That graffiti has been there a bit

Another little nag I have about this, why weren't the frontage roads and other roads that were redone due to this highway repaved in cement instead of asphalt. To answer my own question, I suppose the obvious answer is cost. But, it looks strange though and I think it would look better cement, like P180.

I think they'll have it all stripped and opened by the end of the weekend. They had the lanes all reduced late last night and were removing the temp stripes and other general cleanup. They also had eastbound from SB I-44 closed last night removing the temporary barricades where it merges into EB I-40.

Westbound was down to 1 lane from about Penn to the I-44 overpass. Looked like they had most of the permanent stripes done about 5:00 this afternoon. You can't get to EB I-44, so the Meridian exit was jammed with traffic caught in the unexpected detour.

It has been re-striped!

3613

It has been re-striped!

3613

Lets see how the new highway with all the lanes open works out during the 5pm commute today! I'm hoping it flows better now.

Lets see how the new highway with all the lanes open works out during the 5pm commute today! I'm hoping it flows better now.

It was a breeze this morning. Much better than it has been with the three lanes. Hopefully the same holds true for the drive home!

Now just the bump the speed limit to 65mph in both directions.'

It seems that is the average speed anyway....

Now just the bump the speed limit to 65mph in both directions.'

It seems that is the average speed anyway....I thought they were making it 70mph?

Average speed seems to be around 75-80mph already for the middle section of highway. People got used to the layout and design, and the wide travel lanes and huge right of way makes 65 feel like you are crawling along. But they will sign it for 65...

I thought they were making it 70mph?

They designed it so it will be safe at 70, then are signing it slightly under since they know many people will drive over the posted limit no matter what that is.

Ahh, that does makes sense. I have noticed, what Catch 22 said, the flow of traffic is generally 75-80mph most of the time.

Average speed seems to be around 75-80mph already for the middle section of highway. People got used to the layout and design, and the wide travel lanes and huge right of way makes 65 feel like you are crawling along. But they will sign it for 65...

I40 westbound is flowing at the speed limits at 5pm! Goodbye bottleneck! Good job odot

Does this mean we can forget the Boulevard? :)

We need it for our Thunder games, remember. :)

Honestly...I think the blvd is going to create a bottleneck on i40. Because on the west end the blvd will dump into i40 and you will have those people needing to take i44 west that will have to get across like 5 lanes of traffic in what less than a mile. I see this slowing down i40 traffic so i guess we better enjoy the i40 with no blvd for the next few years. but that is just my opinion..im sure others will agree.

Honestly...I think the blvd is going to create a bottleneck on i40. Because on the west end the blvd will dump into i40 and you will have those people needing to take i44 west that will have to get across like 5 lanes of traffic in what less than a mile. I see this slowing down i40 traffic so i guess we better enjoy the i40 with no blvd for the next few years. but that is just my opinion..im sure others will agree.

nope...we absolutely positively must have the boulevard. it's needed for our city to become a city of the future.

^^^ Yes, because ODOT said so, right? ;)

Does anyone know why they have not removed the old on/off ramps from where the old I-40 used to be? There is one directly south of the arena and one SW of the arena. Since most of the Boulevard is going to be at grade, I would think they wouldn't be needed anymore.

Does anyone know why they have not removed the old on/off ramps from where the old I-40 used to be? There is one directly south of the arena and one SW of the arena. Since most of the Boulevard is going to be at grade, I would think they wouldn't be needed anymore.

This is ODOT were talking about. They have their own unique ways of approaching things. lol I would say its as simple as not including those ramps in the demolition contract so now it will have to wait until a boulevard contract is approved.

Does anyone know why they have not removed the old on/off ramps from where the old I-40 used to be? There is one directly south of the arena and one SW of the arena. Since most of the Boulevard is going to be at grade, I would think they wouldn't be needed anymore.

My guess are either:
A: Demolishing them was an after thought in scheduling, since the land they are on is likely not needed to build the boulevard on and from there mindset the entire area is a construction zone till the road is finished with no request by the city to get that land available earlier.
B: Pushing the ramp demolition back gives them more money earlier in the project which can go to doing parts people will drive on done faster.

They actually re-striped the East end, East bound Saturday.

They actually re-striped the East end, East bound Saturday.

Yep, its nice. I-40 is pretty much done now except for the Agnew ramp which is basically done also. That just leaves the boulevard which can remain unfinished as far as I'm concern. You would think more people would be complaining about traffic when a road that carries "60,000 -75,000" cars a day doesn't exist yet. lol

They actually re-striped the East end, East bound Saturday.

Pretty sure they were still doing that on Sunday or the paint was driving as when I got off on Shields eastbound, that the highway was down to one lane.

