I-235 / I-44 Interchange

[Pete]

Looks like all lanes are open this morning, according to several live reports.

[turnpup]

Looks like all lanes are open this morning, according to several live reports.

Yes, and also flyover from EB I-44 to SB Broadway Extension is back open. Yay!

[jn1780]

They also lowered the speed limit to 45 for southbound I-235.

It doesn't seem like it should take 2 more years to finish this project. After the new railroad bridge is constructed, everything else is pretty straight forward. Just a lot of Earth that needs to be moved where the old lanes use to be.

[FighttheGoodFight]

They also lowered the speed limit to 45 for southbound I-235.

It doesn't seem like it should take 2 more years to finish this project. After the new railroad bridge is constructed, everything else is pretty straight forward. Just a lot of Earth that needs to be moved where the old lanes use to be.

Two more years? I thought it wasn't going to be complete until 2024.

[jn1780]

Two more years? I thought it wasn't going to be complete until 2024.

Two years for this particular project. The whole interchange probably wont be done until 2026 with this states budget troubles.

[jn1780]

The new railroad bridge is going to be huge. Its currently being assembled just west of the south bound lanes and the southbound on ramp.

[OkiePoke]

The new railroad bridge is going to be huge. Its currently being assembled just west of the south bound lanes and the southbound on ramp.

I saw it this morning. That thing is indeed massive.

[Pete]

From today:

[turnpup]

Thanks for that. Puts things into perspective that aren't as obvious from below.

[OKCisOK4me]

Yep, I saved those. Hopefully the other full closings will show off great updates. So glad you got the drone, Pete. Worthwhile business expense!

[OKCisOK4me]

If you notice, the tracks south of the bridge over I-44, kinda shift slightly to the west like they were expecting this expansion all along.

[Plutonic Panda]

Pete, once again, thank you so much for all of these photos. You are awesome!!!

[OKCisOK4me]

I drove through here today bc I couldn't see the "massive" railroad bridge that other posters were talking about (in Pete's pics above) and BY GOD it is massive. Looks to be 40' tall...a rather large truss span bridge they're building NW of the old northbound 50th St. exit. When they get it together, it will be very interesting to see them put the monstrosity into place!

[JDSooners]

Been out of town since Father's Day came back and the railroad bridge is huge, any timeline when they expect to put it in place, any updates to its path? Is it going above or below the 50th street bridge?

[OKCisOK4me]

If you look at Pete's drone shots, you can see where it will be placed--maybe 10-20 ft east of where the current track is

[David]

Considering how massive the bridge is, are they building it with room for one line or two? This would be the perfect time to create space for a future commuter rail line.

[rte66man]

If you look at Pete's drone shots, you can see where it will be placed--maybe 10-20 ft east of where the current track is

I believe the space to the east is where the shoo fly will go in. The plans also only call for one track. 2 tracks wouldn't help any as you would then have to double the I-44 overpass.

[jn1780]

The section you see is just one half of the total bridge. Its a lot longer.

[OKCisOK4me]

I believe the space to the east is where the shoo fly will go in. The plans also only call for one track. 2 tracks wouldn't help any as you would then have to double the I-44 overpass.

I really don't think it will be a shoo-fly. They're moving a lot of dirt, and if you look at the alignment of the RR between the south and north sides of the bridge over I44 then you'll see that permanent "shoo-fly".

[rte66man]

I really don't think it will be a shoo-fly. They're moving a lot of dirt, and if you look at the alignment of the RR between the south and north sides of the bridge over I44 then you'll see that permanent "shoo-fly".

The plans call for a shoo fly to the east. When that is in place, the existing overpass will be demolished and the new structure will be pushed into place. That is why the new bridge is being fabricated where it is. I have the link somewhere that shows the plans. I will dig it up and post it later. The jog you see on the I-44 overpass is because the "new" overpass was built to the east of the existing one.

[David]

I believe the space to the east is where the shoo fly will go in. The plans also only call for one track. 2 tracks wouldn't help any as you would then have to double the I-44 overpass.

Well, it would help in not having to also replace this new bridge too if we need to go double tracked.

[warreng88]

Interstate construction advances; re-routes traffic

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record August 7, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – Construction on the widening of Interstate 235 north of downtown Oklahoma City is ahead of schedule and within budget, state Department of Transportation officials said.

Since the department launched the project a year ago, about 100,000 vehicles per day passing between NW 36th Street and the I-44 interchange have been shunted into other lanes or detours. The most disruptive change occurred when the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge was taken down, sending traffic near the state Capitol on Lincoln Boulevard.

Regardless, department spokeswoman Lisa Shearer-Salim said Allen Contracting Inc. of Oklahoma City has pulled slightly ahead of schedule with an eye on a contractual bonus for early completion. The first phase of the $88 million project is expected to take two more years.

The federal government is paying for 90 percent of the current work, so it will not be affected by recent budget cuts from the state Legislature. In June, lawmakers decided to divert about $150 million in ODOT funding to help close a hole in next year’s budget. Agency officials warned that delays in the department’s eight-year construction plan are likely if those cuts hold. The department’s long-term scheduling and budgeting process will be complete in October.

Subsequent phases will cost about $97 million total. In 2019, I-235 will be reconstructed further north to NW 63rd Street. Also that year, flyover ramps and bridges will be built for northbound I-235 to westbound I-44 and eastbound I-44 to northbound Broadway Extension. And in 2020, westbound I-44 to northbound I-235 will be reconstructed.

Shearer-Salim said drivers should expect delays again when crews put the new BNSF bridge in place.

Railroad company representative Joe Sloan wrote in an email to The Journal Record that he was unaware of any effects on rail traffic through the area. Once the bridge is finished, BNSF crews will install track, he wrote. Until then, he deferred comment to ODOT.

“Trains pass through construction areas at reduced speeds for safety,” Sloan wrote. “This is done across the network in any area where crews are working near the tracks.”

[LakeEffect]

"The most disruptive change occurred when the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge was taken down, sending traffic near the state Capitol on Lincoln Boulevard."

I've been out of town 36 hours... they didn't remove the old BNSR RR bridge and put the new one in place in that time...

[OKCisOK4me]

I've been out of town 36 hours... they didn't remove the old BNSR RR bridge and put the new one in place in that time...

This is why articles need to be reviewed before being posted. Dear Lord, just makes you wonder what they're smoking...

[flyfisher07]

I see where they laid some asphalt today north of 50th street. Looks to be placed directly on soil though so it's probably another temporary stretch of roadway.