which are not really BRT (they only have BRT separate lanes at intersections and are just in normal traffic between)
Is ODOT still planning HOV lanes on I-40? I thought those were planned for 2030-2040. Not sure if they will widen the freeway again or convert a shoulder to HOV. I would not be happy to see a freeway with two GP lanes and one HOV lane. They are doing that sh!t in Santa Barbra and it drives me nuts.

Why do they still have the far left lane on southbound Broadway closed? I can't tell they did anything to improve morning rush hour traffic flow at this point.

They still have some minor median maintenance (paint, etc) to complete. Given the good weather forecast for this week, it should be almost done.

Is ODOT still planning HOV lanes on I-40? I thought those were planned for 2030-2040. Not sure if they will widen the freeway again or convert a shoulder to HOV. I would not be happy to see a freeway with two GP lanes and one HOV lane. They are doing that sh!t in Santa Barbra and it drives me nuts.

i am not sure on this ..

They need to move the west bound downtown OKC sign as you cant see it until you clear under the first bridge and is really too late to react. it is completely blocked by the NB 235 bridge

An official ribbon cutting will be performed by Gov. Stitt tomorrow (Thursday) at 3PM.


Dedication of the state’s first four-level highway interchange is the culmination of more than a decade of construction by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at a cost of $241 million. The current $105 million construction phase to add flyover ramps at I-44 and complete widening of I-235 began in spring 2019.

Just after the ribbon cutting, automobile enthusiasts from across the metro area will drive southbound I-235 through the interchange for a ceremonial first drive, passing the event location

Press release:

*******************

Motorists now ‘On Broadway’ after I-235/I-44 opening celebration
Transportation officials raised the curtain Thursday afternoon on the last major act that will significantly impact traffic at the I-235/I-44 interchange, which puts motorists back “On Broadway” after three years of construction.

Thursday’s celebration with Gov. Kevin Stitt, Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, local and state officials opens to traffic a critical interchange that moves nearly 100,000 vehicles daily between the northern portion of the metro area and the city’s center with access to Downtown, Midtown, Bricktown, the Boathouse District, the State Capitol Complex and more.

“Thanks to Secretary Gatz and his team at ODOT, today’s opening of the I-235/I-44 interchange is the culmination of more than 30 years of community involvement, planning and construction. It’s a huge step forward in improving our urban transportation system,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “Thanks also goes to our legislators, who in recent years have invested in our transportation infrastructure with dedicated funding avenues, to meet not only today’s needs but also needs well into the future. While thousands will be thrilled to see construction come to an end at this key interchange, we must continue to improve our highway network as the economy and population of the Oklahoma City metro area continues to grow.”

This $105 million, three-year-long project widened I-235 to six lanes and up to eight lanes in some areas between N. 50th St. and N. 63rd St. The reconstruction includes 11 new bridges in the 1-mile-long work zone. Crews built two flyover ramps to move traffic more efficiently and safely through the interchange, and made this the first four-level interchange on the state interstate system. The flyover ramps also replaced the northeastern and southeastern loop ramps.

“ODOT has invested nearly $400 million in the I-235 and US-77/Broadway Extension corridor to meet traffic demand across the growing Oklahoma City metro area and to significantly improve safety,” Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz said. “This herculean feat could not have happened without significant partnerships. We want to thank the Legislature and the Governor for their support as well as recognize the hundreds of ODOT employees and contractors who made this corridor improvement possible. Specifically, we want to recognize motorists for their commitment to using ‘Off Broadway’ alternate routes for the past five years, making this corridor safer for them and workers.”

Thursday’s opening brings to a close almost 11 years of construction to modernize the I-235/I-44 interchange and includes highlights such as adding traffic capacity, significantly lessening the chance of flooding along the corridor and the 2018 installation of the 45-foot-tall railroad truss bridge over I-235 using construction techniques new to Oklahoma. The railroad bridge move-in along I-235 also drew hundreds of spectators to the site during the 60-hour interstate closure, and was viewed live by thousands on a dedicated live stream video.

