The hardest part is waiting for the last 2 or 3 months to finish. I can't wait until this thing opens so the maniacs will have more lanes to fly through at 80 mph and I have less chance of getting run over.

Great job documenting this development Pete.

Any idea when those northbound lanes will fully open?

Within the next couple of weeks I would think. 1 to 2 months for south bound bridge.

The whole thing is supposed to be done by the end of the year.

What brand of whiskey do you use when looking at the comments section after making an OKCTalk FB post? Asking for a friend. Props to you

What brand of whiskey do you use when looking at the comments section after making an OKCTalk FB post? Asking for a friend. Props to you

I try very hard not to read the comments on any of our social media posts.

When I do, it makes me fear for our community.

Within the next couple of weeks I would think. 1 to 2 months for south bound bridge.
From Pete’s picture, it looked like they could be open as soon as they shift some of the barriers.

new ODOT 8 year plan for the last phase of this project

I-44: WESTBOUND TO NORTHBOUND RAMPS AT I-44/I-235 INTERCHANGE
JP# 903328 FFY 2023 GRADE, DRAIN, BRIDGE & SURFACE $ 16,642,000

fyi 2023 fiscal year starts in JULY 22 this is do to be out for bit 1/2023

Just went by there (about 2PM on Tuesday) and the remainder of the bridge steel was being installed.

They already had most of it done.

Took these this afternoon (Sunday):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235101021a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235101021b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235101021c.jpg

That is a WIDE bridge...actually I guess it's two bridges...or functions as two

The single point merge from East to North flyover & from West to North should be ending any day now right? I don't see any reason why they need to leave that as is with all pavement done there and this being a major safety issue.

In fact all north bound lanes should be shifted back over to the normal lanes shouldn't it?

The single point merge from East to North flyover & from West to North should be ending any day now right? I don't see any reason why they need to leave that as is with all pavement done there and this being a major safety issue.

In fact all north bound lanes should be shifted back over to the normal lanes shouldn't it?

Depending on the concrete they used, they may need to give the concrete a couple weeks to cure before shifting traffic to it.

The single point merge from East to North flyover & from West to North should be ending any day now right? I don't see any reason why they need to leave that as is with all pavement done there and this being a major safety issue.

In fact all north bound lanes should be shifted back over to the normal lanes shouldn't it?
It should, but we’re talking ODOT.

If they were really motivated, they could completely wrap this project in a month.

And they should be motivated because that intersection is beyond unsafe. I will absolutely not take the 63rd south on-ramp and even the flyover from NB 235 to WB 44 is very hairy due to a lack of merge lane.

It's nice they've kept everything open but this has been crazy dangerous for years now.

I wish they’d do noise studies to determine the feasibility and humanity of continuing projects like this 24/7. Many times in LA they’ll do freeway projects all through the night. Why don’t they do this in OKC?

I wish they’d do noise studies to determine the feasibility and humanity of continuing projects like this 24/7. Many times in LA they’ll do freeway projects all through the night. Why don’t they do this in OKC?

Lots more money to spend.

It's also why gargantuan projects like widening the 405 in West L.A. happened in a relatively short time while this project is taking a decade.

If they were really motivated, they could completely wrap this project in a month.

It would cost a lot more money though, and the risk is higher. They'd need to use almost all High Early concrete, which has high compressive strength faster than usual, but that stuff also forms up fast and doesn't allow for too much working and longer transportation. Also, it's more expensive to make. They have a lot of concrete left to pour, after placing all of the reinforcing. Presuming good weather, I bet it'll be open in about 8 weeks on a good schedule, probably 12 to be safe.

Ya 28 days is usually the cure time for concrete. Don't want to rush that on a road like this

Lots more money to spend.

It's also why gargantuan projects like widening the 405 in West L.A. happened in a relatively short time while this project is taking a decade.
I’d be curious to know if they risk actually going over budget/inflation issues by dragging this out over 10+years. That’s plenty of time to not only alienate your population I wish there were actions I could legally take to affect this and keep this from happening again. I can’t tell you how many close calls I’ve had. But also lets not forget the close calls other more important people have had. Or non resident travel ors who just happened to make the mistake of taking this atrocity.

