I-35 / I-240 Exchange

[jn1780]

Based on estimating the needed land considering the flyovers already there, I would say that they dont have an E I-240 > N I-35 due to Dove Science Academy being in the way.

Nah, that's just value engineering. Doing the bare minimum to make sure you don't have two clovers interacting with each other. Similar to I-235/I-44. Still a significant improvement though. This has been planned long before Dove was there or even Heritage college before it.

[baralheia]

Plus the yielding for the east-to-north traffic was due to south-to-west traffic. With that merge conflict gone it should be okay. ODOT is not great at planning as you can see a stub of what would have been the east-to-north ramp on the east-to-south ramp. I

What looks like it should be a stub for the east-to-north ramp from the current east-to-south ramp is actually part of the future main eastbound lanes for I-240.

[josefromtulsa]

What looks like it should be a stub for the east-to-north ramp from the current east-to-south ramp is actually part of the future main eastbound lanes for I-240.

Good eye. I didnt notice the highway was going to be realigned slightly.

Hmm i guess I owe ODOT an apology lol

[SEMIweather]

Are they doing all of the phases together over the next couple of years, or is this going to be another neverending project completed one phase at a time such as the I-44/I-235 interchange?

[Snowman]

Are they doing all of the phases together over the next couple of years, or is this going to be another neverending project completed one phase at a time such as the I-44/I-235 interchange?

Since it looks like only phases 2 and 3 of the juncture are on the 8 year plan probably similar to I-44/I-235 interchange (though I am not sure if they still have the phases designated as 1-4, despite kind of was more of 6 with 1 broken in to sub-phases), part of the phasing is dependency on other phases being completed to keep the juncture open the whole time, but another issue is how much of the budget they can throw at one area at any given time. Granted the plan also shows resurfacing/rehabilitating the mainlines of i240 and i35 for miles in all directions of the interchange, along with some bridges along them, so are not exactly ignoring the area when not working on the juncture itself either.

[Plutonic Panda]

Are they doing all of the phases together over the next couple of years, or is this going to be another neverending project completed one phase at a time such as the I-44/I-235 interchange?

Every other phase of this project was supposed to get underway by 2025 last I heard.

[Pete]

[OKCisOK4me]

It took me a minute to orient myself... looking toward the west above. Thanks for the drone shot, Pete!

[bombermwc]

I know it doesn't look like much there, but the prep stuff is SLOWLY moving along. That's the new frontage road on the left and they're working on the new exit for Eastern (they put lights in on both sides of 240 on Eastern...arent activated yet).

You can barely see the work on the left dirt area as they start working the next phase. I'd say, it's about to start getting messy here.

[willemark01]

As someone who takes 35 - 240 basically every day, I am VERY excited for this. That Ramp H - BR D merge is one of the worst designs I’ve ever seen.

[bombermwc]

If you haven't been lately, well 240 is ripped up east of 35 now. Merged all to the westbound lanes. It's a real mess getting through there now with traffic swerving back and forth.

I can also see that they are starting on the new rail bridge. Some of the columns are in on the north side.

They are doing the prep work for drainage/etc on the east bound side so they can get to starting on the surface. I would imagine that they can do quite a bit of it while the train bridge is being worked on and then sort of fill-in after the old one is torn down.

There's really not much of anything happening anywhere else though. Maybe this section of 240 needs to be built with the new alignment before they start working on bridges over 35?

Like I said, it's slow progress, but right now it is steady progress. Better than it had been for several years. I only hope that when they do this section, they do a better job of it than they did on the western half of 240. That road is bumpier than the old one was....and you could see it was going to be from the crappy grading the did before they laid the asphalt down. I do not understand how jobs like that get approved by the state! Not to mention they never stained any of the concrete walls and they look like total crap.

[jn1780]

If you haven't been lately, well 240 is ripped up east of 35 now. Merged all to the westbound lanes. It's a real mess getting through there now with traffic swerving back and forth.

I can also see that they are starting on the new rail bridge. Some of the columns are in on the north side.

They are doing the prep work for drainage/etc on the east bound side so they can get to starting on the surface. I would imagine that they can do quite a bit of it while the train bridge is being worked on and then sort of fill-in after the old one is torn down.

