The bridge is three times as long as the current bridge and involves closing down three streets. I guess they recycled the original boulevard plans? lol

ODOT Presentation
Public Hearing - 8th of May, 2014 (http://www.odot.org/meetings/a2014/140508/index.htm)

It's about time. Cottonwood creek floods every time it rains upstream, seemingly. My relatives there hate it. The hospital is on the west side of town and most of the people are east. When the road is closed to flooding, the closest hospital is in Edmond. It flooded last June, in the middle of our extended drought.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rMu3tdeuuiQ

From the Journal Record:

The road ahead: Commission considers biggest ODOT contract ever, for I-35 work in Norman
By: Marie Price The Journal Record December 5, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Transportation Commission is scheduled to vote Monday on the largest single construction contract in the history of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a project that will mean major changes along Interstate 35 in Norman.

Up for discussion is a contract for reconstruction of the north half of the I-35 interchange at State Highway 9 East and reconstruction of the Lindsey Street interchange, along with widening of I-35 to six lanes.

The Lindsey Street project is for construction of a Single Point Urban Interchange, a spatially efficient design that handles more traffic volume in urban environments than some previous designs. Earlier this year, an SPUI opened at Main Street and I-35 in Norman.

The estimated total cost of the work is $80 million.

However, officials said the contract includes several deadlines with time-based incentives for each piece of the project.

The exact final cost will depend upon whether the contractor meets those deadlines.

Also on tap is a vote to award a $25 million contract for reconstruction of the I-40 bridges over the South Canadian River
near the border between Canadian and Caddo counties.

Other projects due consideration include installation of 14 miles of cable barrier on US-69 in McIntosh County and reconstructing and widening more than 2 miles of US-77 in Slaughterville in Cleveland County.

Commissioners may also go into executive session to discuss the salary of ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson.

The commission meets at 11 a.m. Monday in the R.A. Ward Transportation Building west of the Capitol building.

Is this an old article? Isn't this complete?

There's no SPUI on Lindsey, it's on main

The biggest contract ever? ODOT's biggest contract ever is $80 million?

The biggest contract ever? ODOT's biggest contract ever is $80 million?

I'm sure what that means is that it's largest single contract, not the most expensive project. Most of their projects are broken up into a number of contracts.

Interesting piece on Sixty Minutes. Not just for highway funding, but ports, rail and air.

Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/falling-apart-america-neglected-infrastructure/)

I was digging around on ODOT website and found page 19 of 26 of http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/cwp-8-year-plan/pdfs/BridgeHighwayUpdate.pdf interesting. 4599 miles of 2 lane highway with unpaved shoulder. A lot of these have a 65 MPH speed limit...not very safe when there is no shoulder. I sure wish this would become a priority.

Interesting piece on Sixty Minutes. Not just for highway funding, but ports, rail and air.

Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/falling-apart-america-neglected-infrastructure/)

I saw that when it was on a few weeks ago. Anyone who thinks we can keep doing what we have been doing for the last 60 years either isn't paying attention or has a financial stake in its continuance. Our interstate highway system is the living embodiment of the Progress Trap. The problem with people like Ray LaHood is that they are trying to find ways to fix it when the real answer lies in finding a way to live without it because this is just in - we don't have the money and we are never going to have the money. They need to come up with Plan B because Plan A is dead in the water.

ODOT To Begin $71 Million Project On I-35 In Cleveland County - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/27579607/odot-to-begin-71-million-project-on-i-35-in-cleveland-county)

http://www.edmondsun.com/news/largest-contract-in-odot-history-awarded-for-i--interchanges/article_ed0220f6-7f52-11e4-97aa-df5ed31f8886.html

Oklahoma transportation panel approves record $71 million contract - Tulsa World: Transportation (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/transportation/oklahoma-transportation-panel-approves-record-million-contract/article_8c66be83-318d-5bc9-baa3-b37a44c13527.html)

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2014/14-052_december_commission_wrap-up.pdf

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2014/14-051_Largest%20contract%20in%20ODOT%20history%20awa rded%20for%20I-35%20in%20Norman.pdf

Plupan, if you keep looking for a while you may still be able to find a few more newspapers links to the same story. :D

Plupan, if you keep looking for a while you may still be able to find a few more newspapers links to the same story. :DThe field mouse is fast but the owl can see in the dark.

The field mouse is fast but the owl can see in the dark.

So obviously you are the field mouse and I'm the owl. LOL

Defensive driving: ODOT wants to protect funding in upcoming session | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2015/01/05/defensive-driving-odot-wants-to-protect-funding-in-upcoming-session-capitol/)

This is cool as well... From The Tulsa World


The new website, which hasn’t been updated in several years, will be more user friendly.