It's completely shocking to me the way they have allowed these no-merge-lane transitions for years on end.

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised when the entire intersection wasn't much better even before construction.


This is the same city and state that allows most of the streetlights to be out and only makes a half-hearted attempt to fix them after everything is documented in an embarrassing fashion. And then lets things go right back to the previous deplorable state as soon as the furor dies down a bit.

I can quickly think of three experiences where I could have experienced tragedy due to virtually no street lighting. The first was driving down I-44 to the airport on a rainy night where I literally couldn't see the lane markers (which are similarly poorly maintained). Another was exiting from I-40 east to the OKC Boulevard and almost ramming the retaining wall on the flyover; you can see a bunch of scrape marks where others were not as lucky. And the third was almost hitting a pedestrian in the blacked-out area between the Myriad Gardens and Scissortail Park, even though I was paying close attention -- I literally couldn't see this person before they were right in front of my car.

My conclusion is the city/state doesn't get sued enough to motivate them to actually do anything, so they just don't spend any money or effort. People here simply seem to be content with the sorry state; or haven't lived elsewhere to have higher expectations.

They also have "no merge" on I-44 west/south from I-40, and honestly, I'm avoiding the whole interchange until the bridge work is complete. The visibility from traffic coming over the bridge is terrible

They also have "no merge" on I-44 west/south from I-40, and honestly, I'm avoiding the whole interchange until the bridge work is complete. The visibility from traffic coming over the bridge is terribleThis. When I travel through I-235 and I-44 I tend to not change highways so that's good. Yesterday morning to took I-40 W to I-44 W because there was no traffic. I had avoided going that way since bridge work had started, but I decided to go that way because traffic on my map was "green". Bad idea. Traffic was going at the speed limit. And there was no way to see. It was incredibly dangerous. I am thankful I was not hit. I will not be going that way the rest of the time they are doing that work. I presume it is the same at I-235 and I-44 in some places? How does that meet interstate standards??

On top of all this, for some reason there are on-ramps in OKC where two lanes merge and the lane that can't see the traffic coming up from behind is the one with the yield sign.

Two cases in point: 39th East and West to the Lake Hefner Parkway North. The 39th West lane is the one with the yield sign and it's almost impossible for a driver to see the traffic coming up behind them from 39th East. Why not have East with the yield sign as those drivers clearly can see the other lane merging in front of them?? Every single time I go this way I just pray someone isn't coming up in my left-side blindspot, because stopping to be sure will likely cause a big pile-up from behind.

It's the same merging onto I-44 from both NW Expressway and Belle Isle. Belle is the one with the yield sign while the NW Ex traffic comes up from a curved road making it almost impossible to see cars coming up from behind. Lots of people stop right before the freeway because your only other option is to just proceed and hope. It's ridiculous.


I have had more close calls in my few years back in OKC than I ever had in 25 years of insane Los Angeles freeway traffic, and I drove way, way more out there. I know it's easy to criticize but many of the decisions here make no logical sense and are needlessly dangerous.

so the ask to be gained are:

People should start sewing the city and state about this crap until they enact better designs, policies that place pedestrians (and cyclists) in higher regard.

so the ask to be gained are:

People should start sewing the city and state about this crap until they enact better designs, policies that place pedestrians (and cyclists) in higher regard.

We’re talking about I44 and I235 here, right?

so the ask to be gained are:

People should start sewing the city and state about this crap until they enact better designs, policies that place pedestrians (and cyclists) in higher regard.

Suing** Unless you have a ton of thread and needles.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235102221a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235102221b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235102221c.jpg

This may be a stupid question, but once this phase is completed, is the entire project done?

This may be a stupid question, but once this phase is completed, is the entire project done?

No, they still have another phase of the project. Replacing the westbound entrance/exit ramps between Lincoln and 235, it is a bit more complex than the current layout since it adds a bridge so traffic exiting from i44 to i235 will no longer merge with the on ramp from Lincoln. I guess it technically also involves changes to the service road near those ramps, but there is so little built up off that service road, I am not sure if it is even much of an inconvenience to the people near it.

