It does look like it's getting close to completion. I hope that as they do complete it, they have a plan for extensive landscaping within the cloverleafs, and on all the grassy spaces between the ramps. Not just a few scrub trees, but they could really finish off the project properly with some sharp beautification. I've seen this in many other cities, it would really look nice. Does anybody know if this is in the final plans?

It does look like it's getting close to completion. I hope that as they do complete it, they have a plan for extensive landscaping within the cloverleafs, and on all the grassy spaces between the ramps. Not just a few scrub trees, but they could really finish off the project properly with some sharp beautification. I've seen this in many other cities, it would really look nice. Does anybody know if this is in the final plans?

Don't get your hopes up for landscaping. ODOT can barely keep up mowing the Johnson grass in the summertime.

Like so many others, i'm glad this will be done soon. Then we can get back to that 240 junction that's been ignored.

Like so many others, i'm glad this will be done soon. Then we can get back to that 240 junction that's been ignored.
Next phase is schedule to start this year, i believe summer/fall. I am not thrilled with the new delayed schedule but I hope with the new infrastructure push maybe it will be expedited. They should just do the whole thing at once.

Next phase is schedule to start this year, i believe summer/fall. I am not thrilled with the new delayed schedule but I hope with the new infrastructure push maybe it will be expedited. They should just do the whole thing at once.

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

I hope so. Far too many ODOT projects were needed ten years ago lol

I hope so. Far too many ODOT projects were needed ten years ago lol

Were slated to get $2.1 billion. Even $600 million of that could go a long way. $200 to Tulsa, $200 for OKC, $200 for rural.

I wonder if we’ll see it soon or have to wait until the 8yr plan is updated this fall.

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

That would be a great use of the money. These huge projects use a ton of resources and manpower. Those construction dollars travel through lots of hands in the local economy. And better infrastructure sets the state up for better growth potential in the future. Is it legal? BoulderSooner seems to have a good grasp on the politics of these sorts of things, maybe he can chime in.

That would be a great use of the money. These huge projects use a ton of resources and manpower. Those construction dollars travel through lots of hands in the local economy. And better infrastructure sets the state up for better growth potential in the future. Is it legal? BoulderSooner seems to have a good grasp on the politics of these sorts of things, maybe he can chime in.

I know they didn't put many restrictions on the relief money, so in theory there's probably a way to get it done.

All they'd have to do is say we're spedning a good chunk of the money for better roads, divided between the 2 metros and rural parts. Who's against better roads? Especially, when OK taxpayers don't have to pay a dime. Could finish 240/35 and redo 44/40. OKC metro would have 0 bottlenecks at that point.

Were slated to get $2.1 billion. Even $600 million of that could go a long way. $200 to Tulsa, $200 for OKC, $200 for rural.

Let me fix that for you: OKC $225M, TUL $150M, Non-Metro $225M.

The state wins when both cities thrive. This OKC v TUL stuff needs to end. Both cities are critical to the state economy.

The state wins when both cities thrive. This OKC v TUL stuff needs to end. Both cities are critical to the state economy.

they are but that doesn't mean that they are equal size .. and need to be treated as equal ..

they are but that doesn't mean that they are equal size .. and need to be treated as equal ..
This is true and competition isn’t bad. But I went through my phase of being anti Tulsa for whatever reason and then rethought it. I personally am not impressed nor do I really enjoy Tulsa but it’s a nice city and I hope it thrives. I feel like with the right leader ship Tulsa could become much more than it is

I came across the designs for the Deep Fork Trail recently. I'm curious about how the plan for it will interact with this project and if there's any chance ODOT will have done any pre-work to support the trail eventually going through on the north bank of the Deep Fork.

https://i.imgur.com/0wH0jah.png

This is from a presentation given to a OKC committee meeting last November, I find it weird and slightly concerning that the trail plans don't take any of the intersection changes into account. I suppose it may not matter that much, the Deep Fork will be there regardless and ODOT clearly isn't reworking it into a drainage culvert or anything like that.

they are but that doesn't mean that they are equal size .. and need to be treated as equal ..

True. But you know as well as I do that wouldn’t fly politically. Tulsa is a en equal in their eyes, and they hold an important part of the political horsepower in the state.

The state wins when both cities thrive. This OKC v TUL stuff needs to end. Both cities are critical to the state economy.

OKC metro is 40% larger. Equal funding wouldn’t be equal consideration. Equal allocations would be biased to Tulsa.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235040321a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235040321c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235040321b.jpg

It looks like they've done about as much as they can without demo-ing the existing 63rd offramp and then switching all the traffic to the northbound bridges and lanes.