OFF BROADWAY I-235 TIMELINE

Act 1 in 2011: I-235/US-77 ramp to I-44, $23 million
Act 2 in 2013: I-44 ramp to I-235 and the I-44 merge area to US-77, $9 million
Act 3 in 2017: I-235 widening between N. 36th and N. 50th St., $88 million
Act 4 in 2019: I-235/I-44 interchange adding two flyover ramps, $105 million
Act 5 in 2023: I-44 to US-77 ramp, connect from N. Lincoln Blvd., estimated $16 million
Previous CIP phases 1998 to 2008: Widening and reconstruction US-77/Broadway Ext. between I-44 and Edmond, $140 million

The state Legislature provided funding for a massive Capital Improvement Project program to improve corridors of economic significance, which included the widening of US-77/Broadway Ext. between I-44 and Edmond. Those projects began in the mid-1990s and continued under the stewardship of several governors. The adoption of ODOT’s Eight-Year Construction Work Plan and ultimately the creation of the ROADS Fund in 2005 by the Legislature paved the way to federal matching funds for the five interchange reconstruction phases. This $241 million construction investment helps improve safety and provides a direct connection from the metro’s northern portion to its center core.

This intense effort involved hundreds of workers at all levels from design to construction, and included multiple engineering design firms, contractors, sub-contractors and ODOT personnel. Originally, projected at seven phases, this became a five-act production with an estimated $16 million project scheduled for 2023 to revamp the westbound I-44 ramp to northbound US-77/Broadway Ext. and provide a direct connection from N. Lincoln Blvd. to US-77. This final act is not expected to impact the main interchange traffic in a significant way.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235030322a.jpg

So I was at Charleston's- Edmond yesterday evening for dinner at about 5:30. NB US-77 traffic was completely backed up from 33rd all the way back passed the Comfort Drive signal there in front of the Discount Tire/Mercedes Benz dealership. I reckon that's about a mile. With this interchange (I44/235) completely clog-free now, traffic is generally unimpeded now all the way north. Edmond better pick up the pace on their "smart" transportation system. Someone mentioned a very long time ago in this thread that this would happen, and it most certainly has.

So I was at Charleston's- Edmond yesterday evening for dinner at about 5:30. NB US-77 traffic was completely backed up from 33rd all the way back passed the Comfort Drive signal there in front of the Discount Tire/Mercedes Benz dealership. I reckon that's about a mile. With this interchange (I44/235) completely clog-free now, traffic is generally unimpeded now all the way north. Edmond better pick up the pace on their "smart" transportation system. Someone mentioned a very long time ago in this thread that this would happen, and it most certainly has.

The logic of basically dead ending a freeway at the south entrance to your town and then have an array of untimed stoplights for the past 20 years is beyond me. However, at least newly built signs in Edmond aren't over 72".

Overpasses should be added at Comfort Dr., 33rd, and 15th to allow thru traffic to bypass the lights. They also should collector/distributor roads from Comfort Dr. to 15th and make Broadway into more of a freeway/expressway hybrid with no traffic lights for through traffic. That would go a very long ways to helping with Edmond traffic move a bit quicker.

It’ll also be nice once they get commuter rail going hopefully once or twice an hour to OKC.

Overpasses should be added at Comfort Dr., 33rd, and 15th to allow thru traffic to bypass the lights. They also should collector/distributor roads from Comfort Dr. to 15th and make Broadway into more of a freeway/expressway hybrid with no traffic lights for through traffic. That would go a very long ways to helping with Edmond traffic move a bit quicker.

It’ll also be nice once they get commuter rail going hopefully once or twice an hour to OKC.

It seemed dumb idea to even add the light at Comfort like a decade ago

It seemed dumb idea to even add the light at Comfort like a decade ago
Yeah but a great way to introduce incoming traffic to Edmond, stop light city where we must have a traffic signal at every intersection because other options exist!

I drove it this weekend and noticed the east side of I-44 still seemed unfinished with temp barriers. I assume those will be replaced with permanent barriers, maybe as part of the next phase on the I-44/Lincoln part?

I drove it this weekend and noticed the east side of I-44 still seemed unfinished with temp barriers. I assume those will be replaced with permanent barriers, maybe as part of the next phase on the I-44/Lincoln part?

Not sure about east side, but westbound side for sure is because of the I-44/Lincoln project. The I-235 on ramp there is using asphalt instead of concrete.

