RUMOR: I-240 Like Loop Through Moore/Norman Area?!?

[Richard at Remax]

Yeah they kind of screwed up down there and not making a planned right of way for a future highway.

[Video Expert]

Would be nice to at least see a spur build roughly along Indian Hills or near Tecumseh out to the Newcastle exit of I-44 (Hwy 62/277). That adds in another bridge across the river and doesn't make people drive well to the southwest out of the way. It also allows people going to the airport to completely avoid the cluster of Moore and I-240/35 during rush hour - especially when they start to rebuild that interchange in the next 39 years.

I think this is a very important point and something that really needs to be considered and made a priority, especially with the rapid growth of Newcastle and Blanchard. Having just that one bridge over the river is a logistical nightmare, even before the current I-35 rebuild in Norman. If access over this bridge is disrupted for any reason, it literally cuts off Cleveland County from all the other areas just south and west of Norman. The construction has only increased the frequency of the backups that won't end anytime soon with the Lindsey and HWY 9 phases still on the schedule.

Many of the residents of those communities (and others like Lexington and Purcell) rely on access to Norman and back for shopping, work, and school. A short spur from Indian Hills or Tecumseh Rd. from I-35 over to I-44 would create another bridge over the river and increase access between the two areas. It would be relatively short and right of way issues would be minimal due to the fact most of this land is in a flood plain to begin with. And even if it were built as a toll road, it would be well worth the $1 or whatever the charge would be to drivers.

Newcastle is really only 5-6 miles to the west of Norman as the crow flies, but the shortest route between the two currently is about 15 miles because of the river. And when southbound I-35 in Norman is at a standstill...which is very common these days...one must either sit in traffic and wait it out or travel up I-35 (or 60th Ave NW) to 19th St. in Moore (149th) and then west over to I-44 and back south to get to those communities simply because of the river and no other bridge to cross. That's 20-25 miles, 30-35 minutes, and a bazillion stop signs and wasted fuel just to get between two communities that are literally 6 miles from each other. And then add another 10-15 minutes and another 10 miles on top of that just to get to Blanchard from Norman. It's ridiculous.

[Plutonic Panda]

So you support ODOT continuing the southwestern outer-loop even if it goes right through existing subdivisions?

I would under certain circumstances.

[ljbab728]

I would under certain circumstances.

I wouldn't. At one time, when I lived in Mustang, they were suggesting a route that would have gone directly through my house. It's easy to say, plupan, when it doesn't affect you.