The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[Larry OKC]

jonno: thanks for the pics. Did you happen to notice if the Boathouse Row will be visible from the relocated I-40 (as suggested over in the other thread)? How about the Landrun Monument?

[jonno]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it that far east. I have been over that way in the past. The picture in the other thread does highlight a problem. The rebar the picture was shot through was for a future barrier wall. What's visible in the shot is the lower rebar. Before it will be poured additional rebar will be added that will make that barrier slightly taller. I fear the Landrun Monument will only be visible from the outer westbound lanes because that area is also in a curve and the roadway is superelevated (banked) at that location. I will try and confirm this soon and post and updated photo. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Larry OKC]

Thanks again, you are saying the same thing that I was trying to point out over in the other thread. As I said over there, even the shorter, regular concrete barricades that are on the edges of the road/dividers can block easily block any view and I drive a F-150.

[jn1780]

View looking East of Western Ave. over new I-40

Really? They put nicer infrastructure everywhere else along I-40, but there still using the same kind of camera tower. I guess three poles bolted together is cheaper than one pole.

I wonder when they will turn it on? It would be nice if we could watch the progress.

[jonno]

It is a double edged sword really. If you can't see the statues from the highway the area around the statues should be quieter as the barriers will somewhat act like a sound wall. If you can see the statues from the highway you'll be able to hear the highway from the statues. Doesn't really make for a intimate atmosphere as concrete pavements generally produce a lot of noise (more than asphalt). Although I'm not really sure of the type of atmosphere they're hoping for around the statues.

[warreng88]

Link to the ODOT website:

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsm...s_approval.pdf

The last paving contract has been awarded for $32 million. It will be for the area east of Western and west of Lincoln.

[Thunder]

Just wondering why is it so expensive? How many workers are there? How many hours do they work on it? Hourly wages? Cost of concrete? It just seem that city/state projects always cost millions/billions and not the logical route of thousands.

[ljbab728]

Just wondering why is it so expensive? How many workers are there? How many hours do they work on it? Hourly wages? Cost of concrete? It just seem that city/state projects always cost millions/billions and not the logical route of thousands.

Thunder, thousands are what you spend when you repave your driveway at your house, not what it costs to build a major urban freeway.

[Watson410]

Awesome!! We might be driving on the I-40 by Feb.-Mar. That would be AMAZING! I HATE driving down the current crosstown!

[Snowman]

Awesome!! We might be driving on the I-40 by Feb.-Mar. That would be AMAZING! I HATE driving down the current crosstown!

... but the current one gives something to be excited about when traffic is just backed up for a normal reason and not a 5 foot hole has developed.

[Larry OKC]

Just wondering why is it so expensive? How many workers are there? How many hours do they work on it? Hourly wages? Cost of concrete? It just seem that city/state projects always cost millions/billions and not the logical route of thousands.

Originally=$236 million, relocation completed by 2008 with Boulevard completed by 2010
Currently= $755 million+, relocation completed by 2012 with Boulevard completed by 2014 (but actual funding for the $85MM Boulevard wont be "in hand" until 2016, 2 years after it is supposed to be open).

It is costing about triple what they originally said by the time they add in the Boulevard cost (originally part of the project but now separate). Also a few years behind schedule for various reasons (federal funding snags & legal challenges etc).

[dcsooner]

Originally=$236 million, relocation completed by 2008 with Boulevard completed by 2010
Currently= $755 million+, relocation completed by 2012 with Boulevard completed by 2014 (but actual funding for the $85MM Boulevard wont be "in hand" until 2016, 2 years after it is supposed to be open).

It is costing about triple what they originally said by the time they add in the Boulevard cost (originally part of the project but now separate). Also a few years behind schedule for various reasons (federal funding snags & legal challenges etc).

Larry, I happen to agree with you on this issue. ODOT and Oklahoma in general seem to be very poor in estimating construction costs and timelines. Rediculous costs and time for 4.5 miles of highway. Washington DC does much better than that and its an urban jungle with construction (widening etc) while traffic is still on the roadway

[bombermwc]

I can't wait to drive on this!!!! Sitting in traffic on 44 and 40 for miles at a time, only to see NOTHING causing it drives me INSANE! But so far, I don't see anything that resembles the location of an express lane. Did they toss that idea and just open it up for all 6 lanes?

[Larry OKC]

Larry, I happen to agree with you on this issue. ODOT and Oklahoma in general seem to be very poor in estimating construction costs and timelines. Rediculous costs and time for 4.5 miles of highway. Washington DC does much better than that and its an urban jungle with construction (widening etc) while traffic is still on the roadway

LOL
One of the ODOT documents indicated this process began 13 years ago, back in 1998! Timing can easily be put back on the Feds though as they are the primary source of funding. We are seeing the same thing happening here that we saw with the Fort Smith Junction reworking a few years ago. That project drug out over at least 10 years and it was due to the piecemeal method of funding.

