It feels so close, yet so far from being done.

It feels so close, yet so far from being done.

once the new east to north 44 ramp /63rd exit opens it will start to go pretty quickly again ..

once the new east to north 44 ramp /63rd exit opens it will start to go pretty quickly again ..

Right, everything hinges on that then they will be relatively clear to finish things up.

Will be fun to watch it all come together, especially after all this time.

Based on the pictures, it doesn't look like they have THAT far to go on that ramp. When do we expect that portion to be complete?

I'm not sure of the timing, but it seems the expedient way would be just to close the northbound offramp to 63rd until they can get the flyovers connected.

If they went that route, it seems they could complete that part pretty quickly.

I'm not sure of the timing, but it seems the expedient way would be just to close the northbound offramp to 63rd until they can get the flyovers connected.

If they went that route, it seems they could complete that part pretty quickly.
Agreed. Just close it and wrap it up.

By looking at the photos Pete provided, here is how I imagine they will phase this next series of alignments.

1. They will probably open EB->NB flyover, which will allow them to close the EB->NB cloverleaf.
2. That will in turn allow them to pave the area south of the NB bridge.
3. At the same time they will probably be able to shift WB->NB onto the permanent alignment through the construction zone which will allow them to pave north of the NB bridge.
4. Once that paving is done, they can shift NW 63rd traffic onto the NB bridge and use the already constructed bridge to move traffic towards that intersection.
5. By the photo it looks like they already are working on paving what will be the right-most lane of the exit lane that meets NW 63rd. This will allow them to close the temporary exit and install the retaining wall and make the exit road the full width.

https://i.gyazo.com/61987b2de53a8a61f4f252bfebf50f34.jpg

https://i.gyazo.com/57c9d19e8ad75306c75614d162a27ba8.jpg

Oklahoman reporting tonight that the Eastbound 44 to NB 235 flyover will open tomorrow.

Also said that the NB offramp to NW 63rd will be closed in a few months for about 45 days while they continue to rework that section of the intersection.

Looks like they are planning to finish the entire intersection by this fall.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5681653/i-235i-44-junction-racing-toward-fall-finish-with-opening-of-second-flyover

Looks like I was wrong! Surprised they are gonna close it, but that will definitely speed things up!

Oklahoman reporting tonight that the Eastbound 44 to NB 235 flyover will open tomorrow.

Also said that the NB offramp to NW 63rd will be closed in a few months for about 45 days while they continue to rework that section of the intersection.

Looks like they are planning to finish the entire intersection by this fall.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5681653/i-235i-44-junction-racing-toward-fall-finish-with-opening-of-second-flyover

Great to hear; actually a bit surprised that they are already opening it tomorrow. I didn't expect it to be soon; I'll take it though. :)
I can't wait to start using excuses to use both flyovers nightly (multiple days a week). I commute back from downtown and once in a while, pickup dinner from the Belle Isle area; now, it will be much more frequent until I get bored. Exciting!!!

Oklahoman reporting tonight that the Eastbound 44 to NB 235 flyover will open tomorrow.

Also said that the NB offramp to NW 63rd will be closed in a few months for about 45 days while they continue to rework that section of the intersection.

Looks like they are planning to finish the entire intersection by this fall.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5681653/i-235i-44-junction-racing-toward-fall-finish-with-opening-of-second-flyover

So how are they connecting the flyover in? Did they fill out more of the missing sections since last week, or are they doing a tight angle connection over to that one lane?

16713

So how are they connecting the flyover in? Did they fill out more of the missing sections since last week, or are they doing a tight angle connection over to that one lane?

16713

Looks like you have to make a crossover at a tight angle, from seeing it at lunch. It wasn't quite open, that I could tell, but almost.

Oklahoman reporting tonight that the Eastbound 44 to NB 235 flyover will open tomorrow.

Also said that the NB offramp to NW 63rd will be closed in a few months for about 45 days while they continue to rework that section of the intersection.

Looks like they are planning to finish the entire intersection by this fall.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5681653/i-235i-44-junction-racing-toward-fall-finish-with-opening-of-second-flyover

Per the Oklahoman: "Dallas-Style flyover ramps"

??????

Um, we have them in Seattle too - likely LONGER than Dallas has had them. ...

Anyway, maybe now we can call the entire thing I-235 and not just the spur from I-40 to I-44.

Yeah and this is in no way a “Dallas style” interchange as the ones in Dallas don’t have clover leafs most are fully directional.

Can anyone confirm the flyover actually opened?

I drove by but I wasn't going that direction and it didn't look open to me.

Can anyone confirm the flyover actually opened?

I drove by but I wasn't going that direction and it didn't look open to me.

Yes, sir! It opened yesterday. I went out of my way to try it and voila, it was there. Of course, the signage wasn't clear, but I'm cool. The merging is better, as we have a separate lane opened where we join which isn't an Exit Only lane.

