ODOT plans to add a Texas Turnaround from WB to EB Memorial at the intersection of Penn.


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They need a few more on Memorial. Especially that 2 lane cross over the Kilpatrick just east of the heart hospital.

I’m surprised it took this long. Penn needs to be at least six lanes but if they’d simply synchronize the lights I feel like the traffic would flow much better than it currently does.

Better timing of the lights and a few less curb cuts north and south of the intersection would make it feel like a miracle had been performed, which ironically, removing curb cuts in OKC would qualify.

I am curious if the new Texas turnaround will have matching black hand rails that are just like the ones on the opposing turnaround.

I am curious if the new Texas turnaround will have matching black hand rails that are just like the ones on the opposing turnaround.

If so, they don’t be matching until some cars wreck into them and damage them. :)

The exit needs to be a half mile earlier too so it gives drivers a chance to change lanes before the line at the light backs up to the point the exit lane from the turnpike meets Memorial Road.

On freeways with busy frontage roads, such as this; the exit for a road should be immediately after the interchange preceding it. I have seen this on some Texas highways and it makes a ton of sense. It gives you nearly a mile to get in the proper lane before the light, and it gives you a mile to get into the left lane to get onto the on-ramp.

So the Penn exit would be immediately after crossing May (if coming from the west). The on ramp from Penn would be immediately before Western etc.

On freeways with busy frontage roads, such as this; the exit for a road should be immediately after the interchange preceding it. I have seen this on some Texas highways and it makes a ton of sense. It gives you nearly a mile to get in the proper lane before the light, and it gives you a mile to get into the left lane to get onto the on-ramp.

So the Penn exit would be immediately after crossing May (if coming from the west). The on ramp from Penn would be immediately before Western etc.

They really need to do this from western to rockwell
Specifically western penn and May.

If so, they don’t be matching until some cars wreck into them and damage them. :)

Ha. Yep. That handrail got hit within a few months of being installed. Which proved my point as to why we needed them in the first place: pedestrian safety. It's interesting that ODOT is doing this turnaround. It took a lot of pushing to get OTA to even approve of OKC installing the other half back when we did it in 2006/2007.

Ha. Yep. That handrail got hit within a few months of being installed. Which proved my point as to why we needed them in the first place: pedestrian safety. It's interesting that ODOT is doing this turnaround. It took a lot of pushing to get OTA to even approve of OKC installing the other half back when we did it in 2006/2007.

ODOT contacted me and said they weren't involved.

Don't know if it's the city of the turnpike authority.

Does an ODOT oversee all construction in regarding roads in the state even if they don’t plan or fund it?

Does an ODOT oversee all construction in regarding roads in the state even if they don’t plan or fund it?

When Federal funding is funneled though them, ODOT will have their hands in it.

They need to bring the entrance to that lane way back further than I've seen in the drawings. And actually, something that I think would help the traffic flow even better is to extend it all the way back to the JKT offramp to Penn. This would give the exit ramp its own lane all the way up to the turnaround thus increasing merging space for vehicles to help alleviate the awful rush hour and weekend stand-stills. Traffic is often backed up on the turnpike with people trying to merge, but given that whole lane maybe it will help.

When Federal funding is funneled though them, ODOT will have their hands in it.
Okay that’s right I had heard that before.

Does an ODOT oversee all construction in regarding roads in the state even if they don’t plan or fund it?

Yes. If it touches a state facility, even if 100% local funding, ODOT has to approve of the design. When we widened 122nd at Lake Hefner Parkway for the John Marshall High School, we had to send ODOT the plans because we added width on the SB entrance ramp to Lake Hefner Parkway...

Contract has been awarded and I’d suspect construction will begin soon if it hasn’t already.

This project has begun: https://www.news9.com/story/620a5f577dec9b0722638655/construction-project-begins-work-on-east-side-of-penn-and-memorial

Oh man, as if that intersection wasn't enough of a chokepoint already...hopefully the lane closures are minimal

Now, if they could just move the Penn exit ramp wayyyy back towards May.

Now, if they could just move the Penn exit ramp wayyyy back towards May.
The new OTA plan includes x type ramp setups.

The new OTA plan includes x type ramp setups.

Amazing!

Will they rework existing?

The new OTA plan includes x type ramp setups.
If they’re what I’m thinking of, Phoenix has a number of these and they are great!

I just drove through that intersection and absolutely nothing is happening as of yet.

Amazing!

Will they rework existing?
It’s in the new 15 year year plan so not a lot of details have been released yet. Last news report I saw on it said we should get some details this year on when projects will begin. They will have to rework the existing.

They had lanes closed off and were cutting concrete in preparation on demolition/excavation today.

The new OTA plan includes x type ramp setups.

What are x type ramp setups?

What are x type ramp setups?

Diagram 'C'
17347

Edit: ^Don't know why that's so small, here's the direct link - http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/images/3-20.png

Diagram 'C'
17347

Edit: ^Don't know why that's so small, here's the direct link - http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/images/3-20.png

Thanks! So is that intersection currently configured as a conventional diamond? It looks like they swapped the on and off ramp positions, if I'm reading correctly, which would seem to make a lot of sense!

