I-235 / I-44 Interchange

[Anonymous.]

The reason the traffic is less during construction than before is because people are actively avoiding the interchange.

One thing that will be a problem this spring is thunderstorms will pretty much instantly flood the low-lying area that was already prone to flooding near the rail bridge. This will cause I-235 to be dangerous during heavy rainfall and likely be shutdown for lengthy downpours.

[Boomer3791]

I drive I44E to I235S daily during the week. It's getting really interesting seeing all the dirt that's being moved around the 50th st. / RR bridges. They're moving a HUGE amount of dirt off of the west (right-side for SB traffic on I235) of I235 between the I44 overpass and the 50th street bridge. It doesn't seem to make sense that this would be the path of the new roadway since it would create a big bend in the road for it to line up with the existing and/or planned roadway just to the north of this location. But I can't figure out what else it would be. Does anyone else know what the plan for this area is?

[KayneMo]

^ From looking at this graphic, that will be part of the new roadway (north is to the right):

[Boomer3791]

This is interesting, because the new I44 to SBI-235 ramp that is already built doesn't align with this graphic. The ramp itself extends much further east than it appears in this drawing. If this is correct, that ramp will involve a new bridge over Deep Fork Creek and take the roadway much further toward the SW that it is now.

[Laramie]

Latest Phase of Oklahoma’s I-235/I-44 Interchange Reconstruction Underway:

With the beginning of the new year, this third phase of the I-235/I-44 project has now shifted to the reconstruction and widening of the interchange and bridges. I-235 will be widened to six lanes from North 36th Street to just north of North 50th Street. The North 50th Street bridge over the interstate, the BNSF railroad bridge, and a smaller bridge near North 50th Street will be rebuilt. The design firm on this three-year project was Benham Design LLC, and the contract was awarded in May 2016 to Allen Contracting Inc. of Oklahoma City. When completed, the project will alleviate congestion and safety issues by providing six dedicated traffic lanes as well as auxiliary lanes that will increase merging distance, to accommodate current and future traffic.

According to Angier, the remaining phases of the overall project should begin in 2019. “First up will be paving and widening from the end of this current project at 50th Street to 63rd Street, past the I-44 interchange,” she reports. “This will be followed by the flyover connecting northbound I-235 to westbound I-44, and eastbound I-44 to northbound Broadway Extension. Together these will cost about $75 million. The last phase, planned for 2020, will primarily be focused on wrapping up work in the northeast quadrant, at a cost of around $25 million.

Source: http://constructionnews.acppubs.com/...tion-underway/

[Buffalo Bill]

This is interesting, because the new I44 to SBI-235 ramp that is already built doesn't align with this graphic. The ramp itself extends much further east than it appears in this drawing. If this is correct, that ramp will involve a new bridge over Deep Fork Creek and take the roadway much further toward the SW that it is now.

My guess is that potion of the existing ramp that is is asphalt will be removed and replaced and that is just a temporary connection. It is shown in green on the map.

[tyeomans]

Random question, but what is the construction that begins on Monday along I-44? I see that there will be road closures starting then.

[jn1780]

Random question, but what is the construction that begins on Monday along I-44? I see that there will be road closures starting then.

They are replacing the expansion joints on the Belle Isle bridge and other preventative maintenance work.

[flyfisher07]

I see where they're finally starting to lay some concrete on the new northbound lanes. Anyone have an idea when they plan to have the first weekend closure to start removing the RR bridge?

[jn1780]

I see where they're finally starting to lay some concrete on the new northbound lanes. Anyone have an idea when they plan to have the first weekend closure to start removing the RR bridge?

You will see them start removing 50th street bridge sometime this summer first. They have to build a new RR bridge first before they remove the old one.

[tyeomans]

I was driving eastbound on I-44 this afternoon and saw a glimpse of the electronic board at the Western exit stating something regarding SB I-235 closing on 4/19/17. I barely caught it as I was driving by. Does anybody know what it says?

[flyfisher07]

I was driving eastbound on I-44 this afternoon and saw a glimpse of the electronic board at the Western exit stating something regarding SB I-235 closing on 4/19/17. I barely caught it as I was driving by. Does anybody know what it says?

I haven't seen it, but my guess is that would be the alert for closing the I44 eastbound to southbound I235 ramp. ODOT is saying the ramp will be closed through the end of June.

[StuckInTheCapitol825]

***Prepare now: I-44 ramp to southbound I-235 to close****

Motorists should start planning now for an alternate route with the upcoming closure of the eastbound I-44 off-ramp to southbound I-235 near N. 50th St. as part of the ongoing I-235 widening and reconstruction project. The closure is expected to begin late next week and continue through June. Watch for more details in upcoming advisories. Motorists must locate an alternate route such as I-44 south to I-40; I-35 south to I-40 or Lincoln Blvd.