All the barrels are gone and everything is wide open. I guess that's a wrap for my photography on this project.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235031222a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235031222b.jpg

Hard to believe it's over. Always looked forward to the latest pictures. Gotta find a new project now!

Hard to believe it's over. Always looked forward to the latest pictures. Gotta find a new project now!

The I-35/I-240 junction should be next on the docket. Between that and the ACCESS Turnpike extensions, there will be plenty to keep up with in the coming years.

The I-35/I-240 junction should be next on the docket. Between that and the ACCESS Turnpike extensions, there will be plenty to keep up with in the coming years.
They need to fix 35/240 and 40/44 before they do one damn thing for ACCESS.

I hope we don't need to hit 90 thread pages on the l-35/l-240 thread. 😀

The final set of pictures being snow-covered is a neat touch.

They need to fix 35/240 and 40/44 before they do one damn thing for ACCESS.

They are not from same funding so won’t matter. 240\35 will be starting later this year and I think move quickly with all phases together rather than over 10 years like we saw here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VK-0UCAuYo
Dayton, OH Mayor Nan Whaley and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.


National Conference of State Legislators: https://www.ncsl.org/ncsl-in-dc/publications-and-resources/infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-implementation-and-resources.aspx


February 23, 2022: Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Delivering Results 100 Days into Infrastructure Implementation: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/23/fact-sheet-biden-%E2%81%A0harris-administration-delivering-results-100-days-into-infrastructure-implementation/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/23/fact-sheet-biden-%E2%81%A0harris-administration-delivering-results-100-days-into-infrastructure-implementation/)

^ ^ ^ Does anyone know if any of our agencies, state, counties & cities are applying for these grants/funds... ^ ^ ^

First-Year Airport Infrastructure Grant Funding Amounts - Oklahoma $27,447,942

OK LAW Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Lawton $ 1,033,984

OK OUN University of Oklahoma Westheimer Norman $ 295,000
OK OKC Will Rogers World Oklahoma City $ 6,677,636
OK PWA Wiley Post Oklahoma City $ 763,000

OK SWO Stillwater Regional Stillwater $ 1,019,233

OK TUL Tulsa International Tulsa $ 5,680,089
OK RVS Richard Lloyd Jones Jr Tulsa $ 763,000

.

If anyone watched Flashpoint this morning, it was refreshing to hear that Oklahoma's total infrastructure funds from the recently passed 1.2 trillion bill will exceed a total of $11.2 billion according to State Senator James Leewright (R- Bristow, OK ) which includes tribal funds.

There are still more funds that Oklahoma can secure thru grants.; also, no strings attached requiring matching funds to receive this money.

.

Nah, just a break until the last part of the project starts (the connection between Lincoln Blvd, I44, and US77 including a direct connection from NB Lincoln to NB US77)

On Friday I took the 235 Northbound to I44 Westbound flyover. It was partially closed while some work was being done. There was a pink substance spread over the lane and a few trucks working. Traffic was squeezed to the shoulder, but was still flowing better than before the flyover was built!

Any idea what the pink stuff is? Was there an industrial size Pepto Bismol spill?

https://i.imgur.com/60OrzKb.png?1

Any idea what the pink stuff is? Was there an industrial size Pepto Bismol spill?

Could it be sand blasting medium?

I've never seen that before in road construction. Occam's Razor suggests that it was probably a previous spill from an accident unrelated to the construction activity that day, or the construction activity is related to removing it.

TO me, it appeared to be a crack-detecting method. The ODOT press release said the bridge would be narrowed for "routine bridge work" and the pink powder compound really highlights the tiny cracks that form in concrete over time.

Good to know that we already have to check for cracks on a bridge that's only a few years old. Quality work there.

Good to know that we already have to check for cracks on a bridge that's only a few years old. Quality work there.

The two hard truths in life: ice cream melts, and concrete cracks. If that is indeed what they are doing it is good they are checking early.

The two hard truths in life: ice cream melts, and concrete cracks. If that is indeed what they are doing it is good they are checking early.

And this may just be a post construction inspection that gets triggered a few months after completion. If they have to use "pink stuff" to detect cracks better, that tells me its not super obvious.