^

Good to know.

Thanks.

Here is the official link from the Dept, confirming that:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/traffic-advisories/2021/i-235-i-44-off-broadway-second-flyover-ramp-now-open-to-traffic.html

I guess they will probably have northbound completely done by mid spring and then shift southbound over in order to finish that last bridge.

The new flyovers, like almost every highway bridge today, were a mess this morning when I drove under. Curious if ODOT ever does a future O&M/winter event cost analysis on the infrastructure it adds?

Denver and Chicago somehow manage it and many are planned in SLC. I’m sure it just takes proper planning.

We don't really get ice events in Colorado, usually just snow. Before any winter weather the highways, and especially overpasses, are pre-treated with an anti-icing solution. This is to lower the freeze point of the roadway, so anything that does fall will not stick to the surface. And then once the storm starts, they begin spraying a de-icing solution to melt the snow.

Read more here: https://www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/products.html

I can imagine it's very difficult for OKC to stay ahead of ice storms, snow is much easier.

Does any other major city get the frequency, consistency, and strength of ice storms that OKC does annually?

I can imagine it's very difficult for OKC to stay ahead of ice storms, snow is much easier.

Does any other major city get the frequency, consistency, and strength of ice storms that OKC does annually?

We don't get them annually, thank goodness. I have lived here for 11.5 years and have experienced 2 significant ones: 2020 and 2015.

We don't get them annually, thank goodness. I have lived here for 11.5 years and have experienced 2 significant ones: 2020 and 2015.

Probably both classified as "once-in-a-lifetime/generation/100 years"...

You can see they have shifted the WB I-44 to NB I-235 off-ramp.

The next big move has to be completing the new off-ramps to 63rd.

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Because of the weather I have only ended up using it once so far, but the new EB to NB flyover is an incredible disappointment. Two lanes leave 44, they get merged down to one, and then seconds later split back up and go their separate ways to the north and south.

I don't understand why they couldn't have built it as two lanes that stay unmerged so that people can plan ahead and be in the correct one up front.

I’m pretty sure that’s just an interim lane setup. The ultimate plan seems to be two lanes on that flyover.

I hope you are right, but it sure felt like it was in a final state that one time I drove over it.

Drove through Birmingham this weekend and the newly reworked 20/59 interchange. I have never seen this before, but they added changing lights to the highway and I thought would be awesome to have on this interchange, but I am sure a lot of people would see it as a waste of money.

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/12/check-out-the-new-led-lights-at-the-i-2059-bridges-in-birmingham.html

To me, that seems really sleek and sexy. But the only reason why it won't work in OKC is because there is no real interchange that could be used like that in downtown. All the major interchanges are so far away from the city core that it would look too disconnected. The only way something like this would work is if the innovation district gets built and expands into a second core, then the 10th street bridge could get lit up like this.

You can't do Robinson like that either because it's too close to the Skydance Bridge. The whole bridge on Robinson would have to get done the same way like the Skydance Bridge to make sense, but that's an actual waste of money.

Drove through Birmingham this weekend and the newly reworked 20/59 interchange. I have never seen this before, but they added changing lights to the highway and I thought would be awesome to have on this interchange, but I am sure a lot of people would see it as a waste of money.

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/12/check-out-the-new-led-lights-at-the-i-2059-bridges-in-birmingham.html

This lighting isn’t to light up the highway; it is to light up the area under this viaduct. Think of it as being similar to the old crosstown bridge. It will be part of a larger project to connect areas under the bridges with programmed spaces.

https://citywalkbham.com/

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Every time I see you great photos, I feel sad that the Kirkpatrick Bank building wasn't purchased and razed so this interchange wouldn't end up as such a compromise. The non-removal is the reason the SB to EB loop ramp remains.

Every time I see you great photos, I feel sad that the Kirkpatrick Bank building wasn't purchased and razed so this interchange wouldn't end up as such a compromise. The non-removal is the reason the SB to EB loop ramp remains.

They could have done it right literally right next to the building. You should check out "High Five", the I635/US75 (Central Expressway/LBJ Freeway) intersection in Dallas. or really any of the other large mix-masters.

Yeah this is simply the state being cheap.

Their making quick work on the NB side. Should be starting SB bridge demolition here a few weeks. Or the old I-235 bridge I should say.

I'm having a hard time understanding how they are going to rework the southbound bridge.

I get they will soon shift all traffic to what will be the northbound lanes as shown below.

But how are they going to handle the two existing cloverleafs in the interim if they demolish and rebuild the southbound bridge (circled)?

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235030821a.jpg

I'm having a hard time understanding how they are going to rework the southbound bridge.

I get they will soon shift all traffic to what will be the northbound lanes as shown below.

But how are they going to handle the two existing cloverleafs in the interim if they demolish and rebuild the southbound bridge (circled)?