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/ne...ticle_id=31395

[LakeEffect]

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/ne...ticle_id=31395

"Motorists must locate an alternate route..." Maybe I'm stretching it, but I feel like Oklahoma is the only state I've been in that doesn't help travelers with identified alternate routes during big highway closures...

[LakeEffect]

I was driving eastbound on I-44 this afternoon and saw a glimpse of the electronic board at the Western exit stating something regarding SB I-235 closing on 4/19/17. I barely caught it as I was driving by. Does anybody know what it says?

That's what it said - but today it's switched to saying 4/26.

[Buffalo Bill]

"Motorists must locate an alternate route..." Maybe I'm stretching it, but I feel like Oklahoma is the only state I've been in that doesn't help travelers with identified alternate routes during big highway closures...

Or one could merely read the rest of the bulletin, "alternate route such as I-44 south to I-40; I-35 south to I-40 or Lincoln Blvd." Or click on the hyperlink in the bulletin:

https://www.ok.gov/odot/OFF_Broadway_and_I-235.html

Where there are maps and instructions, such as: "Suggested routes to help avoid traffic congestion include I-35 to the east and I-44 and SH-74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) to the west.
The City of Oklahoma City recommends using N. Classen Blvd. and N. Martin Luther King Ave. for north-south travel and N.E. 36th St., N.E. 23rd St. and E. Reno Ave. for east-west travel into and out of downtown Oklahoma City.
Motorists who need to access the state Capitol area may use Lincoln Blvd."

Perhaps all of this just doesn't fit on a portable message sign.

[tyeomans]

Perhaps all of this just doesn't fit on a portable message sign.

You also have to take into consideration that people are driving by going 60+ mph. They have to get the message across to as many people as possible, so the same message has to recycle every few seconds.

[LakeEffect]

Or one could merely read the rest of the bulletin, "alternate route such as I-44 south to I-40; I-35 south to I-40 or Lincoln Blvd." Or click on the hyperlink in the bulletin:

https://www.ok.gov/odot/OFF_Broadway_and_I-235.html

Where there are maps and instructions, such as: "Suggested routes to help avoid traffic congestion include I-35 to the east and I-44 and SH-74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) to the west.
The City of Oklahoma City recommends using N. Classen Blvd. and N. Martin Luther King Ave. for north-south travel and N.E. 36th St., N.E. 23rd St. and E. Reno Ave. for east-west travel into and out of downtown Oklahoma City.
Motorists who need to access the state Capitol area may use Lincoln Blvd."

Perhaps all of this just doesn't fit on a portable message sign.

How many tourists, truck drivers, and regular travelers read that bulletin? Likely very, very few.

[Plutonic Panda]

Or one could merely read the rest of the bulletin, "alternate route such as I-44 south to I-40; I-35 south to I-40 or Lincoln Blvd." Or click on the hyperlink in the bulletin:

https://www.ok.gov/odot/OFF_Broadway_and_I-235.html

Where there are maps and instructions, such as: "Suggested routes to help avoid traffic congestion include I-35 to the east and I-44 and SH-74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) to the west.
The City of Oklahoma City recommends using N. Classen Blvd. and N. Martin Luther King Ave. for north-south travel and N.E. 36th St., N.E. 23rd St. and E. Reno Ave. for east-west travel into and out of downtown Oklahoma City.
Motorists who need to access the state Capitol area may use Lincoln Blvd."

Perhaps all of this just doesn't fit on a portable message sign.

In many other states that actually know what they're doing, they won't just tell someone on a sign to go to another freeway.

They'll have actual detour routes with multiple signs along the way reaffirming the detour route. Is ODOT doing that or are they expecting people to pull up their phones or automatically know where these other freeways are?

[jn1780]

They started demolishing the westbound side of the 50th street bridge.

[OklahomaNick]

They started demolishing the westbound side of the 50th street bridge.

Any idea how long here will not be a bridge on 50th Street?

[Snowman]

Any idea how long here will not be a bridge on 50th Street?

50th westbound and eastbound seem to be separate bridges just very close together with a cap over the gap, last few weeks they have shifted both directions onto the eastbound bridge, not sure if 50th will remain open throughout the entirety of the project though.

[bombermwc]

That's what it said - but today it's switched to saying 4/26.

I dont understand why they are doing this. It's eastbound I-44 to Southboung 235 that's closing. That's one of the newer ramp sections already so i dont get why they are closing it down. Any thoughts? It's two months, so they can't really accomplish that much in 2 months.

[Anonymous.]

That currently used ramp has always been temporary. You really think they were going to go with a random asphalt ramp that is connected by concrete on both ends?

[jn1780]

South bound will be shifting to the west this summer so they need to build a temporary connection to the new alignment they are currently working. The ramp is right there where it will cross over to the new alignment so this is why it is closing now. The permanent ramp will open when everything is shifted to the west.

About 60 percent of that ramp is permanent. Its just the final connection that is temporary because it will actually go further west before it connects to the new southbound 235.