View Full Version : Moore Bond for Telephone Rd
bombermwc 10-17-2024, 11:27 AM Looks like Moore is asking for its next bond money to be used to make Telephone Rd 4 lanes from S 34th to the Moore/Norman border about a mile south of 34th.
https://www.koco.com/article/dollar67m-bond-proposal-would-widen-popular-moore-road-as-city-grows/62628121
I've driven this plenty of times but it never seems busy to me. Am I just not driving it at the right time? Compare that to actual 34th or some of the 2 laners in NE Moore. Seems like we have a lot of immediate needs that should be taken care of instead of something like this that is for "future capacity". It just doesn't feel like this is needed unless it's trying to address something for someone that works in the city happens to be living near....basically local pork barrel.
There was also a comment about it coming after the last bond, but that it might make property tax go up. So are they doing a millage election here too or did the city pass a tax rate change? I'm not sure how they can do those things together at the same time.
FighttheGoodFight 10-17-2024, 01:19 PM Looks like Moore is asking for its next bond money to be used to make Telephone Rd 4 lanes from S 34th to the Moore/Norman border about a mile south of 34th.
https://www.koco.com/article/dollar67m-bond-proposal-would-widen-popular-moore-road-as-city-grows/62628121
I've driven this plenty of times but it never seems busy to me. Am I just not driving it at the right time? Compare that to actual 34th or some of the 2 laners in NE Moore. Seems like we have a lot of immediate needs that should be taken care of instead of something like this that is for "future capacity". It just doesn't feel like this is needed unless it's trying to address something for someone that works in the city happens to be living near....basically local pork barrel.
There was also a comment about it coming after the last bond, but that it might make property tax go up. So are they doing a millage election here too or did the city pass a tax rate change? I'm not sure how they can do those things together at the same time.
I believe Norman was also expanding 34th to 4 lanes going into Moore but is on pause with the turnpike going through Indian Hills?
Jeremy Martin 10-17-2024, 05:24 PM I have to think that this is future planning for the turnpike. They thinks lots new folks will be heading into Moore. Rumor has it that Ikea is looking at the area around i35 and Indian hills.
I am going to vote yes on it, it needs 4 lanes anyway
bille 10-20-2024, 10:12 PM When I first learned of this bond a couple months ago the city manager told me the reason it’s coming up now is 100% because of the turnpike. Earlier this year OTA told Moore (and norman) that in 2027 they will dumping the Indian Hills bridge traffic onto Telephone and recommended widening the road to support the extra traffic.
Otherwise Moore wasn’t planning on widening it until at least the next “scheduled” round of road bonds projects.
bombermwc 10-21-2024, 07:58 AM But they aren't replacing the India Hills bridge with Turnpike, so why does that make sense?
bille 10-21-2024, 11:13 AM The Indian Hills bridge has been slated to be rebuilt for years (before the 34th street bridge was even built). The high stack interchange going in at I35 and Indian Hills will negate the current bridge, it’ll need to go away eventually anyway. It seems like they’ll be working the interchanges of the East-West connector in Newcastle and Norman first and then connecting them before continuing east.
bombermwc 10-22-2024, 07:49 AM That doesn't make sense. The current bridge is for street traffic. The bridge created for the turnpike would be for turnpike traffic. They've already said that there won't be frontage roads, so it wont be close enough to be able to replace Indian Hills. Now that entire interchange may look different from today, but i haven't seen anything that indicates they plan on replacing a city street with only the turnpike road. I dont think anyone would be on board with that at all.
It's need will absolutely not be negated. Those two roads would serve very different purposes and the turnpike is not there to replace Indian Hills. I can see why if you're looking at the OTA plan, why you would say this, but IH is not being removed. If you look along the path of it, it stays hugging the connector basically the entire length of the path. Unless you're giving that traffic a free pass to get on and off, then it doesn't replace it. Not all of that land is also up for being bought on both sides. It would be helpful if they would release a better map showing what goes and stays, what the stack will be fully like/etc.
bille 10-22-2024, 08:33 AM I agree that after Norman balked at the previous layout (in turn screwing locals out of convenient access at multiple locations) shifting the turnpike it has made it more challenging determining just how this all shakes out.
Perhaps the old two lane bridge that’s been slated for replacement for a decade won’t be removed but the reason given for the abrupt addition of the bond to widen Telephone is due to traffic increasing in the area as a result of turnpike work in the area.
