The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[Thunder]

I'm hoping that the old I-40 isn't torn down so fast. How much time do we have left before demolish? Are we allowed to walk on there to take some pictures, like now on eastbound, then later on westbound?

[Snowman]

I'm hoping that the old I-40 isn't torn down so fast. How much time do we have left before demolish? Are we allowed to walk on there to take some pictures, like now on eastbound, then later on westbound?

I think I heard somewhere 8 months for the entire crosstown bridge structure, but deconstruction on the east end of the bridge will start shortly after westbound traffic is diverted off. Probably will start on the parts in the way of the westbound lanes on the west side as soon as possible too. Walking on it is probably discouraged since it is an construction site that will dead end at a ledge.

[Thunder]

Can you find out for sure? I don't see any construction activities going on the majority of the bridge.

[Snowman]

From what it sounded like they are only working on the east edge of the bridge at any time, so they have easy access to get to where they are working (probably can be used to facilitate some of the debris removal too), as work progresses the east edge will slowly be moving west till their is no bridge left.

[Snowman]

edit double post

[Thunder]

Okay, so I want to park somewhere next to I-40 eastbound and walk up on an on-ramp and just walk along the stretch. I want to do some pictures and I have an idea for the style of pictures to do for a video. I will also want the song, I'm thinking the last song played on the Titanic by the group of men out on the ship's deck..its a sad song, but I don't know the name of it. I want something emotionally sad soundtrack, but its hard to remember all the music I've heard in my life without being able to hear anything new. So, I just have to figure it out and pay/download a music soundtrack. I really think that I-40 need a tribute and I want to try (Metro and Will isn't interested) before its too late. Now, if only the weather will get warm again. I'm looking at the forecast for later this week, I think Friday or Saturday will approach nearly 70, so that might be the best time to start on the eastbound. Then westbound as soon that closes.

I'm sure there are a lot of homeless bums walking along the stretch, so it should be okay for me to temporarily go up there for pictures. If police stops me, I'll just show them my KOCO and OKCTalk cards. :-) I really have a great idea. Its important, because I-40, that stretch, are historically history a part of our lives for generations.

No, I am not doing this for The Oklahoman (newspaper). :-P

[bombermwc]

I found one area that shows poor planning. If you need to take I-40 east and you're entering from May, you have to go a full 2 miles to get to an onramp now! I was trying to go 40-east coming from Mathis Brothers and you drive almost half the length of the thing before you can get on the highway! There are 2 exits FROM the highway in that same span of space. So there's one thing that was not improved. It's actually faster to swing back around to Meridian and get on now.

[Thunder]

I found one area that shows poor planning. If you need to take I-40 east and you're entering from May, you have to go a full 2 miles to get to an onramp now! I was trying to go 40-east coming from Mathis Brothers and you drive almost half the length of the thing before you can get on the highway! There are 2 exits FROM the highway in that same span of space. So there's one thing that was not improved. It's actually faster to swing back around to Meridian and get on now.

You may not be aware, but the stretch of I-40 was (and is being) moved to the south.

[OKCisOK4me]

I found one area that shows poor planning. If you need to take I-40 east and you're entering from May, you have to go a full 2 miles to get to an onramp now! I was trying to go 40-east coming from Mathis Brothers and you drive almost half the length of the thing before you can get on the highway! There are 2 exits FROM the highway in that same span of space. So there's one thing that was not improved. It's actually faster to swing back around to Meridian and get on now.

From May, you only have to travel to Pennsylvania (full exchange) to get on I-40 eastbound. Last I recall, there's only a mile between those two major streets. Remember, Agnew is Villa, which is the half mile street...

[king183]

Two things:

1) The west edge of the bridge appears to already be gone and they're tearing up more of it now as I write.

2) The new on ramp from I 35 had to be partially torn up due to poor construction (I think). There was a huge bump on it (it sunk down suddenly). They have torn up the new concrete at that section and are replacing it right now.

I give it at least two weeks before we're on the westbound lanes.

[OKCisOK4me]

1) The west edge of the bridge appears to already be gone and they're tearing up more of it now as I write.

The east edge? of the the old eastbound I-40? where it elevates to make the connection with the bridge?

[jn1780]

2) The new on ramp from I 35 had to be partially torn up due to poor construction (I think). There was a huge bump on it (it sunk down suddenly). They have torn up the new concrete at that section and are replacing it right now.

I don't think it was flaw in construction. I think the bump was where the new ramp met the old ramp.(Not a flaw in the new ramp itself I should say).

[Jim Kyle]

I will also want the song, I'm thinking the last song played on the Titanic by the group of men out on the ship's deck..its a sad song, but I don't know the name of it.

Most accounts say the last song played on the Titanic as it sank was "Nearer My God To Thee" but at least one source claims it was a ragtime dance tune...

[king183]

The east edge? of the the old eastbound I-40? where it elevates to make the connection with the bridge?

East edge, yes. Sorry for that mistake. So, to clarify: the east edge of the old I-40 is being dismantled already. Much of it was already gone this morning.

[king183]

I don't think it was flaw in construction. I think the bump was where the new ramp met the old ramp.(Not a flaw in the new ramp itself I should say).