If that is indeed the case, I wonder if some core samples came back questionable requiring a site inspection for surface cracking?

I have watched hundreds of thousands of yards of concrete get poured where I work (Denver Airport was re-surfacing the entire apron area on my concourse) and they core sampled every batch. But never did any kind of post-pour surface crack testing. I haven't seen it on any highway construction either. I still think it was an unrelated spill of some sort, but it is indeed a good guess. Usually any kind of crack detection in metals is a red or yellow color, so a similar process for concrete wouldn't at all be surprising.

If that is indeed the case, I wonder if some core samples came back questionable requiring a site inspection for surface cracking?


I paid special attention to it this morning as I made my commute to work. It does indeed look like it was for crack identification. There is now black crack seal on quite a few hairline cracks on portions of the bridge. Those core samples are pretty old now - I think that flyover has been open 9 months to a year already, so not sure what suddenly piqued their interest. It is curious though. That's a lot of fresh concrete to be cracking like that already.

I'm not sure what it is either, but I don't think it was a spill. I take this ramp daily on my commute - the cones were places before any of the pink substance was there. The next time I took the ramp, the right side of the roadway was pink and traffic was on the left side. Then, as shown in pw405's pic in post #2244, the pink was on the left and traffic switched to the right.

On Friday I took the 235 Northbound to I44 Westbound flyover. It was partially closed while some work was being done. There was a pink substance spread over the lane and a few trucks working. Traffic was squeezed to the shoulder, but was still flowing better than before the flyover was built!

Any idea what the pink stuff is? Was there an industrial size Pepto Bismol spill?

https://i.imgur.com/60OrzKb.png?1

Here's what Gary A Crain does according their website so everyone doesn't just keep speculating

Gary A. Crain, Inc. is a highway and bridge specialty contractor. Established in 1986, Gary A. Crain, Inc. specializes in performance based penetrating water repellant surface treatments, concrete painting, bridge deck coatings and sealants, anti-graffiti coatings, diamond grinding, saw tooth grooving and profilograph services.

Our corporate office is located in Prague, Oklahoma. We are a certified DBE contractor in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. We have worked in many areas of the United States including Florida, Montana, Louisiana, Colorado and Wyoming.

Gary A. Crain, Inc. is very proud of our proven ability to complete jobs in the most safe and efficient manner possible

http://www.garyacrain.com/

Ok, so probably some kind of sealant.

The silence since this has opened seems to indicate that traffic is flowing very well; that has been my experience every time I travel through this area.

Can anybody report otherwise?

Nope. It’s made all the difference.

Now if they would please fix the nightmare that is the I-40/44 interchange.

The silence since this has opened seems to indicate that traffic is flowing very well; that has been my experience every time I travel through this area.

Can anybody report otherwise?

I have to concur. As much as loathe to admit it flows well has cut down my commute by 10 min. I atand by my comments that competent government wouldve completed this well well well under the 13 year mark.

The silence since this has opened seems to indicate that traffic is flowing very well; that has been my experience every time I travel through this area.

Can anybody report otherwise?

We never drove it while under construction (no real need to, we don't go north or south too much from 36th), but drove it after it opened and some since and it's great to just fly through it...

The silence since this has opened seems to indicate that traffic is flowing very well; that has been my experience every time I travel through this area.

Can anybody report otherwise?

Literally the only problem I have experienced with this reworked interchange is when I want to go from northbound I-235 to westbound I-44 I keep missing the dang exit - my brain keeps telling me that the exit should be at the overpass like it used to be, haha. Otherwise it's an absolute dream to just sail through this interchange essentially unimpeded. I agree with criticisms that it shouldn't have taken 13 freakin' years to get finished, but... well, that's Oklahoma for ya. I'm definitely glad it finally got done though. Now if we could just hurry up and finish the Crossroads Junction (I-240/I-35) rebuild...

They also kept 2 lanes open in every direction the entire time (apart from a few short closures) which was necessary given how key this intersection is to OKC.

About this project. I have to commend the contractors as they are at mercy of money being released for bids and timing. Some overall comments having driven this throughout the project.

- Its amazing to now think back at how old the interchange was with cars competing for space to enter/exit 235. What a massive improvement!

