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.
lol come to LA. You could have time to start and finish a tea party with the driver next to you by the time you get through half of the freeway interchanges there.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235120421a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235120421b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235120421c.jpg

Thanks for the pics Pete

Been lucky with the good weather, able to work.

I just spoke to someone at ODOT who gave me details on the timing of the final work being done at this intersection.

Everything is temperature-dependent at this point and as long as the weather stays warm, the contractor should continue to make fast progress.


They hope to be able to shift all the southbound traffic to the western-most southbound bridge sometime after Christmas. This would involve opening up the permanent cloverleaves for SB to EB and WB to SB. Just two lanes of that bridge would be utilized at that time.

That shift will allow them to remove the temporary cloverleaf setups that are being currently used. Then, they can do the final patching, complete all the paving, seal and stripe everything and open up the entire SB bridge.


The goal is to have everything completely done and open early in 2022, hopefully in January but very much dependent on weather/temperature.


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235120421eee.jpg

Good news for the northbound traffic, bad news for the southbound traffic plus the cloverleafs plus the 63rd to 235 onramp traffic all on just that skinny, westernmost bridge. It is going to be crowded while they finish up.

Good news for the northbound traffic, bad news for the southbound traffic plus the cloverleafs plus the 63rd to 235 onramp traffic all on just that skinny, westernmost bridge. It is going to be crowded while they finish up.

Hopefully, that will only be for a short period of time.


As weird as this may sound, it always makes me a little sad to see a big project like this end. I usually go photograph every week over a period of years... Completion represents a loss! Of course, there are always new things and a bunch of additional projects will start to move next year, and a new weekly routine will be created.

Good news for the northbound traffic, bad news for the southbound traffic plus the cloverleafs plus the 63rd to 235 onramp traffic all on just that skinny, westernmost bridge. It is going to be crowded while they finish up.

It may look skinny compared to the new bridges but it is several feet wider than the old southbound bridge, which handled all that traffic previously

It may look skinny compared to the new bridges but it is several feet wider than the old southbound bridge, which handled all that traffic previously

It appears that I am already spoiled by the improvements in the completed portions of this project.

From just 2 years ago:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/23544063019aa.jpg

Hopefully, that will only be for a short period of time.


As weird as this may sound, it always makes me a little sad to see a big project like this end. I usually go photograph every week over a period of years... Completion represents a loss! Of course, there are always new things and a bunch of additional projects will start to move next year, and a new weekly routine will be created.
Will you be documenting the 240-35 interchange once that starts in a couple years?

Will you be documenting the 240-35 interchange once that starts in a couple years?

Yes, of course!

Yes, of course!
Awesome! That one will be exciting as well to see! Thank you for all of your hard work.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121121a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121121b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121121c.jpg

It was difficult to remember that clover leaf; it has been almost 2 years since the worked started on the interchange. Thanks again.

That traffic shift may happen before Christmas based on those photos. Totally completion by mid January seems likely unless we get a lot of rain/snow.

Between Friday and today, I noticed new overhead signage for the eastbound-to-northbound ramp.

Looking at the aerial, it really is a shame they didn't include a bridge for Santa Fe over I-44 connecting it to NE 63rd St.

Hopefully this can be done in the future

It's also a shame they didn't include two more flyovers, completely eliminating the need for a cloverleaf

That traffic shift may happen before Christmas based on those photos. Totally completion by mid January seems likely unless we get a lot of rain/snow.

Fingers crossed this gets done in time.

Gotta say, it takes a lot of getting used to, to take the exit so early to go from northbound 235, to westbound 44. You feel like you're exiting for 50th or something because its so far back. I imagine that if you're coming up on the junction for the first time, it doesn't feel any different than say one in Dallas. Just hard to break those old feelings from the old routes.

Now, lets finish up here so we can get back to 240.....

Gotta say, it takes a lot of getting used to, to take the exit so early to go from northbound 235, to westbound 44. You feel like you're exiting for 50th or something because its so far back. I imagine that if you're coming up on the junction for the first time, it doesn't feel any different than say one in Dallas.
That part is weird. The sign is too far north and you’re not sure if it’s the right exit for WB 44 as the retaining wall obscures the view.

I'm assuming (hoping?) they'll fix this with better signage. But as someone that enters NB235 from 36th, I love the new westbound 44 exit because I can stay in the entrance lane which turns into the 44 exit lane without having to merge with traffic, which is often backed up right there. A win in by book!

yes, hopefully the Santa Fe bridge and at least the WB I-44 to SB I-235 Downtown flyover can be built later.