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235030821a.jpg

so my guess is that they will demo all but the far east 2 lanes of that bridge . and use those 2 lanes as the clover leaf ramps ....

then they will build the new on/off ramp bridge that will be the furthest bridge west ..

then when that is finished they will move the on off ramp traffic to that and demo the rest of the old bridge and then build the new one ..

Yeah this is simply the state being cheap.

Right on, PluPlan...

They call it conservative spending in Oklahoma, an inexpensive way of building and doing business :D

Yeah this is simply the state being cheap.
Correct.

so my guess is that they will demo all but the far east 2 lanes of that bridge . and use those 2 lanes as the clover leaf ramps ....

then they will build the new on/off ramp bridge that will be the furthest bridge west ..

then when that is finished they will move the on off ramp traffic to that and demo the rest of the old bridge and then build the new one ..

I think that was the original staging suggestion plans, but they haven't really followed those. It wouldn't surprise me if they just demolished the old barrier wall, setup some temp pavement and just have ramp traffic take a wider turn. That would be the easier/faster solution.

I'm having a hard time understanding how they are going to rework the southbound bridge.

I get they will soon shift all traffic to what will be the northbound lanes as shown below.

But how are they going to handle the two existing cloverleaves in the interim if they demolish and rebuild the southbound bridge (circled)?



I think they would try this way:

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16747

Had the opportunity to take the SB to WB ramp today and it is in TERRIBLE shape. I know it was part of the first state but it hasn't been that long ago and the pavement is losing its integrity at the western end. Numerous large parallel cracks. The State needs to make the contractor tear it out and do it right.

Had the opportunity to take the SB to WB ramp today and it is in TERRIBLE shape. I know it was part of the first state but it hasn't been that long ago and the pavement is losing its integrity at the western end. Numerous large parallel cracks. The State needs to make the contractor tear it out and do it right.

The whole area was over due for maintenance long before projects on it started and it seems like the amount of construction trucks on this project had really accelerated it's deterioration, plus the replacement is something between a quarter to a third built, people frequently remaining stopped at the yield sign at the end of the clover loop in prior years even kind of made the cracks there years ago somewhat less noticeable by dragging down how fast people drove over them.

Lol. Go back to page 1 of this thread, post #21. 10+ years ago and this interchange is still 1/2 year from completion.

Lol. Go back to page 1 of this thread, post #21. 10+ years ago and this interchange is still 1/2 year from completion.

Longer than that. There is still a whole other project to go that rebuilds Lincoln/ I-44/I235 on and off ramps. That's technically part of this interchange. so 2-3 years depending on when they begin that one.

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Pete, thank you for keeping the progress on this project before us visually. I appreciate all of your photos.

Pete, thank you for keeping the progress on this project before us visually. I appreciate all of your photos.

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

I'm also loving the aerial pictures. It's really great to see how the project progresses from the air/from above. Great job Pete.

I might've missed it, but Pete did you post the specs about the drone you use for photos? Does it hold up well in the Oklahoma wind? I'd love to blow some of my stimulus money on something sturdy.

Any idea what the repave on the cloverleaf with blacktop (1st photo) which appears to go nowhere is for?

I might've missed it, but Pete did you post the specs about the drone you use for photos? Does it hold up well in the Oklahoma wind? I'd love to blow some of my stimulus money on something sturdy.

DJI Mavic Pro.

It holds its ground in the wind but on a day like today, I always plan to fly into the wind to make sure I can get it back to me safely. Wind also causes the battery to empty pretty quickly.

Any idea what the repave on the cloverleaf with blacktop (1st photo) which appears to go nowhere is for?

If you mean what is inside the i44 eastbound to i235 southbound, that looks like it is part of the foundation they will add concrete on top of later for the new cloverleaf.

After they tear down the existing N/S bridge, a wider bridge will be built. The new southbound mainline will be roughly the same size as the old N/S bridge between traffic and breakdown lanes, then another set of lanes west of that will have the all the cloverleaf interactions and 63rd merging resolve themselves away from the main southbound traffic lanes.

The whole area was over due for maintenance long before projects on it started and it seems like the amount of construction trucks on this project had really accelerated it's deterioration, plus the replacement is something between a quarter to a third built, people frequently remaining stopped at the yield sign at the end of the clover loop in prior years even kind of made the cracks there years ago somewhat less noticeable by dragging down how fast people drove over them.

No, this ramp doesn't have anything to do with any of the cloverleaf ramps. It was Stage 1 of this project. Braided with the SB 63rd St onramp. It is full of large cracks just south of the end of the bridge over the 63rd St on ramp.

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

Thanks a lot, Pete. Your time, energy, sweat, and effort are truly appreciated!!!

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If they could move along with the 63rd off-ramps and complete that portion, that would be a big help at rush hour.

Once they finish the new northbound lanes over I-44, this project should move very fast towards completion.