I-235 / I-44 Interchange

[Plutonic Panda]

They've just stopped at 240/35 and aren't doing anything at all there. And yet we're seeing the largest contract ever being signed for this one. Me thinks there's a little unfairness going on here.

It looks like all remaining phases of that project will be combined into one. They need to build the damn thing already.

[bchris02]

It looks like all remaining phases of that project will be combined into one. They need to build the damn thing already.

I personally remember there was a lot of talk about it back in 1999 when Crossroads Mall was still popular. We are about to enter 2019 and it still hasn't been done.

[Snowman]

I personally remember there was a lot of talk about it back in 1999 when Crossroads Mall was still popular. We are about to enter 2019 and it still hasn't been done.

After several years of following the 8 year plan, it seems like the things listed as 8 years out have often been more like 15 years out

[Plutonic Panda]

I personally remember there was a lot of talk about it back in 1999 when Crossroads Mall was still popular. We are about to enter 2019 and it still hasn't been done.

Likely due to the way OkDOT funds it’s projects due to the backwards policies the state enacts. That coupled with the iron fists the state rules with on cities freedoms to collect revenue in different ways, it’s hard to find the money. Interchanges like this were removed by many major cities 40 years ago.

[Plutonic Panda]

After several years of following the 8 year plan, it seems like the things listed as 8 years out have often been more like 15 years out

It’s a mixed bag. Some things get moved up and others pushed down the list. A simple federal grant can change a fact of a project getting off the ground in 2 years or not being scheduled for completion for over a decade—see the Calera US-75 freeway conversion project.

[jn1780]

The next phase starts in the spring. NB to WB overpass and a new SB I235 bridge over that smaller river are the first tasks. Half of the EB to NB over will also be constructed in this sequence. So it will probably be winter 2020 before things get really bad.

[rte66man]

Interchanges like this were removed by many major cities 40 years ago.

You should go to Minneapolis sometime. Makes you thankful for some of our interchanges. 35W/494, 35W/694, etc.

[Of Sound Mind]

Interchanges like this were removed by many major cities 40 years ago.

Can you elaborate on this? Interchanges like "this"... what exactly?

[bombermwc]

I think Of Sound is referring to the move towards flyover and removal of clovers.

[Plutonic Panda]

Can you elaborate on this? Interchanges like "this"... what exactly?

Cloverleafs.

[Plutonic Panda]

You should go to Minneapolis sometime. Makes you thankful for some of our interchanges. 35W/494, 35W/694, etc.

You are the second person to point out the sh!tty interchanges the twin cities have. I really want to take a trip there as for some reason I think I’d really like Minneapolis minus the interchanges. LOL

[hipsterdoofus]

Sorry...but I have a bit of a rant / public service announcement here:

<rant>
People entering 235 north at 36th street - you now have a FULL MILE to merge - quit getting up to the top of the ramp and stopping and driving over the solid white line to merge. If you wait and merge closer to 50th, you probably won't even have to stop, plus you won't make the people made behind you that have no idea why you stopped on a dime! </rant>

[OKC Guy]

Sorry...but I have a bit of a rant / public service announcement here:

<rant>
People entering 235 north at 36th street - you now have a FULL MILE to merge - quit getting up to the top of the ramp and stopping and driving over the solid white line to merge. If you wait and merge closer to 50th, you probably won't even have to stop, plus you won't make the people made behind you that have no idea why you stopped on a dime! </rant>

1,000,000 times this!

And its even worse 36th to 235 South! Why do drivers try and merge as soon as they round corner? Traffic is moving at around 65 and idiots try and merge on going 40-45 and can’t figure out why drivers like me honk and flip them off lol.

What we need to do is build concrete barriers for a qtr mile on both sections so drivers can’t merge right away. They did this on 44west approaching the section just past May and it works. Or put up bendable slender cones built into concrete.

Another per peeve while on a roll, why do drivers treat 235 overpasses like a mountain climb? 23rd street overpass. 122nd street. You would think they are driving an underpowered semi going up a steep grade. Its an overpass you can still drive 60! Yet some drivers slow down to 45 for some reason, with no traffic ahead of them.

There is a very small segment of drivers who make driving dangerous for all drivers.

[hipsterdoofus]

1,000,000 times this!

And its even worse 36th to 235 South! Why do drivers try and merge as soon as they round corner? Traffic is moving at around 65 and idiots try and merge on going 40-45 and can’t figure out why drivers like me honk and flip them off lol.

What we need to do is build concrete barriers for a qtr mile on both sections so drivers can’t merge right away. They did this on 44west approaching the section just past May and it works. Or put up bendable slender cones built into concrete.

Another per peeve while on a roll, why do drivers treat 235 overpasses like a mountain climb? 23rd street overpass. 122nd street. You would think they are driving an underpowered semi going up a steep grade. Its an overpass you can still drive 60! Yet some drivers slow down to 45 for some reason, with no traffic ahead of them.

There is a very small segment of drivers who make driving dangerous for all drivers.