I bet that happens in the next few weeks.

It looks like they've done about as much as they can without demo-ing the existing 63rd offramp and then switching all the traffic to the northbound bridges and lanes.

I bet that happens in the next few weeks.

it looks like they could have access to 63rd .. while they finish that ramp/wall

I would like to think that they're mainly holding off on demoing that access point until they can finish the new northbound artery and every road stemming from it. Once everything's cemented and painted over, they'll cone off that drop, redirect almost all traffic to that northbound bridge, and then finish that ramp while demoing the old southbound bridge for a newer one with the extended merge lane segregated from the main access.

I'd like to believe that overseers would try to have this done as efficiently as possible while keeping workers and commuters safe.

it looks like they could have access to 63rd .. while they finish that ramp/wall

Yeah, it seems like the plan is now to keep 63rd open throughout the project. I would expect NB to be switched over in a couple of weeks once the new 63rd ramps are completed.

Of course, this mean a dangerous merge situation with traffic from I-44 WB until they finish those two extra NB lanes done. They haven't really cared about safety in the past though............

Hoping they do something similar to the blue line at least.
16815

My guess in green.

16816

My guess in green.

16816

Right, green for the 63rd street ramp coming from wb I44. I am wondering how they will handle the I44 to I235 transition since the current 63rd street ramp is blocking them from finishing the last two lanes all the way to the 63rd st bridge.

So they are not closing 63rd? Maybe my initial guess was right? Partially?

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

The original plan was for the NB 63rd street ramp to be closed for up to 45 days. I haven't seen anything to indicate that has changed.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235041121a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235041121c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235041121b.jpg

Off bound ramp to 63rd looks like a cavernous bridge ?

I find it a bit weird how the new lane of pavement that has been laid for the the 63rd exit doesn't seem to match up with the existing intersection and traffic lights. It's not complete yet so maybe it'll curve back to the west and line up, but that also seems like it would be weird since they only have a few dozen feet left to work with.

I find it a bit weird how the new lane of pavement that has been laid for the the 63rd exit doesn't seem to match up with the existing intersection and traffic lights. It's not complete yet so maybe it'll curve back to the west and line up, but that also seems like it would be weird since they only have a few dozen feet left to work with.

I figured maybe they were going to widen/redo the south side of the intersection. Instead of the 3 lanes I think it had, maybe it will have 5 total? 2 left turn, 2 straight, and a dedicated right turn.

I find it a bit weird how the new lane of pavement that has been laid for the the 63rd exit doesn't seem to match up with the existing intersection and traffic lights. It's not complete yet so maybe it'll curve back to the west and line up, but that also seems like it would be weird since they only have a few dozen feet left to work with.

I suspect the part that does not line up might be a break down lane. Though for all the money spent on this project, a complete reconfiguring of the intersection is plausible.


I figured maybe they were going to widen/redo the south side of the intersection. Instead of the 3 lanes I think it had, maybe it will have 5 total? 2 left turn, 2 straight, and a dedicated right turn.

It had been four; a left turn only, a left turn or strait, a strait only, and a right turn. Though adding a travel lane to the east of the right turn does not make much sense, the two lanes going strait would either have quite a jog to correct for how far that places them from continuing on or they will be doing some major work to this entire intersection (and probably the northbound service lanes) for little benefit over much cheaper alternatives. Given where the new retaining wall will go, there likely is enough space to add another left turn lane west of the existing left turn lane, so only the roads south of the intersection would need modified. Even just making the lanes wider seems more likely than having such a sharp jog in the intersection.

was just in OKC and I have six words to describe this project

DANGEROUS AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS ON!!!

enough said

was just in OKC and I have six words to describe this project

DANGEROUS AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS ON!!!

enough said Why would you be driving at night without lights on?

In all seriousness, it can be quite treacherous driving through that zone with wet pavements.

they have put out the center lane dividers for the completed bridge .... they look to be getting ready to move traffic .. off the old bridge

We were driving WB 44 wanting to hit up NB BWX and right at Lincoln is an unmarked lane shift that was awful right at the makeshift exit for BWX. I have had similar experiences at this interchange throughout the project. It amazes me I haven't seen/read about more accidents in this interchange during the construction. Will be so happy when it's completed.

Why would you be driving at night without lights on?

In all seriousness, it can be quite treacherous driving through that zone with wet pavements.

I had my lights on but still couldn't see because the state didn't have theirs on. ...

^ the above is what I'm referring to, esp at night with no overhead lighting or lane warning signs. ..

