Why is OKC turning its back on I-35?

[OKCMallen]

And, if I'm not mistaken there are two projects going on 235 right now.

1) 23rd - 36th area
2) The interchange with Memorial Road

and this will be followed up with the redo of the 235 I-44 interchange.

We can't forget the work that happens up north.

Just goes to show that more than one thing happens at a time.

And, instead of fixing every problem all at once, I believe ODOT took the initiative to save some lives by installing cable barriers on almost every stretch of Interstate in Oklahoma.

I'm glad I'm safe, but I'm really glad it limits the places those dang cops can hang out and radar.

Plus they've been shown to save lives in a study, so that's a good thing too.

[jsibelius]

OKCTalk sponsored event. The Moon Wave at the grand opening of the Devon Tower.

"OKCTalk Rules" LOL! You know it.

[jbrown84]

It does need some attention, but I don't see it as an extremely high priority. We have terribly designed interchanges that are a more immediate priority IMO. Also, most of that stretch is sunken, so it would take major construction to widen it.

[Thunder]

"OKCTalk Rules" LOL! You know it.

We got a mind reader on here!

[Saberman]

It's certain you were not around before they built I-44 from I-40 up to 39th. That sat for 10 or 12 years with just the bridge pylons till they started work on it.

There were motorcycle trails all thought there, they all complained because they were taking away there trails. So they built them the trails on the SE corner of I-40 & I-44. Only took a couple of years to build once they started on it again.

It take a lot of money to build highways, and OK was always last to get Fed money.

[BG918]

And, if I'm not mistaken there are two projects going on 235 right now.

1) 23rd - 36th area
2) The interchange with Memorial Road

and this will be followed up with the redo of the 235 I-44 interchange.

We can't forget the work that happens up north.

Just goes to show that more than one thing happens at a time.

And, instead of fixing every problem all at once, I believe ODOT took the initiative to save some lives by installing cable barriers on almost every stretch of Interstate in Oklahoma.

I'm glad I'm safe, but I'm really glad it limits the places those dang cops can hang out and radar.

Any more future plans for 235 besides these projects and the 235/40/35 interchange? I wonder if their longrange plans keep that elevated portion of 235 between 15th and 26th. That presents some difficulty if there is a commuter rail station on the Edmond-Norman line for the State Capitol at 23rd.

[CuatrodeMayo]

That section is only about 20 years old. I remember it being under construction when I was a kid.

Personally, I would like to see that come down and be replaced with a boulevard similar to the one proposed for the existing I-40 crosstown, but without rebuilding the highway. DT and the capitol area look pretty shabby from that top of that bridge. Also, that would help to tie back together the medical district and capitol area with DT. That expressway has really severed those neighborhoods.

[ShiroiHikari]

Haven't they been widening I-35 from Dallas and steadily working their way north? The last time I went to Purcell, I-35 was all torn up and pretty much a mess, so I hope that's what they're doing down there.

[CCOKC]

I drive that section of I-35 once a week and it is coming along surprisingly fast for an I-35 project. They literally tore up the entire section of road north of the Purcell and replaced it. I don't think they widened it, just replaced it. Not sure why.

[Big MAC]

People talk on here about how much construction needs to be done...
I am a transplant to Oklahoma, I grew up in the NYC metropolitan area, and if you want to talk about traffic, and road construction- Oklahoma could take a few kelpful hints from its northern bretheren.

1. Speed of Construction. Has anyone tried to take SW 59th Street to the airport lately?? Probably not.. considering its been closed for over a year now. Not down to one lane-- Completely shut down. Closed. Granted I work nights - I have never seen anyone working on this road at all.

I am thoroughly impressed with the construction that has taken place on Broadway Ext and I-235. The stages of construction, and forethought and planning that went into expanding broadway extension north of 63rd Street - I thought that that project progressed very quickly. And this was followed almost immediately by the current construction between 23rd Street and up to just south of 50th Street.
Wittwer Construction has done an excellent job and always shown progress.

Why is it that here in Oklahoma road construction always takes so long to complete?

Why has one construction project on a major artery (I-235) been able to be finished- while keeping the road open to traffic -- while the reconstruction of SW59th Street continues to last forever?

Why does ODOT not mandate that construction take place at night- when the demands placed on the road are less, and the hazards to the workers are less. ????

Are there not punitive measures in the contract so as to make it advantageous to the builder to complete the project on time?

In regard to the stretch of I-35 north of I-40 to I-44--- I am glad they are finally paving it. Thats a start. Yes it does need to be widened. In order to do that in the areas that the highway is depressed below grade will require much use of eminent domain on the part of the state-- there are houses built up to the edge of the roadway between 10th and 23rd Streets on both sides- as well as a redesign of Grand Blvd. that would have to be undertaken as well.

Marc

[jason_b]

Just about all of the property from NE 36th north to the 44 junc, on the west side of 35 belongs to the city. I think the east side is actually Forest Park.

Forest Park only extends to just north of Norcrest. OKC starts again where the equipment rental place is.