I understood it right after construction finished because that really was the merge area we had, but its been weeks. Surely everyone's had a chance to drive on this and realize your lane isn't ending?

[Snowman]

1,000,000 times this!

And its even worse 36th to 235 South! Why do drivers try and merge as soon as they round corner? Traffic is moving at around 65 and idiots try and merge on going 40-45 and can’t figure out why drivers like me honk and flip them off lol.

What we need to do is build concrete barriers for a qtr mile on both sections so drivers can’t merge right away. They did this on 44west approaching the section just past May and it works. Or put up bendable slender cones built into concrete.

Another per peeve while on a roll, why do drivers treat 235 overpasses like a mountain climb? 23rd street overpass. 122nd street. You would think they are driving an underpowered semi going up a steep grade. Its an overpass you can still drive 60! Yet some drivers slow down to 45 for some reason, with no traffic ahead of them.

There is a very small segment of drivers who make driving dangerous for all drivers.

Another thing in those areas that come up is there seems the majority of people who treat the yellow speed signs like they are a legal limit (ironically maybe more than treat the actual speed limits as such), they are not legally binding and what a vehicle can do varies by type and how it is loaded. Not surprisingly they advise for the worst case of a high center vehicle that could roll over in a turn, pretty much any sedan probably could go at or near the speed limit in a cloverleaf if no one was in front of them, crossovers/SUVs/pickups are more likely to need to back off some of the speed limit but generally not as much as they do.

[rezman]

1,000,000 times this!

And its even worse 36th to 235 South! Why do drivers try and merge as soon as they round corner? Traffic is moving at around 65 and idiots try and merge on going 40-45 and can’t figure out why drivers like me honk and flip them off lol.

What we need to do is build concrete barriers for a qtr mile on both sections so drivers can’t merge right away. They did this on 44west approaching the section just past May and it works. Or put up bendable slender cones built into concrete.

Another per peeve while on a roll, why do drivers treat 235 overpasses like a mountain climb? 23rd street overpass. 122nd street. You would think they are driving an underpowered semi going up a steep grade. Its an overpass you can still drive 60! Yet some drivers slow down to 45 for some reason, with no traffic ahead of them.

There is a very small segment of drivers who make driving dangerous for all drivers.

All the more reason to implement mandatory driver retraining, because it aint getting any better .... but that’s a whole ‘nother subject for a different thread.

[pw405]

Took 44 East to 235 South last night. NICE! I guess I never actually took this exit post construction yet. Here's to hoping the final phase(s) are ahead of schedule.

[bradh]

You are the second person to point out the sh!tty interchanges the twin cities have. I really want to take a trip there as for some reason I think I’d really like Minneapolis minus the interchanges. LOL

I mean, they're just awful, but having a boatload of flyovers in a climate like this gets dicey.

494/35W is one of the worst. 694/35W will get reworked starting next year as part of the project adding MnPass lanes to 35W there (at least I hope)

[rte66man]

You are the second person to point out the sh!tty interchanges the twin cities have. I really want to take a trip there as for some reason I think I’d really like Minneapolis minus the interchanges. LOL

Just make sure you go in the summer

[bradh]

Don't be a wuss, experience the winter!

[Plutonic Panda]

I mean, they're just awful, but having a boatload of flyovers in a climate like this gets dicey.

494/35W is one of the worst. 694/35W will get reworked starting next year as part of the project adding MnPass lanes to 35W there (at least I hope)

Do you live there now? For some reason I thought you lived in Denver. How do you like it up there?

[bradh]

We've been up here over a year now. Absolutely love it

[Of Sound Mind]

Seems these latter posts could be part of a different and/or private conversation rather than on a thread about I-235/I-44 interchange construction.

[OKC Guy]

Question

Have we had a big/hard rain since completion of last phase?

Driving north and around the overpasses (train and road) on the east side it seems to me the drains are not that big. And since the road is so close to wall I wonder if they solved the flooding problem. I know the road is cantered that way but the off ramp lane is very close to wall which is where water would go to drain (or stand).

I have not seen any problems but can’t recall if any big fast rain since completed. Even if it stands a bit maybe it would only impede the off ramp too which would be a huge improvement over old floods here. And it may not stand at all, but while driving here it seemed like the drains are small.

Thoughts?

[Of Sound Mind]

Question

Have we had a big/hard rain since completion of last phase?

Driving north and around the overpasses (train and road) on the east side it seems to me the drains are not that big. And since the road is so close to wall I wonder if they solved the flooding problem. I know the road is cantered that way but the off ramp lane is very close to wall which is where water would go to drain (or stand).

I have not seen any problems but can’t recall if any big fast rain since completed. Even if it stands a bit maybe it would only impede the off ramp too which would be a huge improvement over old floods here. And it may not stand at all, but while driving here it seemed like the drains are small.

Thoughts?

Yes, there have been at least a couple heavy rainfall events since its completion and I've driven through the trouble area in the midst of one of those. It seems to me that the drainage is greatly improved and I didn't see any significant across-the-road flooding like we've had in the past.