The site is okladot.state.ok.us

- ODOT fears attempt to cut funding for road, bridge repairs - Tulsa World: State (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/odot-fears-attempt-to-cut-funding-for-road-bridge-repairs/article_151d5592-864a-5b8c-bd25-7ddb1ad3fc58.html)

The site isn't up yet, but I am excited to see it. Hopefully more funding is identified this year for expanding highways and roads and ODOT gets in on it!

Something for our "fiscal conservatives" to consider:

"This is our system: one big Ponzi scheme attempting to prop up a 1950’s development extravaganza of strip malls, big box stores, fast food and cheap residential housing. You want to spend more on this?"

No New Roads ? Strong Towns (http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2015/1/5/no-new-roads?utm_content=buffer00e88&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)

This is cool as well... From The Tulsa World



The site isn't up yet, but I am excited to see it. Hopefully more funding is identified this year for expanding highways and roads and ODOT gets in on it!

The site is still running, the reason the link in the article is bad is they left off www in the article, unlike most of the rest of the internet you still have to put www. on the front of ODOT's site because they did not configure their server to handle both ways. Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation (http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/)

Plus saying it has not been updated in years is a bit misleading, it gets content added pretty much every workday, the site layout/design is what has not changed in years. The areas they probably need the most work is finding things and more focus on keeping content up to date & either archiving or deleting content once it is no longer relevant.

Defensive driving: ODOT wants to protect funding in upcoming session | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2015/01/05/defensive-driving-odot-wants-to-protect-funding-in-upcoming-session-capitol/)

Defensive driving: ODOT wants to protect funding in upcoming session

By: Marie Price The Journal Record January 5, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s game plan for the upcoming legislative session will stress defense, ODOT Director Mike Patterson said following Monday’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting.

“It doesn’t contain much offense,” Patterson said.

Last session there was a move to use some transportation money to boost education funding, he said.

“We’ve already heard some conversation about that prior to this session,” Patterson said. “We want to be ready to inform the new legislators, and certainly the veteran legislators, about the impact (of) that kind of conversation, and if it goes to fruition, what impact that would have on the eight-year plan.”

He said there’s much work remaining to be done, from fixing structurally deficient bridges to safety concerns and other needs.

“(The work) just gets our current system to a manageable state,” Patterson said. “It doesn’t address the future needs.”

Patterson also explained three funding transfers on Monday’s agenda: $20 million from federal aid projects to engineering contracts, $250,000 to increase public transit funding and $1.5 million in additional county equipment money.

He said such transfers are fairly routine; they are made during the fiscal year as needs in one area or another become more well-defined.

“It’s just to shore up the budget and get the money in the right place,” Patterson said.

He said the public transit and county equipment funding transfers signify money left over from the previous year to help the two programs.

Patterson also revealed that on Tuesday ODOT will launch the first revamping of its website in 15 or 20 years. He said the agency was one of the first in Oklahoma to have a website.

“The website we have today is based on older technology,” he said. “It’s less flexible.”

Beginning Tuesday, he said, it will be easier for ODOT to make changes without having to hire consultants to accomplish the revisions.

“We couldn’t make routine changes on a daily basis,” Patterson said.

The upgrade was accomplished for about $5,000 through the OK.gov website contractor, he said.

Previously, Patterson said, users had to drill down into the site to find information on the agency’s eight-year construction plan and other commonly sought data.

New website is up.

That is an interesting way of setting it up. The home page and landing pages are new and being hosted on OK.gov but once you get down one to three levels (depending on topic) in the site structure it starts forwarding users to the old site being hosted at www.okladot.state.ok.us with the old layout.

Yeah, are they going to fix that most likely? It is weird.

Yeah, are they going to fix that most likely? It is weird.

If there are any near term changes with this, I would expect it would just be to cosmetically make the old site template(s) look like the new one (or at least closer to it).

I get the feeling that this is being done out of the push for all state agencies to be using the OK.gov system and centralized IT but implemented in a way they do not have to change their day to day process for adding material to the site.

People vs. Machines | Comment | The Pacific Northwest Inlander | News, Politics, Music, Calendar, Events in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and the Inland Northwest (http://www.inlander.com/spokane/people-vs-machines/Content?oid=2399722)

The title is a bit silly, but the substance of the article is true.

U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show

Press Release: U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show, 2/23/2015 | Federal Highway Administration (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1512.cfm)

U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show

Press Release: U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show, 2/23/2015 | Federal Highway Administration (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1512.cfm)

Doesn't mean squat. Economy's a bit better, gas prices are lower than they were then, and most of all, we don't have a choice but to drive. Woohoo.

Wait, the deep recession and high gas prices didn't cause less driving, but lower prices and a better economy cause more?

Not saying that there isn't a renewed emphasis on mass trans options and that that isn't a good thing, just saying you can't claim/blame one and not the other. Cultural changes often are precipitated by economics...in fact, usually are.