Clean Up Of I-40 Graffiti In OKC Hits A Snag - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/22199148/clean-up-of-i-40-graffiti-stalls)

That's exactly why plans need to move forward with Core 2 Shore planning. Get the varmints and the trashy squatters out of that area and bring in some citizens that care about their community. Move all the gang tagging south of the river. Let it become the new divider between the scrubs and the true citizens!

Good note! Also, does anyone know when the speed limit signs are going up and the finishing touches are going to be made?

I haven't been down there in a while. Is the SkyDance bridge lit again? It was out for a while.

I drove I40 last Saturday and although still light outside, I could see the bridge lights in a blue tone.

So, I tried to take I-40 westbound once a long time ago, and I was hung-up pretty bad at the I-40/I-44(240) interchange. I leave downtown around 5 o'clock. Are you guys saying that that interchange is now fixed and flows like the old I-40?

So, I tried to take I-40 westbound once a long time ago, and I was hung-up pretty bad at the I-40/I-44(240) interchange. I leave downtown around 5 o'clock. Are you guys saying that that interchange is now fixed and flows like the old I-40?

Are you referring to the interchange west of downtown near Mathis brothers and the Fairgrounds?

Are you referring to the interchange west of downtown near Mathis brothers and the Fairgrounds?

Yes. It took me 15 minutes just to merge onto 74 highway northbound shortly after they opened the new I-40.

Yes. It took me 15 minutes just to merge onto 74 highway northbound shortly after they opened the new I-40.

They were doing some work there for a few days. It flows great now, try it again.

They were doing some work there for a few days. It flows great now, try it again.

So, I tried this today, and honestly, it did flow a little better. However, it is faster for me to take city streets from downtown over to 74. The huge jam on Western trying to merge onto the highway took about 7 minutes to get through (Way, WAY too many lights), and then traffic was backed up on the 74 junction. Granted, there was a wreck on 74 north, I just don't feel that this is going to be any faster. It looked like WB traffic on I-40 can get to Yukon faster than before though.

So, I tried this today, and honestly, it did flow a little better. However, it is faster for me to take city streets from downtown over to 74. The huge jam on Western trying to merge onto the highway took about 7 minutes to get through (Way, WAY too many lights), and then traffic was backed up on the 74 junction. Granted, there was a wreck on 74 north, I just don't feel that this is going to be any faster. It looked like WB traffic on I-40 can get to Yukon faster than before though.

I get on the new i40 on shields and have no issues. I can get on i40 around 5:10 and be at quail springs mall by 5:30. Not sure what you're complaining about...this is not bad at all

Clean Up Of I-40 Graffiti In OKC Hits A Snag - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/22199148/clean-up-of-i-40-graffiti-stalls)

Graffiti was gone when I drove home tonight.

I get on the new i40 on shields and have no issues. I can get on i40 around 5:10 and be at quail springs mall by 5:30. Not sure what you're complaining about...this is not bad at all

20 minutes? Dang I can get all the way to Reno and Czech Hall Road and park before you get to Quail Springs.

I _THINK_ he's complaining about the traffic on Western to get to I-40, but maybe I misread. And that traffic does in fact suck. So I never go that way, taking Classen to SW 4th to Western instead.

I _THINK_ he's complaining about the traffic on Western to get to I-40, but maybe I misread. And that traffic does in fact suck. So I never go that way, taking Classen to SW 4th to Western instead.

One possible alternative I was hoping they might do with the old i40 west of Western, was just tie that into Classen and leave the city grid intact

I _THINK_ he's complaining about the traffic on Western to get to I-40, but maybe I misread. And that traffic does in fact suck. So I never go that way, taking Classen to SW 4th to Western instead.

Yeah, I was referring more towards getting on to I-40 from Western. I-40 seemed nice for the 2 miles I was on it. Access to it is just a little more difficult than the old I-40 (although the longer on-ramps are REALLY nice. It certainly didn't help that there was an accident on 74, so I don't really know how bad that junction gets during rush hour but I have a decent idea now. For my needs, it is faster taking city streets over to 74, but that is just my preference. Maybe if I had to travel further to get to 74 it would make sense, but right now, it doesn't.

What is the status of this project? Besides from the interchanges and the new Boulevard, is this technically 100% complete? The speed limit signs are still temporary and a bunch of the lights are out on each end of the highway.

The speed limit signs are still temporary and a bunch of the lights are out on each end of the highway.

That's the "Oklahoma Standard" for you...

That's the "Oklahoma Standard" for you...Unfortunately you're right. Hopefully that will change soon though

I also found this Traffic Talk: Exit signs on I-40 to be moved to proper lanes | News OK (http://newsok.com/traffic-talk-exit-signs-on-i-40-to-be-moved-to-proper-lanes/article/3841122)

I noticed this also, they have the lanes mis-marked going Westbound, about the third sign from I-44.

