I-235 / I-44 Interchange

[mugofbeer]

Lol. Go back to page 1 of this thread, post #21. 10+ years ago and this interchange is still 1/2 year from completion.

[jn1780]

Lol. Go back to page 1 of this thread, post #21. 10+ years ago and this interchange is still 1/2 year from completion.

Longer than that. There is still a whole other project to go that rebuilds Lincoln/ I-44/I235 on and off ramps. That's technically part of this interchange. so 2-3 years depending on when they begin that one.

[Pete]

[bucktalk]

Pete, thank you for keeping the progress on this project before us visually. I appreciate all of your photos.

[Pete]

Pete, thank you for keeping the progress on this project before us visually. I appreciate all of your photos.

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

[PurpleChicken]

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

I'm also loving the aerial pictures. It's really great to see how the project progresses from the air/from above. Great job Pete.

[PoliSciGuy]

I might've missed it, but Pete did you post the specs about the drone you use for photos? Does it hold up well in the Oklahoma wind? I'd love to blow some of my stimulus money on something sturdy.

[PurpleChicken]

Any idea what the repave on the cloverleaf with blacktop (1st photo) which appears to go nowhere is for?

[Pete]

I might've missed it, but Pete did you post the specs about the drone you use for photos? Does it hold up well in the Oklahoma wind? I'd love to blow some of my stimulus money on something sturdy.

DJI Mavic Pro.

It holds its ground in the wind but on a day like today, I always plan to fly into the wind to make sure I can get it back to me safely. Wind also causes the battery to empty pretty quickly.

[Snowman]

Any idea what the repave on the cloverleaf with blacktop (1st photo) which appears to go nowhere is for?

If you mean what is inside the i44 eastbound to i235 southbound, that looks like it is part of the foundation they will add concrete on top of later for the new cloverleaf.

After they tear down the existing N/S bridge, a wider bridge will be built. The new southbound mainline will be roughly the same size as the old N/S bridge between traffic and breakdown lanes, then another set of lanes west of that will have the all the cloverleaf interactions and 63rd merging resolve themselves away from the main southbound traffic lanes.

[rte66man]

The whole area was over due for maintenance long before projects on it started and it seems like the amount of construction trucks on this project had really accelerated it's deterioration, plus the replacement is something between a quarter to a third built, people frequently remaining stopped at the yield sign at the end of the clover loop in prior years even kind of made the cracks there years ago somewhat less noticeable by dragging down how fast people drove over them.

No, this ramp doesn't have anything to do with any of the cloverleaf ramps. It was Stage 1 of this project. Braided with the SB 63rd St onramp. It is full of large cracks just south of the end of the bridge over the 63rd St on ramp.

[I235+I44]

You're very welcome.

I'm glad people enjoy watching this unfold as much as I do.

Thanks a lot, Pete. Your time, energy, sweat, and effort are truly appreciated!!!

[Pete]

[HangryHippo]

If they could move along with the 63rd off-ramps and complete that portion, that would be a big help at rush hour.

[Pete]

Once they finish the new northbound lanes over I-44, this project should move very fast towards completion.

[stlokc]

It does look like it's getting close to completion. I hope that as they do complete it, they have a plan for extensive landscaping within the cloverleafs, and on all the grassy spaces between the ramps. Not just a few scrub trees, but they could really finish off the project properly with some sharp beautification. I've seen this in many other cities, it would really look nice. Does anybody know if this is in the final plans?

[Brett]

It does look like it's getting close to completion. I hope that as they do complete it, they have a plan for extensive landscaping within the cloverleafs, and on all the grassy spaces between the ramps. Not just a few scrub trees, but they could really finish off the project properly with some sharp beautification. I've seen this in many other cities, it would really look nice. Does anybody know if this is in the final plans?

Don't get your hopes up for landscaping. ODOT can barely keep up mowing the Johnson grass in the summertime.

[bombermwc]

Like so many others, i'm glad this will be done soon. Then we can get back to that 240 junction that's been ignored.

[Plutonic Panda]

Like so many others, i'm glad this will be done soon. Then we can get back to that 240 junction that's been ignored.

Next phase is schedule to start this year, i believe summer/fall. I am not thrilled with the new delayed schedule but I hope with the new infrastructure push maybe it will be expedited. They should just do the whole thing at once.

[gopokes88]

Next phase is schedule to start this year, i believe summer/fall. I am not thrilled with the new delayed schedule but I hope with the new infrastructure push maybe it will be expedited. They should just do the whole thing at once.

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

[Plutonic Panda]

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

I hope so. Far too many ODOT projects were needed ten years ago lol

[gopokes88]

I hope so. Far too many ODOT projects were needed ten years ago lol

Were slated to get $2.1 billion. Even $600 million of that could go a long way. $200 to Tulsa, $200 for OKC, $200 for rural.

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder if we’ll see it soon or have to wait until the 8yr plan is updated this fall.

[catch22]

Any chance the legislature uses covid relief money to over-fund ODOT to get a jump on a lot of these projects?

It's one time money, so it's best spent on one time projects, in theory at least.

That would be a great use of the money. These huge projects use a ton of resources and manpower. Those construction dollars travel through lots of hands in the local economy. And better infrastructure sets the state up for better growth potential in the future. Is it legal? BoulderSooner seems to have a good grasp on the politics of these sorts of things, maybe he can chime in.

[gopokes88]

That would be a great use of the money. These huge projects use a ton of resources and manpower. Those construction dollars travel through lots of hands in the local economy. And better infrastructure sets the state up for better growth potential in the future. Is it legal? BoulderSooner seems to have a good grasp on the politics of these sorts of things, maybe he can chime in.

I know they didn't put many restrictions on the relief money, so in theory there's probably a way to get it done.

All they'd have to do is say we're spedning a good chunk of the money for better roads, divided between the 2 metros and rural parts. Who's against better roads? Especially, when OK taxpayers don't have to pay a dime. Could finish 240/35 and redo 44/40. OKC metro would have 0 bottlenecks at that point.