There are some new light towers going up with this project, but who knows how long they remain operational after the project is completed. Hopefully, they are not using copper.

Some details of the lane shifts, etc in the coming weeks.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/15/oklahoma-city-interstate-traffic-shifts-mean-bridges-near-completion/7199525002/

Some details of the lane shifts, etc in the coming weeks.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/15/oklahoma-city-interstate-traffic-shifts-mean-bridges-near-completion/7199525002/

So I guess no 63rd street closure?


Lisa Salim, spokeswoman with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said the NW 63 exit shift could occur as early as Thursday afternoon and remain in place for up to two weeks before shifting back to north of the junction.
A more accurate description would be 63rd street off ramp traffic will be the first to use the new NB bridge to access the new ramp, and the rest of I-44 NB traffic will join it a couple weeks later. Its the same new ramp structure that's being used.

Some details of the lane shifts, etc in the coming weeks.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/15/oklahoma-city-interstate-traffic-shifts-mean-bridges-near-completion/7199525002/
Talk about lazy reporting


Once the current phase is finished by Allen Contracting, the corridor will be eight lanes from Edmond to downtown Oklahoma City.

The bridges over 23 and south to downtown aren’t 8 lanes. The road through the interchange isn’t 8 lanes. What metric is he using because it isn’t GP lanes.

??

The article claims Broadway extension corridor after the interchange project is 8 lanes to DTOKC which is not true.

no I know Plu, I was ?? the thinking at the D-Oh'k.

The article claims Broadway extension corridor after the interchange project is 8 lanes to DTOKC which is not true.

It looks like in that paragraph they were intending to only reference Broadway Extension specifically about being eight lanes, referring to i235 as a separate road which technically there is no overlap between the two designations, Broadway Extension will be eight lanes it's entire length after this is done, since that only runs between this intersection and the first stoplight of Broadway in Edmond. So while it could be stated heads 'to' downtown OKC, it still does not go all the way there, and that naturally reads more the way you took it.

It looks like in that paragraph they were intending to only reference Broadway Extension specifically about being eight lanes, referring to i235 as a separate road which technically there is no overlap between the two designations, Broadway Extension will be eight lanes it's entire length after this is done, since that only runs between this intersection and the first stoplight of Broadway in Edmond. So while it could be stated heads 'to' downtown OKC, it still does not go all the way there, and that naturally reads more the way you took it.

Nice try! But, it isn't 4 lanes until the first stoplight of Broadway in Edmond. It is only 4 lanes from 63rd to Hefner. :)

They have not switched the 63rd off-ramp as of yesterday, but here is the path it will take; the exit will be a mile to the south, right under 50th and where motorists also exit N 235 to E 44.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235041821a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235041821c.jpg

Traffic changes ahead at OKC's I-44 and I-235 junction


The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said new lane and exit changes could begin as soon as this week at the I-235 and I-44 junction.

Video Link: https://www.oklahoman.com/videos/news/2021/04/14/traffic-changes-ahead-okcs-44-and-235-junction-oklahoma-department-transportation/7226788002/

As of yesterday, they still haven't switched to the new NB 235 to 63rd Street exit.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235050121a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235050121b.jpg

As of yesterday, they still haven't switched to the new NB 235 to 63rd Street exit.
I could be wrong but it looked as if they made the switch today.

As of yesterday, they still haven't switched to the new NB 235 to 63rd Street exit.

it was switched as of yesterday if not a little before

The point where we exit the I-235, is switched when they mentioned in the article that it would be switched (end of April). However, it still wasn't switched to the new ramp and it still comes back and uses the old off-ramp to 63rd. So, in other words, half is switched, the other half isn't yet.

I was wondering about that, my route is using the new flyover and I haven't seen a difference yet in how the 63rd exit works.

They have to remove that temp off-ramp to 63rd in order to complete the northbound lanes.

And they can't switch traffic to the northbound side until that is done and then they can rework the southbound bridges.

Those are the biggest chunks of work left and standing in the way of completion this fall.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235050921a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235050921b.jpg

16846

Now that they've done the saw cutting, I would foresee the changeover happening this week (rain dependent).

I'd complain about the signage at this exchange, but it's only temporary and honestly, if you're driving through this area and you don't pad your schedule by 10 minutes due to traffic, you've accepted that risk.

I'll be honest. I look at the pictures and don't really see the end product. How close are we do you think?

It's all supposed to be finished by this fall.

Once they shift both north- and south-bound traffic to what will be the northbound lanes, they can then rework the south-bound bridge and pretty much be done.