The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[SkyWestOKC]

No....

[Doug Loudenback]

Any idea what the signage will be like? Hopefully like Norman's I-35 stretch with the "water-pipe" signs and modern looking lights overlooking the freeway.

Thanks for the pics earlywine!

I've not been to Norman in awhile. Is this what you mean by water-pipe signs?

[OKCDrummer77]

^^ Yes, they look a lot like that.

[metro405]

I was thinking it was a project scheduled to be completed 2014 or 2016

[SkyWestOKC]

It might be, I'm not too familiar with the road projects and what their timing is. There is a new interchange project for I-44 and I-235, maybe you are thinking of that?

[Thunder]

No, Doug, its thicker and natural steel color. Much thicker than pictured above.

[Snowman]

I was thinking it was a project scheduled to be completed 2014 or 2016

i40 has still been stated as 2012 the last I heard, with the boulevard being completed somewhere around 2014.

[earlywinegareth]

Some pics from today...basically an update to the set I did 6 weeks ago from the new Western Ave bridge: http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlywi...7626157368471/

[bombermwc]

It's nice to see some actual road on there finally. I WANNA DRIVE ON IT! God it's about to turn into such a huge mess at the junction points though......ugh.

[dcsooner]

Nothing 5 miles long should take this long to build. why does everything on Oklahoma takes years to get done?

[mcca7596]

Nothing 5 miles long should take this long to build. why does everything on Oklahoma takes years to get done?

Totally agree, especially when the current crosstown is so unstable. This isn't the norm for other states.

[rcjunkie]

Nothing 5 miles long should take this long to build. why does everything on Oklahoma takes years to get done?

planning, drawing, aquire land, move major utilities, dirt work, drainage work, business re-location, build bridges, all of this before actual road work can begin, time factor is average for this type of major highway construction.

[Thunder]

It doesn't look wide enough for 4 lanes each. Are they eliminating the shoulders?

[jn1780]

It doesn't look wide enough for 4 lanes each. Are they eliminating the shoulders?

Keep in mind that their not done yet. Concrete will eventually fill that entire space. Also, we don't have anything to establish scale so it may be a lot wider then you think it is.

[Thunder]

Keep in mind that their not done yet. Concrete will eventually fill that entire space. Also, we don't have anything to establish scale so it may be a lot wider then you think it is.

Trick of the camera.

[plmccordj]

I thought it was going to be five lanes each way. Is that wrong?

[ljbab728]

I thought it was going to be five lanes each way. Is that wrong?

No, that's correct. Much of the new freeway will be 10 lanes.

[PHXguyinOKC]

No, Doug, its thicker and natural steel color. Much thicker than pictured above.

like this?

[Pete]

Here is a good aerial tour of the construction areas from March:

http://wmstream.pbid.com/shared/i40_...ion_1_high.wmv

[bombermwc]

That video really shows you how much more is left. Especially on the west end. I understand that they had to wait for funding for each part and the purchase, design, the number of bridges, etc. But it's still frustrating to see that little done after that amount of time. All the while we're still stuck on the craptown bridge.

[mcca7596]

Yeah, I will be surprised if it is opened even by the end of 2012.

Also, there is an exit ramp to the new boulevard just east of Agnew; I don't see how traffic goes under there, there are multiple columns.

[Watson410]

They are actually further along than that video showed.. The west end is a lot closer to being finished than the east end. The Shields bridge is finally 100% open.. The railroads tracks on the east section are now finished and moved to the north side. The concrete between Western and Penn is completely poured and ready to go (besides the center median and I think concrete around the storm drains). Now that the train tracks are completely moved, I believe all they have left is grade and pour.

[jn1780]

On the extreme east end, they started placing the beams needed to widen the I-40 bridge that goes over I-235. They are also about to shift the lanes to build the center pier for the Lincoln bridge.

[SkyWestOKC]

Too bad nothing will be done about the I-40/I-44 interchange. I don't even think it is on the ODOT 8-year plan..... will it last that long? Seems to at least need some serious surface work done.

[rcjunkie]

That video really shows you how much more is left. Especially on the west end. I understand that they had to wait for funding for each part and the purchase, design, the number of bridges, etc. But it's still frustrating to see that little done after that amount of time. All the while we're still stuck on the craptown bridge.

The things in progress or completed are the time consuming projects (bridges, raildroad relocation, drainage, etc. once they start the actual roadway, it will speed up considerbly.