Doesn't mean squat. Economy's a bit better, gas prices are lower than they were then, and most of all, we don't have a choice but to drive. Woohoo.that interesting. Don't don't ever want to see some urbanist use that info again when US driving dips in the future because by your logic it won't mean crap either because I could say people are being forced to walk.

From what I see, this means people want to drive. Have fun taking your crappy buses, I'll stick to my wide highways and cars.

Wait, the deep recession and high gas prices didn't cause less driving, but lower prices and a better economy cause more?

Not saying that there isn't a renewed emphasis on mass trans options and that that isn't a good thing, just saying you can't claim/blame one and not the other. Cultural changes often are precipitated by economics...in fact, usually are.Rover, I posted his because the town urbanist kept using figures that were showing driving and drivers license issues in the US were on the decline(and they were) and now hay trend is reversing. They tried to claim suburbias days are numbered and used those statistics as "proof."

Now that those are changing the opposite way, people like no1club are now saying they don't matter anymore. Funmy, I expected two people to say something like that and one of them did.

I'm not trying to say the urbanism is dying or mass transit is going away, I am pointing out the hypocrisy and ignorance... Or perhaps something intentional.

Rover, I posted his because the town urbanist kept using figures that were showing driving and drivers license issues in the US were on the decline(and they were) and now hay trend is reversing. They tried to claim suburbias days are numbered and used those statistics as "proof."

Now that those are changing the opposite way, people like no1club are now saying they don't matter anymore. Funmy, I expected two people to say something like that and one of them did.

I'm not trying to say the urbanism is dying or mass transit is going away, I am pointing out the hypocrisy and ignorance... Or perhaps something intentional.

And this all has what to do with "ODOT"? So much stupid topic creep. Keep relevant topics in those specific threads or make a new one.

U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show

Press Release: U.S. Driving at Highest Level Since 2007, New Data Show, 2/23/2015 | Federal Highway Administration (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1512.cfm)

But still below the highest levels we've ever seen. The past 7-8 years have been remarkably consistent. One bigger year does not a trend make.

Chart VMT-421 ? Highway Statistics 2013 ? Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) ? FHWA (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2013/vmt421c.cfm)

that interesting. Don't don't ever want to see some urbanist use that info again when US driving dips in the future because by your logic it won't mean crap either because I could say people are being forced to walk.

From what I see, this means people want to drive. Have fun taking your crappy buses, I'll stick to my wide highways and cars.

Haha ok dude whatever you say. No one has a problem with your 20 lane freeways. I mean I sort of do since my taxes go towards paying for them (well part of them, since taxes would be unaffordable if we actually had to pay for all of them).

All we're saying is that for those of us who actually enjoy using our own two feet, who actually enjoy interacting with other humans and not other cars, all I'm saying is that for our sake, keep those 20 lane freeways the hell out of downtown.

And this all has what to do with "ODOT"? So much stupid topic creep. Keep relevant topics in those specific threads or make a new one.oh I don't know venture, maybe the fact that driving has a little to do with ODOT seeing that they will expand roads and highways when traffic counts go up. I just thought an article that has to do with driving might suit a thread all about driving.

But still below the highest levels we've ever seen. The past 7-8 years have been remarkably consistent. One bigger year does not a trend make.

Chart VMT-421 ? Highway Statistics 2013 ? Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) ? FHWA (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2013/vmt421c.cfm)

Exactly this. It's as valid as saying "fewer people in Japan used public transit last year" and all of a sudden claiming that Japan hates their bullet trains. Makes zero sense. Just a disclaimer that I have no stats on this - and Japan's population has been declining for years, so I'm sure ridership is down. But I'm sure pulplan will interpret that his own way.

But still below the highest levels we've ever seen. The past 7-8 years have been remarkably consistent. One bigger year does not a trend make.

Chart VMT-421 ? Highway Statistics 2013 ? Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) ? FHWA (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2013/vmt421c.cfm)it doesn't matter. Last year, driving and dl issues went up as well. So now things are ticking upwards. That is my point.

Edit: my main point of the post was to get at true people who were posting driving was going down during the reccesion like that is some sort of surprise to anyone.

Like most stats and trend analysis, context is crucial. How you frame context and what segment of data you tend to use can completely change the conclusion reached. Like most information, it is important to look objectively and not just look for that which fits your desire or preconceived notion.

Exactly this. It's as valid as saying "fewer people in Japan used public transit last year" and all of a sudden claiming that Japan hates their bullet trains. Makes zero sense. Just a disclaimer that I have no stats on this - and Japan's population has been declining for years, so I'm sure ridership is down. But I'm sure pulplan will interpret that his own way.ive already explained my reason for posting the link. If you're just mad or lack the competency to understand what I'm getting at, that is your problem.