Jeremy Martin 10-22-2024, 05:51 PM The OTA will build the needed on/off ramps. The developers that are helping to move this along need them. You for sure will be able to get on/off at I35. I'm not a fan of the way that the OTA operates but the East/West connector will be a good thing for Moore IMO. Telephone will be very busy once the turnpike is completed.
bombermwc 10-23-2024, 08:26 AM I dont disagree, i think it will actually be a good thing. I think we've wasted a lot of time and energy fighting something that is going to happen eventually anyway and it's going to cost us all more in the long run with the way things are going. We all lose in the end.
I do wish they would release a revised plan that shows what is actually going to happen though.
i hate that we have so many tolls roads, but if ODOT is not going to create new roads, then someone has to. And ODOT can't do it if we dont get more money going to them. No on wants taxes, but that's how we pay for things.
bombermwc 11-05-2024, 08:34 AM Thought i would add some more information after other threads added some more details.
Indian Hills IS staying intact. The interchange will be over I-35 and does include retaining Indian Hills. The turnpike will run parallel to IHRd moving from being north to south of its and waving around. I believe the only exit will be at Sooner, but NOT an interchange there. Just an on/off ramp in both directions. There is no "frontage". IHR IS the frontage, but with little access from the turnpike.
Moore did a terrible job of explaining the need for Telephone Rd to be made into 4 lane. It's partly in preparation for the IHR interchange being THE connection point to the turnpike for Moore residents. Since there's no 34th street access from 35, if you live in Moore and want to use the connector, you're going to go down that Telephone Rd path to get there. Or if you're north Moore, 35 or far east, Sooner. But with the added traffic this is going to create, it really is necessary to accommodate that. And, here's the big one. Once the interchange is settled, I guarantee you'll see something develop on that land where Andy Alligators was. Speculation is rampant on what will be there....and we've seen Ikea discussed but who knows if that's bull (but i think it would be great). But whatever ends up going in there, could be an anchor development for more around it....meaning more Moore traffic going up and down Telephone.
Before i found more of this out from my own research with the OTA website and other sources, I was going to vote No on this because it didn't seem necessary. However, i did change my mind and vote yes to both Moore proposals this morning. I wish the city had done a better job explaining it though.
jn1780 11-05-2024, 11:46 AM How do you get from Telephone Rd onto the turnpike? From the I-35 service roads? From OTA's rough drawing, I see that they are rebuilding the Indian Hills road bridge and straightening out the service roads so that they intersect at more perpendicular angles with IHR. Its less clear how you get on either I-35 or the turnpike from that drawing though.
https://www.accessoklahoma.com/east-west-connector
Zuplar 11-05-2024, 02:01 PM I'm further West, I figure I'll be getting on at Western, but I'm curious if you can get on at I-35 as well.
jn1780 11-05-2024, 03:58 PM I'm further West, I figure I'll be getting on at Western, but I'm curious if you can get on at I-35 as well.
Well at Indian Hills road anyway without unnecessary back tracking to get on from either NB or SB I-35. Probably have to wait for final OTA drawings to know for sure.
Jeremy Martin 11-05-2024, 05:07 PM The OTA has stated that they will have on/off access on Western, I-35 and Sooner.
Thought i would add some more information after other threads added some more details.
Indian Hills IS staying intact. The interchange will be over I-35 and does include retaining Indian Hills. The turnpike will run parallel to IHRd moving from being north to south of its and waving around. I believe the only exit will be at Sooner, but NOT an interchange there. Just an on/off ramp in both directions. There is no "frontage". IHR IS the frontage, but with little access from the turnpike.
Moore did a terrible job of explaining the need for Telephone Rd to be made into 4 lane. It's partly in preparation for the IHR interchange being THE connection point to the turnpike for Moore residents. Since there's no 34th street access from 35, if you live in Moore and want to use the connector, you're going to go down that Telephone Rd path to get there. Or if you're north Moore, 35 or far east, Sooner. But with the added traffic this is going to create, it really is necessary to accommodate that. And, here's the big one. Once the interchange is settled, I guarantee you'll see something develop on that land where Andy Alligators was. Speculation is rampant on what will be there....and we've seen Ikea discussed but who knows if that's bull (but i think it would be great). But whatever ends up going in there, could be an anchor development for more around it....meaning more Moore traffic going up and down Telephone.
Before i found more of this out from my own research with the OTA website and other sources, I was going to vote No on this because it didn't seem necessary. However, i did change my mind and vote yes to both Moore proposals this morning. I wish the city had done a better job explaining it though.
I am glad you changed your mind, it is needed, I also voted yes on both
I just checked the results and it looks like the bond is going to pass which is great news
s00nr1 11-12-2024, 06:31 PM Thought i would add some more information after other threads added some more details.