It's also a shame they didn't include two more flyovers, completely eliminating the need for a cloverleaf

Not that familiar as to how two more flyovers would work, I'm all for anything that improves this interchange.

ODOT will have the Infrastructure funds from the November 15 bill signed into law by Biden:


Over the next 5 years, the White House says Oklahoma can expect to see $4.3 billion in federal-aid highway apportioned programs.

Under the plan, the White House says Oklahoma should get $266 million for bridge replacement and repair.

Oklahoma will also be able to "compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly
$16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities."


yes, hopefully the Santa Fe bridge and at least the WB I-44 to SB I-235 Downtown flyover can be built later.

Don't hold your breath on a Santa Fe bridge, I can't imagine that ODOT cares to build one since they didn't in the first place, and the city doing it would be a waste of millions of dollars (maybe ten of millions, or more) which would be far better spent on something else. It would have been nice if the original interchange plan with it came to pass, but that ship has likely sailed.

And same for the two additional flyovers, most likely. Maybe in another few decades, but I would be shocked to see ODOT spend any more money on this interchange any time soon.

Don't hold your breath on a Santa Fe bridge, I can't imagine that ODOT cares to build one since they didn't in the first place, and the city doing it would be a waste of millions of dollars (maybe ten of millions, or more) which would be far better spent on something else. It would have been nice if the original interchange plan with it came to pass, but that ship has likely sailed.

And same for the two additional flyovers, most likely. Maybe in another few decades, but I would be shocked to see ODOT spend any more money on this interchange any time soon.

Yeah, the Santa Fe bridge has a far greater chance of getting built and even that is a low chance. There would be more impact just by improving I-35 and I-44.

Don't hold your breath on a Santa Fe bridge, I can't imagine that ODOT cares to build one since they didn't in the first place, and the city doing it would be a waste of millions of dollars (maybe ten of millions, or more) which would be far better spent on something else. It would have been nice if the original interchange plan with it came to pass, but that ship has likely sailed.

And same for the two additional flyovers, most likely. Maybe in another few decades, but I would be shocked to see ODOT spend any more money on this interchange any time soon.

??? this was the original interchange plan ..

??? this was the original interchange plan ..

Yes, the plan they did not build. That is why I said "it would have been nice if the original interchange plan with it came to pass".

looking Southhttp://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/OkStateBBall78/l5transbrdg-i44i235-big.jpg

This one, in particular. Not too different from what we got except for no Sante Fe bridge.

would greatly improve connectivity n-s without having to get on the crowded super-freeway.

The downtown flyover could handle crush loads much better/safer than the cloverleaf, similarly to why the two flyovers that were built, were built. The only one I'd argue probably doesn't need to change is the SB to EB clover, when does it ever have crush loads? Downtown is surely needed at some point, would have been cheaper to have it in this construction but oh well.

would greatly improve connectivity n-s without having to get on the crowded super-freeway.

The downtown flyover could handle crush loads much better/safer than the cloverleaf, similarly to why the two flyovers that were built, were built. The only one I'd argue probably doesn't need to change is the SB to EB clover, when does it ever have crush loads? Downtown is surely needed at some point, would have been cheaper to have it in this construction but oh well.

Mornings when the State employees coming south need to cut over to Lincoln

This is an innocent question---can someone explain the love for a Santa Fe bridge?

Looks to me that Santa Fe south of I-44 is a disjointed, 2 lane industrial road, and north of I-44 it is an access road for Broadway extension that runs only a mile and a half. How would you make it a viable general traffic road that is worthy of the cost involved?

This is an innocent question---can someone explain the love for a Santa Fe bridge?

Looks to me that Santa Fe south of I-44 is a disjointed, 2 lane industrial road, and north of I-44 it is an access road for Broadway extension that runs only a mile and a half. How would you make it a viable general traffic road that is worthy of the cost involved?

Even more money after building the bridge, of course.

I am glad you made this post. A mile to the east you have Kelly that goes through and all the way up to Edmond, and a mile west you have Western for the same. Spending the money to make Sante Fe connect when it only goes half a mile up and two miles down doesn't really feel like a good way to spend city or state money. I imagine that line of thought is why ODOT canned the bridge in the first place.

