Economic development corridor from OKC to Dallas

[ChrisHayes]

I've been thinking. If the governments of Texas and Oklahoma, along with the mayors of OKC Metro, DFW Metro, and the cities of southern Oklahoma got a really good extended plan together, the I-35 corridor from OKC to Dallas could be a huge economic development corridor. Think about it. In OKC, we have I-35, 40, and 44. Dallas has I-40 and I-20. Both metro areas are growing at respectable rates. Ardmore, IMO is an economic time bomb waiting to go off since it's half way between the metro areas. What's everyone's thoughts on this?

[Plutonic Panda]

I think that is already happening. TxDOT is widening I-35 to 8 lanes a mile into Oklahoma all the way to Dallas and completely realigning it several miles from the Oklahoma border. Ardmore is doing decent and will probably continue to do so. Dollar Tree, Walmart, and many other huge operations have massive centers along the highway. There is the Winstar Casino. 20-30 years a lot of that corridor could be filled with sprawl and I think that would be cool to see.

BTW, Purcell and Paul's Valley also continue to grow.

[gman11695]

When is this widening project starting??? Sounds like the entirety of 35 in Texas will be a nightmare to travel on now with all the construction ��

[Plutonic Panda]

When is this widening project starting??? Sounds like the entirety of 35 in Texas will be a nightmare to travel on now with all the construction ��

I believe it is starting by 2018 with some minor utility relocation's and stuff like that. I'll check up on it and get some more info.

[Laramie]

When is this widening project starting??? Sounds like the entirety of 35 in Texas will be a nightmare to travel on now with all the construction ��

Just drove up from the Dallas area about 5 weeks ago; I-35 in Texas & Oklahoma appears to be going through some massive changes. Many of those on ramps & exits are being upgraded especially from Denton, Gainesville, Ardmore, to OKC.

Several stretch areas from Ardmore to Winstar to OKC had us driving on one side while the other side appeared to be going through major repairs and resurfacing.

Winstar World Casino continues to attract a lot of traffic from Texas; especially from the Metroplex.

[KayneMo]

^ I read somewhere that about 90% of Winstar's customers are from Texas, and around 80% for Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant.

[Scott5114]

^ I read somewhere that about 90% of Winstar's customers are from Texas, and around 80% for Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant.

Gambling is illegal in Texas, and there are far fewer established tribes able to run casinos there than there are here. Texans have to drive to Oklahoma or Louisiana if they want to gamble. Oklahomans have dozens of options available to us within driving distance (if you live in Oklahoma City, you have Remington Park, Riverwind, Goldsby, Newcastle, the Grand, and LuckyStar within a short distance, depending on where in the city you live).

[pure]

When I got to Dallas, I like to take 380 from 35 and go down the tollway. There's been so much development on 380, it's hardly my "shortcut" anymore. My wife and I go to Dallas at least once every other month and there's always new development somewhere along 380 and the Tollway in Frisco and Plano. I jokingly told my wife that one day Norman will be considered the North side of the DFW Metro.