- I felt this last phase was the best engineered/run of all the phases. They kept speed at 45 all throughout it. Even the police who would park at entrance to each end were less frequent. IMO, when parked it backed traffic up behind the project as people panic when they see one and it brakes and a majority of all accidents happened behind the work zones. When not there traffic flowed much smoother this last phase had less days of parked police and better overall flow. I do understand their reasoning but having lived and driven in much larger cities its important to keep the flow. Kudos to this last construction team having the largest project yet the best traffic flow of all phases.

- The prior project with train overpass was the worst of projects imo. It was fun to watch on cam when they installed it but that whole project had a speed limit of 35 and traffic was very backed up every day. Amazing the difference between 35 and 45 mph.

Another related point to prior paragraph - This project was designed a long time ago when OKC was much smaller. Had they known then imo they should have designed the train overpass as 2 tracks vice 1. If there is any thought of running commuter rail in rush hour its way too late now, without a massive redo and cost. Edmond and N/NW OKC are really growing and it won’t be long traffic is too high for roads.

- I read so many complaints on here during the project but feel the contractors did an outstanding job. Any design flaws are not their fault they bid what was presented to them. The 13 year timeline is all about money and they could have finished faster but other projects would have suffered. We only get a piece of the fed pie each year.

- Now we have a new problem which I mentioned several times earlier in thread. 235/44 was a throttle and now that its gone all traffic has moved to 235/Kilpatrick interchange at afternoon rush hour. It backs up and thats where wrecks are now. With continued growth between 44 and TP (in 235 corridor) and other northern/western growth - its going to become a major mess in future. With toll booths gone there is room to have a north 235 left lane exit overpass to west bound KT and can take that room to make the landing. But it won’t happen. In reverse, with no 235/44 “throttle” traffic gets downtown faster and with 235 S going from 3 lanes to 2 around 8th street it backs up. Whats strange is in the afternoon it backs up worse going south and basically from I-40 to 23rd and even 36th street. That will only get worse. Every day the 23rd st bridge on 235S is a parking lot from 4-6/6:30. Think of how this hurts people going downtown to eat or a game. Then people will get off and use side roads - so get off on 36th and navigate to Classen to go south. As you can imagine the side roads will plug up too as growth continues

Our growth is way too fast for our infrastructure to keep up without major delays. That means at some point degradation in quality of life for the metro. Its been a fast change and no way to keep up.

Anyways, very long but I do commend the contractors especially the last phase. How they did that without shutting down more lanes was brilliant. Hats off to them.

The silence since this has opened seems to indicate that traffic is flowing very well; that has been my experience every time I travel through this area.

Can anybody report otherwise?

Of course as soon as it opened I decided to move to a part of town where it doesn't make sense to take this interchange. It's one of my biggest regrets from moving lol.

Of course as soon as it opened I decided to move to a part of town where it doesn't make sense to take this interchange. It's one of my biggest regrets from moving lol.

Somewhat similar for me except I was shifted to a different office during construction, granted now working from home which was once only due to covid, now seems will be an ongoing option

Is there any news of the interchange for Lincoln and I-44 getting the makeover it's scheduled to undergo? Should there be a separate topic on that matter or do we contain that to this one since it does fit in with the plans for this interchange?

Had they known then imo they should have designed the train overpass as 2 tracks vice 1. If there is any thought of running commuter rail in rush hour its way too late now, without a massive redo and cost.

I agree that they should have double tracked the bridge, that was a huge wasted opportunity. Luckily it looks like the original alignment of the bridge is set up so it can handle another bridge, so they'd be able to put in a second bridge if/when needed without extensive work beyond the bridge itself. But yes, woulda coulda shoulda.

I think all parties were aware of it, but no one wanted to pay for it. BNSF didn’t need it or want it, it’s not ODOT’s investment to make, RTA wasn’t up and running or have funding for it. ACOG was the only party that really had a need but that’s too large of an investment for largely a guidance body. Wasted opportunity sure, but the bridge reconstruction happened out of phase with the local governments.