Looks like ODOT is letting the east end connector project this month; page 19:

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/a2013/pdfs/planhold1306.pdf

Looks like ODOT is letting the east end connector project this month; page 19:

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/a2013/pdfs/planhold1306.pdf

Judging by the looks of that, "multiple bridges, multiple ramps", do you think this is going to be the east end of the Boulevard connector that the columns are up for over I-40 by the SE corner of Bass Pro Shops?

Judging by the looks of that, "multiple bridges, multiple ramps", do you think this is going to be the east end of the Boulevard connector that the columns are up for over I-40 by the SE corner of Bass Pro Shops?

Yep, its all the ramps going to and from I-235 and I-40.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/a2013/plans1306/345_2006_OKCY-XTWN(047)_1742859/a%20sht0127.pdf

The west end from Penn to Western is up for bid next month too.

I just looked at the plans from Penn to Western and here are the following changes.

-Still an elevated berm
-Eastbound offramp to Virgina
-Westbound onramp from Virgina
-Eastbound onramp from Virgina(rebuild of existing ramp)
-Westbound offramp to Virgina(rebuild of existing ramp)
-Eastbound onramp from Sheridan removed
- off-ramp at Klein on eastbound
- on-ramp at Klein on westbound replaces the Sheridan ramp
-No access to Sheridan going eastbound

Bolded items represent the major changes to the plan. Klein isn't really a major change in the grand scheme of things, but one old bridge is gone and the ramp design is simpler. The two "T-Intersections" at Klein can be connected to make a full intersection in the future if desired.

I think other major change that should be implemented is redoing the bridges that were part of the old Crosstown. Those things look hideous and they can still use that steel on crappy bridge decks elsewhere in the state.

I think other major change that should be implemented is redoing the bridges that were part of the old Crosstown. Those things look hideous and they can still use that steel on crappy bridge decks elsewhere in the state.

Yeah, but then again the only way they will eventually put this thing at-grade would be in the distant future would be when those bridges need replacing and its clear that ODOT was wrong about their traffic estimates.

Does anyone know what they're doing to I-40 E&W bound in Yukon?

Maybe finally widening it between just west of Garth Brooks and just west of the Morgan Road interchange?

Maybe finally widening it between just west of Garth Brooks and just west of the Morgan Road interchange?

Correct.

Final phase of I-40 widening between Yukon and Oklahoma City approved (PRESS RELEASE) - Restore T.R.U.S.T. (http://www.restoretrust.org/final-phase-of-i-40-widening-between-yukon-and-oklahoma-city-approved-press-release)

Correct.

Final phase of I-40 widening between Yukon and Oklahoma City approved (PRESS RELEASE) - Restore T.R.U.S.T. (http://www.restoretrust.org/final-phase-of-i-40-widening-between-yukon-and-oklahoma-city-approved-press-release)

Thanks very much for that link, ljbab. I should have posted this in the Yukon subforum, but I completely forget it was there.

Does anyone know what is being done to the I-40 bridge over the N. Canadian River between Council Rd. and Morgan Rd.? The number of lanes has been reduced and shifted to the outside shoulder in each direction. Are they redecking the bridge? Building a new one?

Does anyone know what is being done to the I-40 bridge over the N. Canadian River between Council Rd. and Morgan Rd.? The number of lanes has been reduced and shifted to the outside shoulder in each direction. Are they redecking the bridge? Building a new one?

I believe they are re-decking and closing in the median.

I believe they are re-decking and closing in the median.

Cool, thanks Buffalo Bill.

As an aside, does anyone else find the ODOT website damn near impossible to navigate? It's awful.

Cool, thanks Buffalo Bill.

As an aside, does anyone else find the ODOT website damn near impossible to navigate? It's awful.

Unfortunately most government websites are terible, ODOTs seems better than the average one I have seen. It seems like part of the proble is they are made from the perspective, this massive pile of documents are required to be publicly available. Often with little or no thought to layout, logical structure, color choices and tend to look like it was designed around mid nineties.

Unfortunately most government websites are terible, ODOTs seems better than the average one I have seen. It seems like part of the proble is they are made from the perspective, the following bunch of documents are required to be publicly available. Often with little or no thought to layout, logical structure, color choices and tend to look like it was designed around mid nineties.

Is there any way to search their website for project renderings/designs or what the actual task at hand is? I can't find anything but the occasional press release.

Is there any way to search their website for project renderings/designs or what the actual task at hand is? I can't find anything but the occasional press release.

I have not seen one but I had not seen many renderings posted on the site to begin with.

you can limit google to searching just it by typing with the search words site:http://www.okladot.state.ok.us

Is there any way to search their website for project renderings/designs or what the actual task at hand is? I can't find anything but the occasional press release.

Not really. I only see the plans released the month before letting.