Like most stats and trend analysis, context is crucial. How you frame context and what segment of data you tend to use can completely change the conclusion reached. Like most information, it is important to look objectively and not just look for that which fits your desire or preconceived notion.Rover, that is exactly why I posted it. Eventually, driving will probably go back down if we have a reccesion. I saw multiple points posted about how driving is going down and less drivers licenses are being issued in some of the suburban doom and gloom articles posted by the resident urbanist on here and I posted that just to be an ass and show that these things change. It isn't like I think the people who supported the articles a few years ago about driving trends didn't know that, so basically I posted that to be a d!ck. it apparently worked because a bunch of people now have their panties in a wad.

oh I don't know venture, maybe the fact that driving has a little to do with ODOT seeing that they will expand roads and highways when traffic counts go up. I just thought an article that has to do with driving might suit a thread all about driving.

Ugh. Not worth the time anymore dealing with an entitled brat.

Ugh. Not worth the time anymore dealing with an entitled brat.Something interesting I've learned when people say things like that is that it often means they can't say anything to refute what I said because it was right. Whatever Venture. Hop back on your high horse and ride off into the sunset.

Something interesting I've learned when people say things like that is that it often means they can't say anything to refute what I said because it was right. Whatever Venture. Hop back on your high horse and ride off into the sunset.

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's not because you're right. Just read some of your posts above. Maybe get a good night's sleep, then read them and decide for yourself who's riding on their high horse (on in your case, probably not your high horse, but your high 20 lane elevated freeway running through downtown).

Lol

This is LOL funny to anyone that actually read the article and not just the headline.

According to the press release, the fact that miles driven went up for this first time in 6 years (these number are from 2013 BTW) it is proof that we must increase highway spending and support Obama's GROW AMERICA Act. If driving peaked in 2007 (BEFORE the great recession I might add), then why do we need to increase capacity now? I mean, shouldn't we wait to absorb the previous capacity that was vacated first? It's not like we just have extra money sitting around to pay for it or anything.


"Transportation is a critical engine of the nation's economy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "To prepare for the needs of the 21st century, Congress needs to pass the President's GROW AMERICA Act.

Now if you support the taxes, accounting changes, and spending priorities of the GROW AMERICA Act then so be it. I suspect most people will like the spending, but not the taxes to pay for it - as usual.

I agree with your last part.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2015/15-007_%20odot%20recipient%20of%20prestigious%20natio nal%20pavement%20awards.pdf

2014 Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards | American Concrete Pavement Association (http://www.acpa.org/excellence-in-concrete-pavement-awards/)

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2015/15-008_march_commission_wrap-up.pdf

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/2015/ADV_031215_ODOT_holding_Purcell_Lexington_bridge_p ublic_input_meeting_on_April_2.pdf

This is a pretty cool interchange


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnukMEsezJU

Does that have a connection to ODOT that I'm not getting?

Does that have a connection to ODOT that I'm not getting?

No, but don't you wish it did?

Does that have a connection to ODOT that I'm not getting?I'm saying this is something they should consider in their future designs.

Oklahoma Transportation Department continues to strive for 'smarter' highways | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-transportation-department-continues-to-strive-for-smarter-highways/article/5402943)

No, but don't you wish it did?

I've heard they're looking at one for I-35 and Waterloo Road.

Until then I'll patiently await the day people can figure out the roundabout in front of McNellies.

I've heard they're looking at one for I-35 and Waterloo Road.

Until then I'll patiently await the day people can figure out the roundabout in front of McNellies.

I was at that roundabout the other day at evening rush hour, it seemed to me that most people (if not all) successfully navigated it.

I was at that roundabout the other day at evening rush hour, it seemed to me that most people (if not all) successfully navigated it.

I drive through it 4 times a day. The success rate of surrounding drivers hovers at around 50%.

Failures are as follows:

Cars in the roundabout stopping to let entry cars in.
Standoffs between adjacent entry vehicles; you go first, no you go first.
Cars refusing to enter the roundabout when there are no vehicles in it.
Cars not yielding to vehicles in the roundabout.
Vehicles turning left and driving on the "collar".

The list goes on. I like the roundabout, but until people can figure out what a yield sign means and who they are yielding to, it won't be efficient.

Cars in the roundabout stopping to let entry cars in.

You see that far more frequently around here than just in a roundabout. People holding up traffic to let others in who distinctly do not have right-of-way is practically an Oklahoma tradition. It's polite I suppose, but it's also really, really annoying.

I don't think there is any hope for people here to understand what the yield signs mean.

you see that far more frequently around here than just in a roundabout. People holding up traffic to let others in who distinctly do not have right-of-way is practically an oklahoma tradition. It's polite i suppose, but it's also really, really dangerous.

fify

I'm saying this is something they should consider in their future designs.

DD's usually work well at heavily used intersections/interchanges. Since ODOT is just getting started with SPUI's, I would give them another 5-6 years to try one here.