The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[Paule4ou]

12:20 .... first cars are now being escorted by three OKC PD cars......its open!

[Pete]

Yep, if you look at the I-40/Shields webcam, you can see the eerie sight of zero eastbound traffic on the old Crosstown:

http://www.oktraffic.org/map.php?location=okc

[catch22]

Well I can't wait to get off work now....

[jn1780]

Are the new ODOT live cams be accessible as of today or will they only be operational after traffic is flowing both ways?

No. Who knows how long it will be before they update their website and add them. The cameras were up for a few years before they even gave the public access to them.

[Bellaboo]

I'll catch it on the way to work in the morning.....can't wait.

[kevinpate]

Well I can't wait to get off work now....

Agreed, even though i won't be anywhere near I-40 this week.

[jungmuny]

It looked so space age, and then I saw a reminder that this is still Oklahoma. A broken down Nissan on the shoulder 30 minutes after the grand opening!

[MDot]

It looked so space age, and then I saw a reminder that this is still Oklahoma. A broken down Nissan on the shoulder 30 minutes after the grand opening!

I just drove past it. LOL

[Thunder]

It looked so space age, and then I saw a reminder that this is still Oklahoma. A broken down Nissan on the shoulder 30 minutes after the grand opening!

That is me. I'm waiting for help. :-(

[MDot]

Haha, it was Thunder I just drove past and I left him stranded.

[SSEiYah]

Video I shot from my dash cam today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpW0x...e=related&hd=1

[Pete]

Very cool! Thanks so much.

[dteagle]

I love the way the bridges look and the elimination of all the dangerous merges on the old crosstown. Anyone else think that the surface is somewhat uncomfortable to drive on? No large impacts, but I felt a constant vibration which was unique to the new stretch. Perhaps it has significant ridges for better wet traction?

[dmoor82]

I just drove on the new highway for the first time and I hope it doesnt happen,but I bet there will be multiple wrecks on this,atleast until the newness wears off.I was driving and caught myself looking around and noticed everyone else hitting their brakes for no reason and slowing down to see the Skydance bridge.

[MDot]

Anyone else think that the surface is somewhat uncomfortable to drive on? No large impacts, but I'm felt a vibration which was unique to the new stretch. Perhaps it has significant ridges for better wet traction?

I didn't notice it but I wasn't really paying attention, I was just trying to get a feel for the view I'm going to be seeing from now on. I'll try and look out for it next time I drive on it.

[Pete]

Perhaps it has significant ridges for better wet traction?

I noticed in some photos the concrete surface was purposely finished slightly rough, no doubt to make it safer in wet conditions.

[MDot]

I just drove on the new highway for the first time and I hope it doesnt happen,but I bet there will be multiple wrecks on this,atleast until the newness wears off.I was driving and caught myself looking around and noticed everyone else hitting their brakes for no reason and slowing down to see the Skydance bridge.

I noticed this as well. I hope nothing too serious, if anything at all, happens.

[Skyline]

I just drove on the new highway for the first time and I hope it doesnt happen,but I bet there will be multiple wrecks on this,atleast until the newness wears off.I was driving and caught myself looking around and noticed everyone else hitting their brakes for no reason and slowing down to see the Skydance bridge.

I am crossing the new I-40 now as I text this message and I'm also trying to take pics with my iphone. Yes I agree drivers are not focusing on the road and too many are riding their brakes.

[dteagle]

I am crossing the new I-40 now as I text this message and I'm also trying to take pics with my iphone. Yes I agree drivers are not focusing on the road and too many are riding their brakes.

Ha! Seriously, though, I'd try not to do anything too bizarre today. I noticed a significant enforcement presence.

[OKCisOK4me]

Video I shot from my dash cam today:

Awesome video! Even though I have no reason to, it makes me want to drive on it after I get off work at 8 and film it on my Motorola Electrify while it sits in the new windshield mount I bought for my car. Then I can drive under the lit Skydance Bridge!

[jn1780]

I just drove on the new highway for the first time and I hope it doesnt happen,but I bet there will be multiple wrecks on this,atleast until the newness wears off.I was driving and caught myself looking around and noticed everyone else hitting their brakes for no reason and slowing down to see the Skydance bridge.

Yeah and their also only using the two to three right hand lanes. The fourth is not being used that much. Fifth is closed.

[Lauri101]

Wow - thanks for video and other comments! I chickened out today and just took Reno EB to Scott Street. Still would like to know if the EB on ramp on Shields is open? One of my co-workers said he couldn't turn right off Shields at the place shown - it was blocked about 2 pm?
The traffic going out of DT today was nuts at 3:30, so I didn't even try. Maybe Monday

[OKCisOK4me]

One of my co-workers said he couldn't turn right off Shields at the place shown - it was blocked about 2 pm?

If you look at SSEiYah's video above at the 3:34 mark, you can see traffic entering on to the new alignment from the Shields Blvd. ramp.

[Head]

I took the new crosstown home tonight. Of course, it is a spectacular improvement on the old piece of $#!t. There's a little "correction glitch" about 300 yards west of the Penn bridge that appears totally unnecessary. How can a project in the making for so long, need a three foot swerve in the middle of an otherwise uninterrupted stretch of highway? I'm hoping that it's just the way the stripes are painted. Didn't have time to look at the details since everyone was braking for the pedestrian bridge!
All in all, it is beautiful. If that seems like a strong word, then you've never driven the existing crosstown.

[Snowman]

I took the new crosstown home tonight. Of course, it is a spectacular improvement on the old piece of $#!t. There's a little "correction glitch" about 300 yards west of the Penn bridge that appears totally unnecessary. How can a project in the making for so long, need a three foot swerve in the middle of an otherwise uninterrupted stretch of highway? I'm hoping that it's just the way the stripes are painted. Didn't have time to look at the details since everyone was braking for the pedestrian bridge!
All in all, it is beautiful. If that seems like a strong word, then you've never driven the existing crosstown.

That is where the westbound traffic will be shifted temporarily on the eastbound lanes, due to the old crosstown being in the way of the new westbound route.