This is an innocent question---can someone explain the love for a Santa Fe bridge?

Looks to me that Santa Fe south of I-44 is a disjointed, 2 lane industrial road, and north of I-44 it is an access road for Broadway extension that runs only a mile and a half. How would you make it a viable general traffic road that is worthy of the cost involved?

Well, obviously traffic counts through this are enormous. You have a ton of capitol complex folks during the week that could utilize it when going north of I44 for lunch, etc., instead of getting on an interstate. When I worked at the capitol years ago I would have done that every day. Santa Fe is a heavily used road during the daytime between 23rd and 50th. North of 36th it is a 4-lane. Especially with SB 235 no longer having access to NW 50th, one could have exited 63rd and jogged over and down Santa Fe to get there, all without having to go through the interchange and over to Lincoln, or all the way west over to the Grand/Western exit debacle area that takes forever to get through, or even down to 36th and back up. And also, there's now no longer access for motorists on NW 50th to go NB 235 anymore with the new interchange. These motorists could have gone north across this bridge to 63rd then hopped right on. It's just really all about access. But I'm no traffic engineer, nor do I know what the true traffic counts are, but personally I would have used it often.

Well, obviously traffic counts through this are enormous. You have a ton of capitol complex folks during the week that could utilize it when going north of I44 for lunch, etc., instead of getting on an interstate. When I worked at the capitol years ago I would have done that every day. Santa Fe is a heavily used road during the daytime between 23rd and 50th. North of 36th it is a 4-lane. Especially with SB 235 no longer having access to NW 50th, one could have exited 63rd and jogged over and down Santa Fe to get there, all without having to go through the interchange and over to Lincoln, or all the way west over to the Grand/Western exit debacle area that takes forever to get through, or even down to 36th and back up. And also, there's now no longer access for motorists on NW 50th to go NB 235 anymore with the new interchange. These motorists could have gone north across this bridge to 63rd then hopped right on. It's just really all about access.
I'm wondering how much that bridge would cost. It would be a pretty tall bridge which got me wondering what the tallest urban bridge in Oklahoma is. I wish they'd build it I bet it would get a decent amount of traffic and spur development in the area.

My feeling is the Santa Fe bridge would nicely connect that area, a rapidly densifying location that's cut off by two intersecting interstate freeways. Today you have to either get on I-235 or jog over to Classen or all the way to Kelly Ave then backtrack once on 63rd or Grand.

There's also the added benefit of having arguably the city's (if not the state's) tallest bridge; further expanding that interchange into a proper 5-stack.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121721a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121721b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121721c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121721d.jpg

Note sure if this has been posted here before but they need to better post signage on the flyover ramp that goes from EB I-44 to NB Broadway Extension because it is easy to be in the wrong lane and either end up on 63rd or on the shoulder trying to get in the right lane. Though I am becoming less and less of a fan of this proposal every time I think of it, ODOT's plan to sign the Kilpatrick as I-240 would allow for I-235 to be extended to the Kilpatrick. Should that happen, they should paint the lanes with interstate shields like they do on I-40 at the I-35 junction.

PS, great pics Pete!

Getting so close you can almost taste it!

They are really moving.

With nothing but warm and dry weather in the forecast, I bet everything is done sometime in January.

I will try and get my boots and go investigate but is there room for the Deep Fork Creek Trail extension? It doesn't look like it per the drone shots.

Note sure if this has been posted here before but they need to better post signage on the flyover ramp that goes from EB I-44 to NB Broadway Extension because it is easy to be in the wrong lane and either end up on 63rd or on the shoulder trying to get in the right lane. Though I am becoming less and less of a fan of this proposal every time I think of it, ODOT's plan to sign the Kilpatrick as I-240 would allow for I-235 to be extended to the Kilpatrick. Should that happen, they should paint the lanes with interstate shields like they do on I-40 at the I-35 junction.

PS, great pics Pete!

They've recently installed new signage that is pretty clear to me. The sign over the left lane says "77 North - Edmond" and the sign over the right lane says "NW 63rd St" and has the yellow "Exit Only" tab.

They've recently installed new signage that is pretty clear to me. The sign over the left lane says "77 North - Edmond" and the sign over the right lane says "NW 63rd St" and has the yellow "Exit Only" tab.
I will drive it again today. Last time all I saw was the sign that is about a hundred feet before the split.