No, they still have another phase of the project. Replacing the westbound entrance/exit ramps between Lincoln and 235, it is a bit more complex than the current layout since it adds a bridge so traffic exiting from i44 to i235 will no longer merge with the on ramp from Lincoln. I guess it technically also involves changes to the service road near those ramps, but there is so little built up off that service road, I am not sure if it is even much of an inconvenience to the people near it.

Are there any drawings or renderings of this part of the project? Don't think I've ever seen any.

Are there any drawings or renderings of this part of the project? Don't think I've ever seen any.

It looks like ODOT has a different version on their page for the project than I remember. Larger / more detailed versions from them tend to be burred in large pdfs, so are a bit harder to search for.

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/ongoing-projects/i-235-i-44-interchange/_jcr_content/responsivegrid-second/image_6102519451.coreimg.100.640.jpeg/1603373337230/2016.05.02-sequence-with-no-years-web.jpeg

What I remembered is more like a version in this list of images (https://www.oklahoman.com/gallery/articleid/3765919) to support an Oklahoman article

Do you think they'll open up the northbound and free up the detour that's in the southbound lines north of bridge before they finish the bridge

They have striped the NB lanes of I-235 just north of the I-44 bridge. Looks like they will be cutting over traffic very soon.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235110721a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235110721b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235110721c.jpg

Looks like they will be making the change tonight


I-235/I-44 ramps close Tuesday night; use alternate route
Drivers can expect the below I-235/I-44 interchange ramp closures from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday for a northbound I-235/US-77 lane shift. Motorists should be prepared for northbound lanes to be shifted to the east into their permanent configuration by Wednesday morning, but will remain narrowed to two lanes through 2021.

The eastbound I-44 on-ramp from Western Ave. (mm 126) will be closed;
Eastbound I-44 off-ramp to southbound I-235/US-77 (mm 127A) will be closed;
Eastbound I-44 to northbound I-235/US-77 will be closed;
Westbound I-44 off-ramp to N. 63rd St. (mm 127) will be closed;
Westbound I-44 off-ramp to northbound US-77 (mm 127) will be closed; and
Northbound I-235/US-77 off-ramp to N. 63rd St. will be closed.

Just took these (Wednesday morning):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235111021a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235111021b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235111021c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235111021d.jpg

Great documentation of this entire process Pete. I cannot wait for this to finish!!

Great documentation of this entire process Pete. I cannot wait for this to finish!!

^^ Second that. As one who uses this interchange daily, this has become one of the most important threads on the site to me. If I hit the "New Posts" button, and this thread pops up, I check it first.

Still wondering if and when they are ever going to restripe the eastbound to northbound flyover to two lanes. A completely unneeded jam every morning that is maddening given that the construction on that part of the interchange has been finished for months.

The new lane configuration on the other end of that flyover is nice, though.

Still wondering if and when they are ever going to restripe the eastbound to northbound flyover to two lanes. A completely unneeded jam every morning that is maddening given that the construction on that part of the interchange has been finished for months.

The new lane configuration on the other end of that flyover is nice, though.

I think left it that way to slow traffic down during construction. That third lane on the new NB lanes could be open now but they left it closed for the time being.

NB left lane looks closed off because they will need to build the barrier wall where the construction traffic crossovers used to be.

They finally restriped the off ramp to the flyover, glory be, hallelujah.

They finally restriped the off ramp to the flyover, glory be, hallelujah.
Praise be!!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112121a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112121b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112121c.jpg

How many weeks left until finished?

How many weeks left until finished?

It has been written, finished at the end of the year. Looks like they're going to take it all the way. Hopefully not more.

Given what is left to do, I don't think they will finish by the end of the year, which is only just over a month away.

My bet is February, and that's if they hustle.

I am very disappointed to see little pavement replacement on both directions of I-44. That concrete is nearing 50 years old. it would have been an ideal time to replace the parts within this interchange.