Indian Hills IS staying intact. The interchange will be over I-35 and does include retaining Indian Hills. The turnpike will run parallel to IHRd moving from being north to south of its and waving around. I believe the only exit will be at Sooner, but NOT an interchange there. Just an on/off ramp in both directions. There is no "frontage". IHR IS the frontage, but with little access from the turnpike.
Moore did a terrible job of explaining the need for Telephone Rd to be made into 4 lane. It's partly in preparation for the IHR interchange being THE connection point to the turnpike for Moore residents. Since there's no 34th street access from 35, if you live in Moore and want to use the connector, you're going to go down that Telephone Rd path to get there. Or if you're north Moore, 35 or far east, Sooner. But with the added traffic this is going to create, it really is necessary to accommodate that. And, here's the big one. Once the interchange is settled, I guarantee you'll see something develop on that land where Andy Alligators was. Speculation is rampant on what will be there....and we've seen Ikea discussed but who knows if that's bull (but i think it would be great). But whatever ends up going in there, could be an anchor development for more around it....meaning more Moore traffic going up and down Telephone.
Before i found more of this out from my own research with the OTA website and other sources, I was going to vote No on this because it didn't seem necessary. However, i did change my mind and vote yes to both Moore proposals this morning. I wish the city had done a better job explaining it though.
What's funny about this is Moore city leaders sold us on the 34th St overpass bond package with assurances they had a handshake agreement with ODOT that on/off ramps at 34th would be built once the new interchange at Indian Hills was built.
jn1780 11-12-2024, 07:59 PM What's funny about this is Moore city leaders sold us on the 34th St overpass bond package with assurances they had a handshake agreement with ODOT that on/off ramps at 34th would be built once the new interchange at Indian Hills was built.
That's probably still in the works and even more important with the current design plans. I have yet to see a drawing that allows access to the turnpike except Directly off of I-35. You have to be able to get on and off of I-35. Widening Telephone road is important for future growth. Is it important for because of the turnpike? Probably not, not anymore with the removal of the ramp between I-35 and Western.
Jeremy Martin 11-13-2024, 05:51 PM I'd bet that the turnpike exit at 35 will have some access to Indian Hills and if so it would be pretty easy to get to Telephone. If that is the case i don't think not having a TP exit ramp at Santa Fe will make much of a difference.
bombermwc 11-14-2024, 08:25 AM I'd bet that the turnpike exit at 35 will have some access to Indian Hills and if so it would be pretty easy to get to Telephone. If that is the case i don't think not having a TP exit ramp at Santa Fe will make much of a difference.
That's my thought too. It's still going to be helpful for south Moore and North Norman residents to get on. Even if it's technically from 35. Getting TO that interchange is the key.
My understanding is that Norman also already has plans to widen Telephone (36th) for the same reasons.
That's my thought too. It's still going to be helpful for south Moore and North Norman residents to get on. Even if it's technically from 35. Getting TO that interchange is the key.
My understanding is that Norman also already has plans to widen Telephone (36th) for the same reasons.
I swear I saw that Norman has put their plans to widen 36th on hold with no ETA.
bille 12-04-2024, 01:13 PM I swear I saw that Norman has put their plans to widen 36th on hold with no ETA.
Their city council botched that entire deal. They do not currently have a funding source identified for the project is what I was told.
bille 12-04-2024, 01:16 PM What's funny about this is Moore city leaders sold us on the 34th St overpass bond package with assurances they had a handshake agreement with ODOT that on/off ramps at 34th would be built once the new interchange at Indian Hills was built.
That’s interesting. I attended every single town hall regarding the 34th bridge and every one I spoke with was adamant that there was no guarantee we’d see on/off ramps anytime soon nor was there a plan for them rather the hope was that they’d eventually come.
Having said that, even without the turnpike the somewhat recent I35 corridor study (through Moore/Norman) identified them as being needed. In short, they’re coming one way or another. Eventually!
TornadoKegan 12-04-2024, 08:17 PM For the Next Go Bond. These should be considered
1. Roundabout at SW 4th St - S Markwell/ Wilson Blvd Intersection. - Confusing Intersection
2. SE 34th St Widening from OKC City Limits to S Bryant Rd including Intersection improvements at S Sooner Rd, S Sunnylane Rd and S Bryant Rd - Increased Development and Dangerous Intersection at Sooner Rd
3. NW 27th St Paving from N Janeway Ave to N Santa Fe Ave - Wear and Tear
4. NE 27th St Widening from N Eastern Ave to North Bryant Ave - Increased Development
G.Walker 12-05-2024, 07:28 AM Also:
Widening of Sunnylane from SE 34th St, south to the Norman city line, or all the way to Tecumseh.