I'm interested to see how they stripe EB I44 through the interchange. While I'm not a huge fan of the half cloverleaf there, I have to think by taking out the old cloverleaf from EB44 to NB77, there won't be competing traffic fighting over a couple hundred feet of merging those two movements under the old setup (those getting off SB77 to EB44, and those going from EB44 to NB77.). Lots of wrecks and wrangles there with the constant merging, especially during rush hour.

The bigger challenge with all this improvement is keeping all the highway lights on in that area. Considering the constant inability to keep the lights on, on many of the the interchanges in OKC, I have doubts this interchange will stay lit for long.

I'm interested to see how they stripe EB I44 through the interchange. While I'm not a huge fan of the half cloverleaf there, I have to think by taking out the old cloverleaf from EB44 to NB77, there won't be competing traffic fighting over a couple hundred feet of merging those two movements under the old setup (those getting off SB77 to EB44, and those going from EB44 to NB77.). Lots of wrecks and wrangles there with the constant merging, especially during rush hour.

Looks like there should be plenty of merge space for EB traffic once WB is shifted back to its own side.

They've recently installed new signage that is pretty clear to me. The sign over the left lane says "77 North - Edmond" and the sign over the right lane says "NW 63rd St" and has the yellow "Exit Only" tab.
Yeah I saw it this time.

https://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235121721b.jpg

Pete,

This is an great photo, great angle.

This is a heck of an improvement from when I was last bitching about this intersection 11 years ago when I started the thread. I appreciate your dedication into keeping this community going.

Took these this (Sunday 12/26) morning.

Before they can shift the southbound traffic to the western-most southbound bridge, they have to complete the two cloverleaves and I-44 under the new bridges. They are moving fast so hopefully that will happen in the next week or two and then they can finish up the remaining work and open everything in the final configuration. As I had posted before, an ODOT rep told me they could be pretty much done by the end of January if the weather stays nice.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235122621a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235122621b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235122621c.jpg

Took these this (Sunday 12/26) morning.

Before they can shift the southbound traffic to the western-most southbound bridge, they have to complete the two cloverleaves and I-44 under the new bridges. They are moving fast so hopefully that will happen in the next week or two and then they can finish up the remaining work and open everything in the final configuration. As I had posted before, an ODOT rep told me they could be pretty much done by the end of January if the weather stays nice.

Do you know if that includes the I-44 east/west portion as well with all the temporary shifts/cones/lines/etc? Or is that just the main 235 run?

Do you know if that includes the I-44 east/west portion as well with all the temporary shifts/cones/lines/etc? Or is that just the main 235 run?

They have an entire phase going westbound I-44, updating the ramps of Lincoln/I-44/I-235, so even if the shifts end soon there probably will still be some construction in that area for another year or two.

They have an entire phase going westbound I-44, updating the ramps of Lincoln/I-44/I-235, so even if the shifts end soon there probably will still be some construction in that area for another year or two.

Have they approved bids for that yet? I think that may be another year before that section starts.

Have they approved bids for that yet? I think that may be another year before that section starts.

Probably not, the funding was projected to 2023 funding year in the 8 year plan. Though that was before the national infrastructure bill passed, so there may be funds available for this sooner.

They have an entire phase going westbound I-44, updating the ramps of Lincoln/I-44/I-235, so even if the shifts end soon there probably will still be some construction in that area for another year or two.

Are there any renders or layouts of how this will be done, I'm interested in seeing it due to how close this will be to the new living complex that will be situated on the service road just north of it.

Are there any renders or layouts of how this will be done, I'm interested in seeing it due to how close this will be to the new living complex that will be situated on the service road just north of it.

I don't think any renders have been released to the public showing this far east, there are a couple rough layouts

from ODOT
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

The Oklahoman also has a couple graphics zoomed further in at this page (https://www.oklahoman.com/gallery/articleid/3765919), they may not be as accurate on lane locations but it does convey better how traffic exiting i44 to Broadway Extension NB will no longer be interacting with traffic taking the Lincoln on ramp to i44.

Now the city really should have pushed to try and get a second railroad bridge built or one that has capacity for double tracks. It will be needed for commuter rail traffic.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235010222a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235010222b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235010222c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235010222d.jpg

It’s borderline miraculous there wasn’t a big pile up during all this. Driving on I-44 under the interchange is pretty risky.

Wow that temporary ramp for WB 44 to SB 235 is insane. Basically a right turn.