OKC Boulevard

[David]

I think I need to take a special trip from the south to experience the new exit, I still can't quite picture how they threaded the needle of that off-ramp around all the other bridges and roads in the area.

[OUman]

Only one thing that concerns me, that loop that leads off the boulevard to east-bound I-40. At the moment, I switch into that lane to take I-35 southbound, but that's the same lane that has the loop joining in. During rush hour, many cars switch into that lane that becomes an exit-only for SB I-35. Now, I'm no traffic engineer obviously but wouldn't that be a bit problematic when people coming off the loop have to merge, then change a lane to get onto I-40 EB? And at the same time, people going on EB I-40 who want to go on SB I-35 have to pay attention (now that it's open) to those cars joining in?

[bradh]

Just depends on how much distance there is from the entry from the loop and to the actual exit for 35

[OUman]

^Yeah, it's probably good enough but knowing people's driving habits in this town... a great example lies just to the west - the entrance ramp from Shields onto EB I-40 is uber long, and I mean possibly the longest merge ramp available anywhere in this city that I've seen. For a good long distance, the ramp has dual lanes, and even after the right-most lane ends, the inside merge lane continues. You can see exactly how long on Google Maps. Still, drivers will try to force their way into traffic as soon as they get interstate access. Which leads me to believe that at least some drivers do not do their research or they would know they have plenty of merge lane left ahead of them to safely merge and do it with road to spare.

Anyway, going back to the topic, I got a pretty neat recent aerial shot of the entire interchange now with the new links to the Oklahoma City Boulevard when returning from Houston Hobby this past June. Looks pretty much like a spaghetti junction, even more so now than it did before.

[rte66man]

^Yeah, it's probably good enough but knowing people's driving habits in this town... a great example lies just to the west - the entrance ramp from Shields onto EB I-40 is uber long, and I mean possibly the longest merge ramp available anywhere in this city that I've seen. For a good long distance, the ramp has dual lanes, and even after the right-most lane ends, the inside merge lane continues. You can see exactly how long on Google Maps. Still, drivers will try to force their way into traffic as soon as they get interstate access. Which leads me to believe that at least some drivers do not do their research or they would know they have plenty of merge lane left ahead of them to safely merge and do it with road to spare.

Anyway, going back to the topic, I got a pretty neat recent aerial shot of the entire interchange now with the new links to the Oklahoma City Boulevard when returning from Houston Hobby this past June. Looks pretty much like a spaghetti junction, even more so now than it did before.

Can you post it? I would love to see it. Thanks.

[OUman]

^Sorry for not replying earlier, was pretty busy. Anyway, here it is. I understand the quality could be better but I am still using my trusty 2007 Panasonic camera, so compared to the smart phone images of today it's probably not as good, but will give you a good idea regardless. I had to re-size the image a bit to get the file size down. I decided not to label all of the pertinent roadways as it would get pretty cluttered but I'm guessing most everyone would be able to make out where the off-ramp to the boulevard begins from I-35 NB, and the off ramp from WB I-40 joins in, the loop from the EB boulevard to EB I-40 etc.

[Bellaboo]

One heck of a pic from the air.

Thanks !

[Laramie]

Got an opportunity to glide on the Crosstown Boulevard traveling south on I-235 from the OUHSC area last night. The exit to Oklahoma City Boulevard is just north of the I-40 West exit on I-235.

Saw an impressive view of Bricktown, downtown and the back of the U-Haul storage facility .
OKC looks more urban than ever--living up to that BIG LEAGUE CITY moniker.

GOTTA LOVE IT!

[David]

They really planned ahead well with the new Lincoln bridge, plenty of room under it for both the new I-40 and the exits from both westbound I-40 and northbound I-35.

[ChaseDweller]

Love the new access to downtown, but the speed limits are just ridiculous. It should be 45 until it reaches ground level, then go to 35. I'm assuming the 25 is temporary until the construction is done, and once development occurs and there is actual pedestrian traffic over there, it might make sense, but 25 on the part of of the road built like a limited access highway is nuts.

[HangryHippo]

but 25 on the part of of the road built like a limited access highway is nuts.

I think this is why many people tried so hard to get the design changed. They built a highway to serve as a boulevard.

[ChaseDweller]

I think this is why many people tried so hard to get the design changed. They built a highway to serve as a boulevard.

Agreed, but that's done and can't be changed. I encourage low speed limits on the part where pedestrians will be, but not on the elevated parts. It just sets up an obvious unfair speed trap (See the west end of the Boulevard).

[Zuplar]

I just hope this leads to decreased congestion after Thunder games.

[Pete]

This set of photos is starting from under the bridge just east of EKG/Shields and progressing all the way to Lincoln where it ends near Boathouse Row. Right before Lincoln, there is an exit to head west on I-40 which also allows you to go south on I-35.

These are the only access points along the whole stretch other than going north on Oklahoma which is not open yet.

[Pete]

These are starting at Lincoln and heading back west to EKG.

[Zuplar]

Great pictures Pete.

[HangryHippo]

I absolutely hate how this has turned out so far.

[catch22]

I loved the view coming west Wednesday night. It reminded me so much of the old crosstown bridge and was a very easy access point downtown.

[OKCRT]

I prob. haven't been following this as much as I should but is there a reason it dead ends where it does? This doesn't make much sense to me unless they are planning a huge parking lot where the road ends on each side.

[Urban Pioneer]

I prob. haven't been following this as much as I should but is there a reason it dead ends where it does? This doesn't make much sense to me unless they are planning a huge parking lot where the road ends on each side.

It is going to keep on going OKCRT in the next phases until it reaches the other dead end at Western.

[Urban Pioneer]

Did ODOT reach a deal with Uhaul? Lonnie the District Manager said they had a room full of lawyers who were going to make them pay to move their offices and Uhaul parking to the west side of the building. Noting that the Uhaul rental parking lot looks as though it remains behind the Jersey barriers.

[Plutonic Panda]

I absolutely hate how this has turned out so far.

I don't have as much as a problem with this end as I do with the next phase.

[jompster]

I don't really see much of a problem with boulevard traffic getting on eastbound 40 in the 35 exit ramp. There's plenty of room to do it as long as people aren't driving stupid. (That's the key here, though.) My only problem is the left exit to the boulevard from 35 NB. It just kind of juts off to the left, and you don't have room for mistakes.

[David]

I'm just glad they bothered to build the sidewalks we're seeing in Pete's pictures.

[ABCOKC]

I absolutely hate how this has turned out so far.

Agreed. Only gets worse from here as well. At least now we have a hideous, unwalkable gash running East-West to match North-South Gaylord/Shields!