The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[warreng88]

How do they plan to connect I-35, I-235, and I-44 to the new I-40?

Have they dropped the Robinson off-ramp project? It's closed and I figured it was because of the new I-40 project. It would be a waste of money to continue that project, only to have it demolished in a short time.

Take a look at the link below:

About.com: http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/i40-okc/maps/Corridor-Aerial050630b.pdf

You can see all the connections yourself.

In regards to your second question, I believe the Robinson ramp is still on schedule. They are not scheduled to complete I-40 until 2012 so some sort of access to downtown is a high priority I would believe.

[Thunder]

Thanks for the map. I thought the new I-40 would cross the river at two points and be further south. That helps to see the map!

Gosh, that map makes the whole location look ugly and the river being brown. lol Is this a computer rendering or a real sky view picture?

[zrfdude]

Is the Robinson ramp about to reopen? When I was down last night I noticed it looks pretty finished, and most of the detour signs on the interstate had been removed. I did check the Traffax report and it still says early spring for a completion date.

[bombermwc]

2 months ahead of schedule. When does that ever happen? I guess the good weather has really helped them out.

[OKCisOK4me]

Gosh, that map makes the whole location look ugly and the river being brown. lol Is this a computer rendering or a real sky view picture?

It's a satellite overlay from online services such as flashearth, terraserver, or google earth. They all use the same image--which was taken sometime during fall of 2007, I believe.

[Thunder]

I see. Interesting view from that distance.

[OKCisOK4me]

I just sent them an email. Here it is:

To whom it may concern,

Just wondering if these videos will ever be updated. Shields Boulevard is still open in the second video and there are many other things I noticed in the other two videos but I'm sure you guys know that they are old. I know it costs money to do this and maybe you don't have it in place but it sure would be nice to get an update.

Also, how about a live cam? I emailed someone about this a few years back and they replied 'oh yeah, we're gonna do that. Just pay attention to the local media because we'll be announcing that here pretty quick...blah, blah, blah'. As you may guess, this has not happened yet--three years later. So anyway, just wondering if someone in your department can give a definitive answer on this one.

The project seems to be moving along pretty swiftly. Any chance that it is to be done before 2012? I want to drive on it before the end of the Mayan Longcount Calendar. ;-)

Thanks for any information you can provide.

Sincerely,
This Guy Here

Quoting myself so that I can show you guys the reply I got:

Mr. (This Guy Here),
I agree that the videos are old - we have not collected new ones recently, but hope to soon. I believe I was likely the one that told you that we would have the live cam feed - we even worked this out with a camera mount approved on one of the buildings downtown that would give a view of the entire corridor. However, due to budget concerns, the idea was killed. We still have the agreement in place and I would like to do it, but with the current financial constraints, it is difficult to justify. We have not been updating the information on the website recently as we were informed that it did not meet with the ADA requirements. Once that effort is complete and we have updated everything, I would like to announce the website and have people utilize for traffic and closure information.

There is significant progress being made on numerous projects (nine let to bid - seven underway and two already complete, another nine to let before switching traffic). We are currently working on the schedule and hope to be able to beat the expiration of the Mayan calendar - - since I have worked on the Crosstown for nearly 9 years of my career, I did believe that the world centered on this project, but not to the extent that the world ended upon the completion of it.

If you have any other comments or ways/suggestions on how to improve the website, please let me know.

Thanks,
John B.


I love the fact that John B. had enough heart to be just as humorous about the Mayan Calendar!

[Nermel]

It would be nice if ODOT made these maps available in a kml file for Google Earth users.

[jbrown84]

The website doesn't meet ADA requirements?? What?

[OKCisOK4me]

The website doesn't meet ADA requirements?? What?

Uh, yeah, I asked him about that and this is the reply I got:

"As for the ADA issue, yes, it is the Americans with Disabilities Act that we need to ensure we comply with. I never thought that it would have any bearing, but there are actually significant issues regarding readability/zoom capabilities and even potentially the need for audio transcripts on some pieces."

Interesting, right?

[DelCamino]

I love the fact that John B. had enough heart to be just as humorous about the Mayan Calendar!

I've had the pleasure to be in several meetings with John B. He's a good, good guy. Easy going, a good, hard worker.

[OKCisOK4me]

Got another email from John B. It's a PDF file and if I could figure out how to make the attachment a link on here I would. But anyway, the PDF is basically the same map you can download from ODOT's website and the one that's been linked previously, except this one has yellow highlights of the current projects.

It shows that the current bigger bridge going over Agnew is the eastbound lanes only. They haven't even started construction of the westbound bridge because it will go right where the on and off current eastbound ramps are right now.

[LordGerald]

Where's Tom and Marion? Been kind of quiet of late.

[OKCisOK4me]

Where's Tom and Marion? Been kind of quiet of late.

They're waiting until they actually tear ground up around Union Station then they'll have a brief 'Save US' post before they both head down there to pitch a tent in front of a bulldozer.