[king183]

Awesome!! We might be driving on the I-40 by Feb.-Mar. That would be AMAZING! I HATE driving down the current crosstown!

Where did you see that? Last I read, ODOT said we would likely be driving on it by summer of 2012.

[Larry OKC]

Don't know where he saw it, but I saw it in Tuesday's Oklahoman. headline read "Crosstown Expressway could be ready in April".

Construction is expected to begin in a couple of months. The work is projected to take 240 days, but it could be finished sooner than that.

If work begins in October that means completion by end of April, then there is a $25K/day incentive for completing in less than that. So it is a possibility?

[OKCisOK4me]

Link to the ODOT website:

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsm...s_approval.pdf

The last paving contract has been awarded for $32 million. It will be for the area east of Western and west of Lincoln.

It can't be the last paving contract. The westbound bridge over Agnew still has yet to be built. All you see now is the eastbound lanes and the one lane eastbound bridge to connect into the new future boulevard.

Originally=$236 million, relocation completed by 2008 with Boulevard completed by 2010
Currently= $755 million+, relocation completed by 2012 with Boulevard completed by 2014 (but actual funding for the $85MM Boulevard wont be "in hand" until 2016, 2 years after it is supposed to be open).

It is costing about triple what they originally said by the time they add in the Boulevard cost (originally part of the project but now separate). Also a few years behind schedule for various reasons (federal funding snags & legal challenges etc).

Larry, how bout we take a $250 million freeway and trade it for a $755 million convention center?! ;-)

I can't wait to drive on this!!!! Sitting in traffic on 44 and 40 for miles at a time, only to see NOTHING causing it drives me INSANE! But so far, I don't see anything that resembles the location of an express lane. Did they toss that idea and just open it up for all 6 lanes?

They haven't painted lanes down yet. In the old renderings, I believe there was a barrier wall, but I'm probably thinking they'll do a "thru traffic only" lane and have it divided by either those plastic bumps or a double line. That's just my guess though.

[jn1780]

It can't be the last paving contract. The westbound bridge over Agnew still has yet to be built. All you see now is the eastbound lanes and the one lane eastbound bridge to connect into the new future boulevard.

That may have been included in another contract. I think they will start that bridge once Penn is open and the ramps at Agnew can be closed.

[Urban Pioneer]

As much as I like rail travel, it will be fun to drive on that! Or even better on a motorcycle for that matter.

[Spartan]

I can't wait to drive on this!!!! Sitting in traffic on 44 and 40 for miles at a time, only to see NOTHING causing it drives me INSANE! But so far, I don't see anything that resembles the location of an express lane. Did they toss that idea and just open it up for all 6 lanes?

Is it really that bad to have a 5-10 minute tie-up in one spot on your way home, at rush hour?

[Larry OKC]

Absolutely!

[Thunder]

I don't see anything that resembles the location of an express lane.

I have never seen this in the entire state of Oklahoma. Could you explain more about this?

[Larry OKC]

It can't be the last paving contract. The westbound bridge over Agnew still has yet to be built. All you see now is the eastbound lanes and the one lane eastbound bridge to connect into the new future boulevard. ...

there is probably a diference between it being open and being complete...maybe what they meant, it is the last paving contract before they can open the road to traffic and shut down the old Crosstown? Think they said they have a couple of more years or so of related stuff stuff to do (not counting the Boulevard)

[ljbab728]

I can't wait to drive on this!!!! Sitting in traffic on 44 and 40 for miles at a time, only to see NOTHING causing it drives me INSANE! But so far, I don't see anything that resembles the location of an express lane. Did they toss that idea and just open it up for all 6 lanes?

As far as I've heard there have never been any plans for an express lane. At the widest, it will be 5 lanes each way.

[bombermwc]

The express lanes were in all the renderings...in fact it was 2 lanes in each direction seperated with a concrete barrier. To me, it doesn't look like there is enough room on the pavement being laid to include that as well as the other 5 lanes of normal traffic each side was supposed to have. But hey, renderings more often than no, do not tell the end story.

Thunder - express lanes are much like a HOV lane (like in Dallas). There is a good example in Austin on 35. Think of it like an express elevator, you don't stop at each floor, you only stop at a few. So for the lanes, you enter the express end on one end of downtown and come out on the other with no exits from the express lane in-between. So you don't have to deal with all the on-off traffic as you flow through (like what causes the backups now at Robinson every day). The theory is that because you're going straight through, you don't have to stop because of merging traffic. And they made it two lanes so you don't get stuck like you do in the Dallas HOV lane because gramps can't go more than 60...while non-HOV goes 75. I'd prefer the non-barrier approach myself and have it be the poles or reflectors and double lines though. That way if there is a wreck, you can still get in/out...and the tow truck can get in easier as well.