^^^^ Agreed all the payment should’ve been replaced

Congress just passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill. President Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021. Surely ODOT will address the structural deficiencies of I-44. Communities will begin receiving infrastructure funding in the course of the next year (2022).

Oklahoma is scheduled to get approximately $5 billion; $1 billion each year for the next five years to address infrastructure needs.

Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheet-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/

What does the infrastructure bill mean for Oklahoma? https://kfor.com/news/local/what-does-the-infrastructure-bill-mean-for-oklahoma/

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112121c.jpg

From the look of this it makes me wonder if they are going to finish the two permanent cloverleaf loops and their dedicated bridge, shift traffic onto them, and then do some remaining work on parts of the interchange that are being blocked by the current configuration.

Also, I am even more confused by the gap at the bottom of the picture now that there is pavement on either side of it, but maybe that will get filled in once my speculated cloverleaf shift happens.

^

That is probably correct and would explain why they finished the west part of that bridge first.

It looks like they could open the permanent cloverleafs relatively soon, then finish up the remaining work.


I really, really wish they would wrap this up. Not so much for the traffic bottlenecks but due to the high level of danger involved in the lack of merge lanes at several spots.

They finally restriped the off ramp to the flyover, glory be, hallelujah.

This morning, I noticed a couple of cars move to the right (probably out of habit) only to move back when they realized that it had been restriped. The ramp seemed to flow a lot better to me, but traffic in general seemed lighter today, so it's hard to say how much impact the restriping made.

This morning, I noticed a couple of cars move to the right (probably out of habit) only to move back when they realized that it had been restriped. The ramp seemed to flow a lot better to me, but traffic in general seemed lighter today, so it's hard to say how much impact the restriping made.

We probably won't see the real difference until next week when traffic gets back to a post-holiday normal.

From the look of this it makes me wonder if they are going to finish the two permanent cloverleaf loops and their dedicated bridge, shift traffic onto them, and then do some remaining work on parts of the interchange that are being blocked by the current configuration.

Also, I am even more confused by the gap at the bottom of the picture now that there is pavement on either side of it, but maybe that will get filled in once my speculated cloverleaf shift happens.

The gap is there because there is temp asphalt being used to adjust for the slight difference in elevation. It will be replaced with a jersey barrier when the shift happens.

I will say mid January for total completion if the SB bridge deck is poured by the end of next week. I think both sides will be on the new bridges by the end of the year.

They are doing some more striping tonight


I-235/I-44 ramps close Monday night
The following I-235/I-44 interchange ramps will be closed from 7 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday for striping

Eastbound I-44 on-ramp from Western Ave. (mm 126);
Eastbound I-44 off-ramp to southbound I-235/US-77 (mm 127A);
Eastbound I-44 to northbound I-235/US-77;
Eastbound I-44 off-ramp to Lincoln Blvd.;
Southbound I-235 to eastbound I-44;
Northbound I-235/US-77 ramp to eastbound I-44; and
Northbound Lincoln Blvd. ramp to westbound I-44.

^

I really, really wish they would wrap this up. Not so much for the traffic bottlenecks but due to the high level of danger involved in the lack of merge lanes at several spots.

Totally agree with this. Added to that the insanely crazy drivers screaming through here like the Daytona 500.

From this (Saturday) morning.

In the 3rd photo you can see the NB 63rd exit ramp now has all four turn lanes open.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112721a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112721b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112721c.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112721d.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235112721e.jpg

Sooooo close

I'm very please that the 44EB to 235N/S off-ramp is properly striped now to no long have that silly merge. Traffic is flowing so much better that way now.

I'm very please that the 44EB to 235N/S off-ramp is properly striped now to no long have that silly merge. Traffic is flowing so much better that way now.

Yep. When we were lobbying for the expansion we used to joke that it was the only major highway intersection in America where you made eye contact with the other drivers while trying to merge on to it.

A couple weeks into the change driving it in the mornings, the jam at that merge point seems to be entirely fixed for normal traffic patterns.