The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[ljbab728]

does anyone else feel that the 60mph speed limit here is too slow? just east on i40 is 65mph with three lanes.

I'm sure it bothers me because i'm an impatient driver but does anyone else feel its too slow?

No

[Plutonic Panda]

does anyone else feel that the 60mph speed limit here is too slow? just east on i40 is 65mph with three lanes.

I'm sure it bothers me because i'm an impatient driver but does anyone else feel its too slow?

Yes.

It needs to be 70 or 75. It's ridiculous how slow people drive in this city.

[Plutonic Panda]

In fact, ODOT originally planned to have the speed limit at 70MPH... not sure what happened to that.

[ljbab728]

Yes.

It needs to be 70 or 75. It's ridiculous how slow people drive in this city.

And I assume you aren't people?

[Plutonic Panda]

And I assume you aren't people?

I just mean the majority. I was behind two people on the stretch of I-35 that is four lanes in OKC who were going 50MPH. Very annoying.

[ljbab728]

I just mean the majority. I was behind two people on the stretch of I-35 that is four lanes in OKC who were going 50MPH. Very annoying.

I understand that, pluplan. But just because some people drive much under the speed limit doesn't mean the speed limit needs to be raised to 90.

[Achilleslastand]

I just mean the majority. I was behind two people on the stretch of I-35 that is four lanes in OKC who were going 50MPH. Very annoying.

One of them was me....
The gal ahead of me was texting and only doing 45.

[Plutonic Panda]

One of them was me....
The gal ahead of me was texting and only doing 45.

oh maaaan. If had known that, I wouldn't have followed yas and slashed your tires. My bad man

[Plutonic Panda]

I understand that, pluplan. But just because some people drive much under the speed limit doesn't mean the speed limit needs to be raised to 90.

you're right... It needs to be raised to 190!!!!

[Jim Kyle]

Once upon a time, the speed limit for the entire state of Oklahoma was defined in law simply as "reasonable and proper." This left it up entirely to the whim of any county mountie or constable or trooper, who could claim that 20 MPH was "too fast for conditions" (which it often is, if driving on glare ice)...

[HangryHippo]

If there is a better thread for this question, feel free to move it. I just couldn't find it via search if it exists.

Does anyone know when they will be done with the I-40 expansion and reconstruction between Sara Rd. and Garth Brooks Blvd. and will have the retaining barriers removed? I tried to navigate ODOT's website to find out, but that thing is a piece of junk and damn near unusable to find construction updates.

[Bellaboo]

If there is a better thread for this question, feel free to move it. I just couldn't find it via search if it exists.

Does anyone know when they will be done with the I-40 expansion and reconstruction between Sara Rd. and Garth Brooks Blvd. and will have the retaining barriers removed? I tried to navigate ODOT's website to find out, but that thing is a piece of junk and damn near unusable to find construction updates.

They are getting close to being completed with I-40 itself. It looks like the last thing that will be finished is the bridge over I-40 on Mustang Rd. When on I-40, you are now driving on the new surfaces, I could see all lanes open within a month...this is just a guess, but it's getting close.

[Bellaboo]

Instead of opening all lanes in a month, it may be in this coming week, as tonight they are removing the temporary concrete barriers on I-40. Hopefully all lanes will be open soon.

[Snowman]

Instead of opening all lanes in a month, it may be in this coming week, as tonight they are removing the temporary concrete barriers on I-40. Hopefully all lanes will be open soon.

Even if instead of just dropping to two lanes, would divert a third lane with the people who will be getting off at the turnpike/mustang road it would be a big improvement to keep the area from backing up.

[ChaseDweller]

Does anyone know what they are doing on eastbound I-40 just east of the I-35 (Dallas) junction? It looks like they are grading some diversion lanes down the hill which seems a very weird thing to do. I can't figure out how this ties into the Boulevard exit, so I wondered if they weren't reworking the southbound exit from westbound I-35 to make traffic move faster through there. Anyone know?

[warreng88]

Does anyone know what they are doing on eastbound I-40 just east of the I-35 (Dallas) junction? It looks like they are grading some diversion lanes down the hill which seems a very weird thing to do. I can't figure out how this ties into the Boulevard exit, so I wondered if they weren't reworking the southbound exit from westbound I-35 to make traffic move faster through there. Anyone know?

Maybe it is the Boulevard's entrance on to I-35 south?

[jompster]

I didn't see anything on the east side of 35, but on the west side, they are working on the ramp that will come from the boulevard onto I-40 EB in the I-35 SB exit lane. Might that be what you saw?

[ChaseDweller]

No, this is east of the I-35/I-235 interchange on the north side of the east bound lane of I-40 (in the center median). I can't figure out what they are doing.

[Bellaboo]

No, this is east of the I-35/I-235 interchange on the north side of the east bound lane of I-40 (in the center median). I can't figure out what they are doing.

Is this a westbound entry into downtown via the new boulevard ? They have all kinds of bridges being built in the area.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this a westbound entry into downtown via the new boulevard ? They have all kinds of bridges being built in the area.

Better not. I will be furious if a new exit or entry is built on the left side of the highway. That is dump and screws up traffic. A lot of our interchanges need to be fixed in this regard.

[Bellaboo]

They placed the concrete for the East bound boulevard off ramp / onramp to I-40 today.

[jccouger]

The timed lighting for on/off ramps on i40 is so freaking bad. It gives even amounts of timing for all directions no matter the time of day, this causes huge backups during certain times of day. Anybody know when this issue will be addressed?

[DowntownMan]

Does anyone know why some of the signs on the new i40 have what appears to small electronic screens above each lane? Looks to be some kind of lane indicator but I have never seen them turned on in the now 3 years this road has been open. Seems like a waste of money since they have never been used.

Would be curious to know why they were added but then never used.

[jn1780]

Does anyone know why some of the signs on the new i40 have what appears to small electronic screens above each lane? Looks to be some kind of lane indicator but I have never seen them turned on in the now 3 years this road has been open. Seems like a waste of money since they have never been used.

Would be curious to know why they were added but then never used.

Oklahoma's traffic information system has always been a very slow work in progress. It was years before they built the traffic speed sensors that allowed the information boards to give ETA information to certain parts of the city. The lane close indicators are probably also dependent on a future system not yet developed or built. I doubt there is currently an easy way to trigger those lane signs on and off.

[OUman]

I drive on the Crosstown everyday to work and back and while the speed limit says 60, many drivers go at 70 mph, so it's not like they're strictly enforcing it. But you have to be careful, the motorcycle cops and state highway patrol cars are always on the lookout for those going any faster. I see drivers that have been pulled over almost daily on that stretch. The motorcycle cops actually make themselves visible standing on the left shoulder of the highway with their speed guns pointed at traffic.