it's normal to have kids throwing things at the trains. Doesn't sound too bad until you find out it includes item such as bricks and large rocks. One crew ended up with a 12" X 18" rock breaking through the front window of the cab of the locomotive, they were lucky no one was seriously hurt. This was entering Kansas City during the 80's. Thrown derbis was at least an every other trip event.

I forgot that permission has to be acquired to build over/under them, since for the most part it just shifts that type of stupid behavior down the bridge which magnifies it's affect on smaller vehicles, hopefully it is not as common anymore.

Looks like the I-235 Southbound to I-40 Crosstown Westbound ramp is nearing completion, not sure how they are going to divert traffic from the I-35N to I-40W ramp or the existing I-40W to I-40W crosstown ramp, it will be interesting to see what they do.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2011/11-071_december_commission_wrap-up.pdf

The crosstown bridge demolition project has been approved. Demolition is to begin in Febuary and last about eight months.

That's good news.

Also, Im not sure if this is the case or not, but it looks like they have all the machines they use for paving parked over there on the May Avenue bridge to pave the westbound temporary crossover when eastbound is switched over.

Also, Im not sure if this is the case or not, but it looks like they have all the machines they use for paving parked over there on the May Avenue bridge to pave the westbound temporary crossover when eastbound is switched over.

I've noticed that the last few days on my drive home. You can tell where the cross overs are by them not building the divider wall that separates the east/west bound lanes. I think we are getting real close for both sides, and if they plan on destruction of the old bridge by Feb or March, then that would be the case.

New photos from today from Urban Pioneer:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i4012911a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i4012911b.jpg

That first photo makes Oklahoma City look a lot like Dallas but on a MUCH smaller scale.

Thanks for the photos UP and to Pete for posting them. Love the view. Surely that 10mph speed limit is just for ODOT vehicles right now.

That 2nd picture has an error...it should have an Interstate 40 sign instead of Interstate 44.

That sign indicates I-44, OK-270, and Amarillo can be reached by continuing to go west on I-40.

Even for having two directions of traffic sharing one side, there still is plenty of room for three lanes in each direction.

Thanks for the photos UP and to Pete for posting them. Love the view. Surely that 10mph speed limit is just for ODOT vehicles right now.

Sure. Thanx and no problem. I hope the pics help people understand how they are doing the transition. In the first pic, the concrete wall at the far left is where the westbound lanes end temporarily. The concrete wall is the "divider".

So... not trying to be too picky, but look at the uneven seams in the far right lane in the first pic and in the inside westbound lane in the second pic.

Noticed that too. Hopefully next year those aren't giant potholes...

Ha, no kidding. At least it looks like it's from the 21st century now.

Concrete are suppose to be put together nicely and hidden under the white and black lines. Now it looks so crooked.

Concrete are suppose to be put together nicely and hidden under the white and black lines. Now it looks so crooked.

Can you explain? I don't really understand what you mean.

Concrete are suppose to be put together nicely and hidden under the white and black lines. Now it looks so crooked.

The most recent photos are not the final lines, they are temporary till the westbound bridges and grading are complete, when that is done these will be re-striped to five lanes with breakdown zones on either side and the lane markers will probably mirror the concrete segments.

The most recent photos are not the final lines, they are temporary till the westbound bridges and grading are complete, when that is done these will be re-striped to five lanes with breakdown zones on either side and the lane markers will probably mirror the concrete segments.

Makes sense, thanks. I guess at least you'll know by a little "bump" that you've changed lanes.

The most recent photos are not the final lines, they are temporary till the westbound bridges and grading are complete, when that is done these will be re-striped to five lanes with breakdown zones on either side and the lane markers will probably mirror the concrete segments.

Wonderful!