I think all parties were aware of it, but no one wanted to pay for it. BNSF didn’t need it or want it, it’s not ODOT’s investment to make, RTA wasn’t up and running or have funding for it. ACOG was the only party that really had a need but that’s too large of an investment for largely a guidance body. Wasted opportunity sure, but the bridge reconstruction happened out of phase with the local governments.

what was really wasted and should have been done is not a second bridge but a the min footings poured for the second bridge on both ends ..

Norman did this when they created the robinson underpass ...

Well if you read all the comments on the other thread about commuter rail, the supporters all believe that BNSF is going to magically be able to use the one line for all things. Somehow, they are going to create magic trains that scissor lift like the cartoons. Or maybe they will create side lines ever 1000' to hold those 1.5 mile long freight lines while the commuter rail buzzes by every 15 minutes.

Somehow, i just don't see it happening. And I agree, this was all part of what's needed for that, and is going to be extremely expensive to get done.

Well if you read all the comments on the other thread about commuter rail, the supporters all believe that BNSF is going to magically be able to use the one line for all things. Somehow, they are going to create magic trains that scissor lift like the cartoons. Or maybe they will create side lines ever 1000' to hold those 1.5 mile long freight lines while the commuter rail buzzes by every 15 minutes.

Somehow, i just don't see it happening. And I agree, this was all part of what's needed for that, and is going to be extremely expensive to get done.

My expectation is that we won't see 15-minute headways if commuter rail gets off the ground. Even during peak usage times, the TRE in Dallas only operates on 30 minute headways - and 1 hour headways the remainder of the time. I expect ours will be similar - but that's a discussion for the other thread. That said, you're right, capacity improvements definitely do need to be made to ensure commuter rail is successful. About half of the BNSF line through the OKC metro is double-tracked, and the majority of the parts that aren't shouldn't be hard to upgrade. The big exception is around this interchange. I can understand why ODOT didn't build two rail bridges over 235 at the same time, due to span length and cost, but it's frustrating that ODOT did not do much in the way of preparations for a second bridge to be installed later, like building footings for a second bridge as BoulderSooner mentioned above. I can tell by looking at satellite imagery that ODOT did ensure that the support columns under the NW 50th St bridge are angled and spaced to allow a second rail line to be built where the bridge originally stood though, so.... at least they did that.

Is there any news of the interchange for Lincoln and I-44 getting the makeover it's scheduled to undergo? Should there be a separate topic on that matter or do we contain that to this one since it does fit in with the plans for this interchange?

Still on the 8 year plan for FFY2023.

Still on the 8 year plan for FFY2023.

which starts on July 1

which starts on July 1

? The Federal Fiscal Year starts October 1.

? The Federal Fiscal Year starts October 1.

Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma start July 1

? The Federal Fiscal Year starts October 1.

my bad i see what you are saying FFY on the list ..

thank you for the correction i missed that ..

The next phase of this project is out for bid:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235123022a.jpg

Sure wish they'd get rid of those last two cloverleafs

Sure wish they'd get rid of those last two cloverleafs

Forcing at least 2 large companies to move their HQs is a great look for Oklahoma and OKC, amirite?

Forcing at least 2 large companies to move their HQs is a great look for Oklahoma and OKC, amirite?

Most of the large state DOTs don't really give a damn what's on a parcel, if they need it, they take it. Needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, and all that.

I've seen plenty of photographs of TxDOT tearing down hundreds of very expensive properties for their North Houston I-45 project. Corporate headquarters, schools, apartments, doesn't matter, if it's in the way, it moves. Granted TxDOT has more resources than ODOT does to acquire those properties...but it goes to show you "someone makes money here" does not anoint the property as sacred untouchable land in other states.

Most of the large state DOTs don't really give a damn what's on a parcel, if they need it, they take it. Needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, and all that.

I've seen plenty of photographs of TxDOT tearing down hundreds of very expensive properties for their North Houston I-45 project. Corporate headquarters, schools, apartments, doesn't matter, if it's in the way, it moves. Granted TxDOT has more resources than ODOT does to acquire those properties...but it goes to show you "someone makes money here" does not anoint the property as sacred untouchable land in other states.

And look at how OTA is being lambasted. I think DOT knew there would be a fight over that building, and decided discretion is the better part of valor.

Could be wrong, and maybe they were lazy, or the budget was too tight. Who knows.