Widening of 19th st from Eastern east to Sooner Rd.
On Ramp to I-35 south, from 4th St.
bombermwc 12-06-2024, 08:25 AM Repaving or resurfacing 12th from 35 to Eastern. it's awful.
They repaved 27th from Eastern to Bryant, but that was really a missed opportunity to make that 4 lanes...the traffic needs it.
I'd like to see Bryant actually changed to 4 lanes the length of Moore too. That eastern traffic just keeps going up and up.
jn1780 12-06-2024, 09:04 AM Anyone know the projected start date for Broadway and Easter roundabout project and Broadway Ave widening?
bille 01-13-2025, 01:17 PM For the Next Go Bond. These should be considered
1. Roundabout at SW 4th St - S Markwell/ Wilson Blvd Intersection. - Confusing Intersection
2. SE 34th St Widening from OKC City Limits to S Bryant Rd including Intersection improvements at S Sooner Rd, S Sunnylane Rd and S Bryant Rd - Increased Development and Dangerous Intersection at Sooner Rd
3. NW 27th St Paving from N Janeway Ave to N Santa Fe Ave - Wear and Tear
4. NE 27th St Widening from N Eastern Ave to North Bryant Ave - Increased Development
The city had a study done a few years ago that graded the state of the streets and the final report was intended to assist the city council with upcoming needs in regard to repair of (existing) roadways. When I reached out to the city (a year or so ago) I was told the report was done and the council was going to be briefed on it but I haven't seen that at any of the council meetings so it must have been done outside of those. That said, the worst of the places you mentioned are surely on their list.
The intersection you bring up at 4th/Markwell is dumb, almost as dumb as the one at 5th/telephone/I35W service road. As much as I'd love to see those addressed, I'm not sure those score highly enough on the priority to see anything anytime soon.
bille 01-13-2025, 01:21 PM Also:
Widening of Sunnylane from SE 34th St, south to the Norman city line, or all the way to Tecumseh.
Widening of 19th st from Eastern east to Sooner Rd.
On Ramp to I-35 south, from 4th St.
The bridge over Little River (just south of the elementary school) was discussed last year, summer perhaps. It will be replaced with a four-lane bridge, but it was noted that there were no immediate plans to widen that section anytime soon. Maybe when we actually get to that project more information about that happening comes to fruition.
bille 01-13-2025, 01:27 PM Anyone know the projected start date for Broadway and Easter roundabout project and Broadway Ave widening?
Here's the WAG timeline that was provided at the townhalls prior to the vote for the street bond. Personally, I'm not using it for much more than an intended length of time once they get started and a preferred priority order...of course every time a single project runs over (like Eastern did) it has a domino effect and often times can reset the priority order. I am curious if the city keeps a more updated one somewhere for their own reference...
bille 01-13-2025, 02:08 PM Anyone know the projected start date for Broadway and Easter roundabout project and Broadway Ave widening?
I have a proposed timeline of all of the street bond projects, it was provided at the townhalls prior to the vote but a URL doesn't exist for it and the attach feature doesn't appear to be working for me..
jn1780 01-13-2025, 02:29 PM I saw some survey stakes the other day along Eastern, Broadway/19th. They must be moving forward. I would expect utility relocations to begin sometime this year.
bombermwc 01-14-2025, 09:02 AM The Moore Monthly this month had a sort of "article" that included there about it. They're supposed to start digging in the next couple of months. I think they said it was going to take over a year. It's definitely going to be nasty and the other roads are going to definitely see an increase (like 12th) while it gets done.
Man i wish they had done 12 first.
bille 01-15-2025, 11:16 AM Spoke with the city manager on Monday, sounds like those proposals for work starting east of I35 were there by condition that the underpass didn’t start since BNSF has been dragging the city along for years now. Considering construction should begin in the next month or so on the underpass it sounds as if any other construction east of 35 will not take place until after the underpass is done, outside of small/quick repairs of course. I’m sure they’ll press on with utility movements since those take so much time and are so up in the air these days but past that it sounds like the focus east of 35 will be solely on the underpass until it’s done.
bille 01-15-2025, 11:18 AM I saw some survey stakes the other day along Eastern, Broadway/19th. They must be moving forward. I would expect utility relocations to begin sometime this year.
Those have been there for a while now, a couple months I’d guess. Haven’t seen any other activity outside of that though.
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