Thanks! So is that intersection currently configured as a conventional diamond? It looks like they swapped the on and off ramp positions, if I'm reading correctly, which would seem to make a lot of sense!

I’d pay more in tolls if they could solve some of these issues. Fix the on ramps and off ramps, add the turn around a all along the memorial corridor and then tollway to hefner parkway interchange completion. Those things would really make this a “complete” highway in my opinion and not just a half finished highway

Thanks! So is that intersection currently configured as a conventional diamond? It looks like they swapped the on and off ramp positions, if I'm reading correctly, which would seem to make a lot of sense!

It seems like something that can be built pretty quickly and not cost a crazy amount. Hopefully its something that gets done sooner rather than later.

The first should be to completely demolish the toll plaza at Santa Fe and add a westbound onramp and a EB offramp.

The first should be to completely demolish the toll plaza at Santa Fe and add a westbound onramp and a EB offramp.

Totally agree. Also, the westbound offramp that dumps right at Western should be moved back toward the old plaza and eliminate the headache of traffic at Western.

The first should be to completely demolish the toll plaza at Santa Fe and add a westbound onramp and a EB offramp.

No!!! The on ramp should be about where the toll plaza is. Then an off ramp where the current on ramp by western is currently. They need to switch all the on and off ramp locations so make them where they dump further back on the mile rather than at the intersection.

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They are planning Texas Turnarounds for the Portland / Kilpatrick turnpike intersection:

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That’s awesome, but they really need a NB -> WB ramp.

That’s awesome, but they really need a NB -> WB ramp.

Just announced in there 15 yr plan.

Any idea when they plan to go to construction?

^

If you mean the turnaround, plans are now out for bid.

They have started pouring concrete for this project. They should be done by end of April I suspect.

Last week, they had one of the two northbound lanes closed under the bridge, making a bad intersection terrible.

Hopefully they can finish this soon.

Noticed over the weekend they had concrete completely poured on the north side and under the overpass. Just have the south side to go. I can't imagine it taking longer than 2 weeks (weather dependent).

Noticed over the weekend they had concrete completely poured on the north side and under the overpass. Just have the south side to go. I can't imagine it taking longer than 2 weeks (weather dependent).

Yep, the actual turnaround lane is done now. Just have to finish median NB curbs, sidewalk, and crosswalk signs.

They are almost ready to open the Texas turnaround.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pennturnaround050622a.jpg


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Great addition to that busy area. Wondering though why this EB turnaround wasn't built at the same time as the WB one

Great addition to that busy area. Wondering though why this EB turnaround wasn't built at the same time as the WB one

At the time, there was nothing back east to drive to. So there wasn’t demand for anyone to be on memorial and head back east. A lot has developed since then with Chisholm creek and Costco plus more to come

At the time, there was nothing back east to drive to. So there wasn’t demand for anyone to be on memorial and head back east. A lot has developed since then with Chisholm creek and Costco plus more to come
I’m not directing this comment at you but to the Oklahoma planners there’s this thing called planning for future where it should have been anticipated this would have been needed. Rather than building it now when traffic is a hell hole they could have built it back then when traffic impacts would have been relatively slim.

By far the biggest lack of foresight concerning Memorial and the turnpike is building the on- and off-ramps so close to intersections.

All of them need to be moved, especially the off-ramps.

By far the biggest lack of foresight concerning Memorial and the turnpike is building the on- and off-ramps so close to intersections.

All of them need to be moved, especially the off-ramps.

EB Turnpike exit at Western is likely the worst offramp in the city, it makes no sense.

By far the biggest lack of foresight concerning Memorial and the turnpike is building the on- and off-ramps so close to intersections.

All of them need to be moved, especially the off-ramps.
They just need to be switched. On ramps where the off ramps are and vice versa. I thought this was part of the plan but it doesn’t look like it now.

I’m not directing this comment at you but to the Oklahoma planners there’s this thing called planning for future where it should have been anticipated this would have been needed. Rather than building it now when traffic is a hell hole they could have built it back then when traffic impacts would have been relatively slim.

I agree. Look at Texas. They build the whole interchange with full turn around a when it’s still an empty farm field but will eventually develop around it.

Oklahoma just doesn’t seem to build until after demand exceeds need for it

I agree. Look at Texas. They build the whole interchange with full turn around a when it’s still an empty farm field but will eventually develop around it.

Oklahoma just doesn’t seem to build until after demand exceeds need for it
This. But that takes foresight, planning, and funding.

Not sure why this didn't open last week. It's done besides the dumpster sitting in the middle of the lane.

Not sure why this didn't open last week. It's done besides the dumpster sitting in the middle of the lane.

Contractor might be done but then it has to wait for state inspectors probably before it can be opened. Just my guess

This is still not open with no movement over the last week.

This is still not open with no movement over the last week.

It’s finally open!

Turnaround signage is not up. And the road construction signs are just thrown in grass so someone might have just unofficially opened it