Not sure...but I do know they have removed new concrete that was placed there. Perhaps it was new concrete to connect to the old ramp and now they don't need that connection anymore and are tearing up that portion to finish the new ramp.

[OKCisOK4me]

East edge, yes. Sorry for that mistake. So, to clarify: the east edge of the old I-40 is being dismantled already. Much of it was already gone this morning.

Ok, was just checking ;-) That would be a great thing to get pics of--from the new Byers bridge, not while driving.

[mcca7596]

http://newsok.com/i-40-crosstown-mot...rticle/3641195

[BoulderSooner]

first bridge removal contract was awarded in november .. byers to western (east end of 40)

PROJECT NO.:ACIMY-XTWN(067) J.P. NUMBER:1742877 BAMS NO: 110530 CALENDAR DAYS ALLOTTED: 270
COUNTY: OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY NO.: I-40 LENGTH: 1.5910 MILES
DESCRIPTION : BRIDGE AND APPROACHES (REMOVAL)
LOCATION : I-40: DECONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE FROM WESTERN AVE TO JUST
EAST OF BYERS AVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.
CONTRACT AMOUNT : $ 9,660,191.37 CONTRACTOR : SHERWOOD CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.


also awarded in nov I40 repaving from May to Agnew (west end)
AWARDED: CALL ORDER: 280
PROJECT NO.:OKCY-XTWN(046) J.P. NUMBER:1742858 BAMS NO: 110504 CALENDAR DAYS ALLOTTED: 300
COUNTY: OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY NO.: I-40/AGNEW AVE LENGTH: 0.8970 MILES
DESCRIPTION : GRADE, DRAIN, SURFACE, AND BRIDGE
LOCATION : I-40: FROM WEST OF MAY AVE, EXTEND EAST IN OKLAHOMA CITY.
AGNEW AVE: FROM RENO AVE, EXTEND SOUTH.
CONTRACT AMOUNT : $ 17,699,647.18 CONTRACTOR : ALLEN CONTRACTING, INC.

looks like both of these went to bid a little early and came in under projection


and the award from the newsok article west bound blvd connection .. will be awarded on FEB 6 with 240 days until completion

[bombermwc]

Well if that's the goal, they haven't done it yet. Agnew does not have an on-ramp for 40 East bound...only an off ramp. You have to go to Penn...so yes it's only 1 mile instead of two. But that's still twice the distance and triple the lights it used to be. Westbound will have an on and off ramp at Agnew though.

I don't really understand why there isn't an onramp at Agnew. Worse case for the 40 travelers is that there would be an exit only lane that mixes on and off traffic like we have all over town already. And it's going to be light enough traffic that it really shouldn't have been a big deal. But when traffic is heavy, it's a real suck to go to Penn instead. Like I said, it's faster to go back to Meridian and get on there because of the timing of the lights, which is stupid because of how much more distance you travel going to Meridian.

Thunder - that's a facepalm statement. Of course i'm talking about the new I-40. Why would i just now be commenting on the old road? And this is the new Eastbound part, not west that hasn't moved yet.......ugh.

[OKCisOK4me]

Agnew to Penn is only half a mile...

Why would you go from Agnew to Meridian (a distance of 2 1/2 miles)? Are you taking Reno? SW 15th St? You probably encounter at least 10 stoplights either of those routes, then get on the freeway and come 2 1/2 miles back or 3 to the eastbound entrance ramp off of Penn that you only have to drive half a mile from Agnew to get on the freeway all the while taking on two stoplights??? You make no sense.

[jn1780]

Well if that's the goal, they haven't done it yet. Agnew does not have an on-ramp for 40 East bound...only an off ramp. You have to go to Penn...so yes it's only 1 mile instead of two. But that's still twice the distance and triple the lights it used to be. Westbound will have an on and off ramp at Agnew though.

I don't really understand why there isn't an onramp at Agnew. Worse case for the 40 travelers is that there would be an exit only lane that mixes on and off traffic like we have all over town already. And it's going to be light enough traffic that it really shouldn't have been a big deal. But when traffic is heavy, it's a real suck to go to Penn instead. Like I said, it's faster to go back to Meridian and get on there because of the timing of the lights, which is stupid because of how much more distance you travel going to Meridian.

Thunder - that's a facepalm statement. Of course i'm talking about the new I-40. Why would i just now be commenting on the old road? And this is the new Eastbound part, not west that hasn't moved yet.......ugh.

Meridian may be faster, but having to travel 1/2 mile and 1 more stoplight is not much different from what it was before.

[Jim Kyle]

Yesterday's Oklahoman had a letter to the editor, from the ODT spokesperson, detailing the reasons for the changes in exit philosophy. It boiled down to "the feds demanded it" in the name of reducing the severity of some safety issues...

[OKCisOK4me]

.....that being that the on and off ramps were too close together and did not allow for enough lane change room/slowing down & speeding up which resulted in more accidents. Our new exit line-up is exactly how ramps are on I-35E getting closer to downtown Dallas. Really don't see what the big deal is.

[Bellaboo]

I drive through five days a week and the off ramps are almost bare now that people understand the exits. It is so much safer than the old crosstown. I can't wait for the move over to the new west bound road.

[OKCisOK4me]

Is anyone documenting the destruction of the old Crosstown, via pics and/or video? I know access is an issue but that's what telephoto lenses are for ;-)