[Spartan]

Uh, yeah, I asked him about that and this is the reply I got:

"As for the ADA issue, yes, it is the Americans with Disabilities Act that we need to ensure we comply with. I never thought that it would have any bearing, but there are actually significant issues regarding readability/zoom capabilities and even potentially the need for audio transcripts on some pieces."

Interesting, right?

That's bull$#@#. I hope my site isn't in ADA compliance.

That could be why there is ZERO anything available on Maps for Kids on the web. Which I think is a joke if they're getting like $500 million of our tax dollars.

[southernskye]

Is Your Site ADA-Compliant ...or a Lawsuit-in-Waiting?

[jbrown84]

It shows that the current bigger bridge going over Agnew is the eastbound lanes only. They haven't even started construction of the westbound bridge because it will go right where the on and off current eastbound ramps are right now.

Oh that makes sense. But what about the Penn underpass, which also looks too narrow for 10 lanes or whatever it is supposed to be?

[OKCisOK4me]

Oh that makes sense. But what about the Penn underpass, which also looks too narrow for 10 lanes or whatever it is supposed to be?

I know what ya mean. I thought the Penn underpass looked way too narrow too, but then I was looking at the pictures on that 40forward.com & if you take a look at the size of a pickup truck sitting off to the side of the project and imagine it traveling underneath the bridge, it looks like there's plenty of room.

[warreng88]

So I accidentally drove across the new I-40 yesterday. I was driving south down Lincoln toward the boathouse then I noticed the change of road from asphalt to concrete. Thought all my fellow stalkers of OKC projects would like to know.

[LordGerald]

So I accidentally drove across the new I-40 yesterday. I was driving south down Lincoln toward the boathouse then I noticed the change of road from asphalt to concrete. Thought all my fellow stalkers of OKC projects would like to know.

I saw that, too. The new I-40 is being built using a method that minimizes the impact of construction on the average motorist and makes it safer for both the motorists and the workers. The beauty lies in that it's basically a new highway, not a re-construction of an existing one.

There will come a time when all traffic either going west or east (can't remember) will be diverted to the new I-40, and traffic flow will be relatively seamless when the gateway is opened up and the barriers are removed.

What it means, mostly, is that as soon as ODOT settles the STB case regarding Union Station, that cement will be poured in rapid fashion. This thing will be done before you know it.

[SagtheArcher]

I saw on the Union Station thread that the STB ruled for the BNSF and ODOT. We all hope to see more construction moving forward!

[metro]

Paving way for a new route in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com

Paving way for a new route in Oklahoma City
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: September 11, 2009
Construction started this week on a grading project outside the old Union Station rail yard in downtown Oklahoma City, an Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokeswoman said...........

[betts]

From the DOK:

The state Transportation Commission on Monday approved grading for the most expensive road project in state history — replacing a dilapidated section of Interstate 40 through downtown Oklahoma City. The elevated section of interstate is in such bad shape that holes frequently open in the road deck, sending chunks of concrete tumbling to the ground below. It is "fracture critical," meaning a failure of any number of elements would bring down the entire structure. State engineers say it is inspected frequently and is safe.

Commissioners approved a $22.5 million contract for the final phase of grading on the new $640 million Crosstown Expressway, a federally funded project. This phase is to be complete in about a year. Officials expect to begin paving near the end of 2010. The new highway will run 4 1 / 2miles along the Oklahoma River and is expected to be open to traffic in 2012. The existing road will be demolished, making way for a broad downtown boulevard city planners hope will revitalize the area. Built in 1965, the expressway carries 120,000 vehicles a day, almost 50,000 more than the planned capacity of 72,000. I-40 is a main east-west link through the United States.

Also Monday, Department of Transportation Director Gary Ridley discussed work his agency is doing to implement a 5 percent budget cut required by declining state revenues. The department reduced its summer temporary hire program from 110 workers to about 65 employees and then eliminated the work force in early August, Ridley said. "We tried to read the tea leaves early on," Ridley said.The agency also has delayed the purchase of new light vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans and cars.

"Normally we try to get 175,000 miles on those vehicles before we trade them in," Ridley said. "Now they're just going to have to run a little further." The agency also eliminated nearly all out-of-state travel, most overtime and left about 50 vacant positions unfilled, Ridley said.

"There may be some construction projects that we postpone if things get any worse," he said. The commission also approved an agreement with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority that will allow Ridley to serve as director of both state agencies, replacing Phil Tomlinson, who retired as executive director of the OTA. The move is expected to save on salary costs for both agencies. Former Transportation Secretary Neil McCaleb held both positions under then-Gov. Frank Keating.

Read more: NewsOK

[bombermwc]

As long as the project gets done and doesnt crap out at the last minute. I'm glad to see they are trying to be proactive with the budget cuts. Serving in both positions is a nice way to cut some salary without cutting a person's job, but it does seem a little bit of a conflict. Hopefully the checks and balances keep that honest.

[betts]

I went and looked at the area behind Union Station today. They've excavated at least 4 to 6 feet below grade in that immediate area and have taken out a bunch of the platforms and old rail. There is still one rail line present. I didn't have a camera, and don't usually, but they were hard at work. It was interesting to watch.