There's really not much of anything happening anywhere else though. Maybe this section of 240 needs to be built with the new alignment before they start working on bridges over 35?

Like I said, it's slow progress, but right now it is steady progress. Better than it had been for several years. I only hope that when they do this section, they do a better job of it than they did on the western half of 240. That road is bumpier than the old one was....and you could see it was going to be from the crappy grading the did before they laid the asphalt down. I do not understand how jobs like that get approved by the state! Not to mention they never stained any of the concrete walls and they look like total crap.

I believe the project to rebuild the bridges over I-35 will be included with the one to build the flyovers. Similar to I-44/I-235, all of that work was packaged together. So probably looking at 1 to 2 years to start.

[Plutonic Panda]

Well, the new eight year plan doesn’t come out until around September or October, But ODOT Has requested several funding for this project, It appears they have yet again pushed back construction of the main part of this project another year. It was scheduled to begin in 2026. From what I understand, the entire remaining work packages were scheduled to be let in 2025 with construction beginning the same year. That was supposed to be the same time. The current project would be wrapping up.

No, I’m not trying to talk sh!t On ODOT because they do seem Like they have vastly improved the quality of their construction and designs. They still need to have a good talking to you about their road signs. The state of Oklahoma really needs to get their act together and better fund ODOT so they can get a lot of these projects done that needed to be done years ago.

Here is the press Request for a federal grant: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/...0Narrative.pdf

[bombermwc]

I'm still salty that the funding for that 44/35 interchange that started AFTER this project started, could have gone here to help get it done on time instead of continually dragging it out. It's like this interchange is ODOTs red headed step child for some reason.

[bison34]

I'm still salty that the funding for that 44/35 interchange that started AFTER this project started, could have gone here to help get it done on time instead of continually dragging it out. It's like this interchange is ODOTs red headed step child for some reason.

I mean, the Southside is the city's red-headed step-child. Why not the state's, as well?

[TheTravellers]

I mean, the Southside is the city's red-headed step-child. Why not the state's, as well?

From the State of the City address:

It takes awhile, but I came into office as Mayor determined to retire old stereotypes about South OKC being overlooked by public investment. And this year it was hard not to notice how many ribbons we’ve been cutting in South OKC. Just in the last two months, we’ve opened a beautiful new senior wellness center, a new Almonte library, a revitalized Woodson Park athletic complex, and a new clubhouse and state of the art driving range at Earlywine golf course. Earlier this past year we opened a brand new fire station in far Southwest OKC. And there is so much more to come. For South OKC, MAPS 4 will bring upgrades to every neighborhood park, two new parks, new youth soccer investments at Southlakes, new placemaking at Lake Draper, a state-of-the-art youth center, a new bus rapid transit line, a new trail linking to Lake Draper, bus shelters, placemaking in Capitol Hill and Stockyards, a new animal shelter, a pedestrian bridge over the river, and beautification along key highway corridors, including aesthetic upgrades to South OKC’s three highway pedestrian bridges.

[BoulderSooner]

Well, the new eight year plan doesn’t come out until around September or October, But ODOT Has requested several funding for this project, It appears they have yet again pushed back construction of the main part of this project another year. It was scheduled to begin in 2026. From what I understand, the entire remaining work packages were scheduled to be let in 2025 with construction beginning the same year. That was supposed to be the same time. The current project would be wrapping up.

No, I’m not trying to talk sh!t On ODOT because they do seem Like they have vastly improved the quality of their construction and designs. They still need to have a good talking to you about their road signs. The state of Oklahoma really needs to get their act together and better fund ODOT so they can get a lot of these projects done that needed to be done years ago.

Here is the press Request for a federal grant: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/...0Narrative.pdf

the plan is to still let them in 2025 so the schedule hasn't slipped much

Project letting will be in September 2025. Project construction will begin in January 2026 and will be complete in spring 2028.

[jn1780]

The timeline is roughly similar to I44/I235. About 6 months between phases. I'm guessing there is about a year left on the railroad bridge.

[Plutonic Panda]

the plan is to still let them in 2025 so the schedule hasn't slipped much

Thanks. That makes more sense than. I had read that as they had planned to not even let The project until 2026. Glad to know it’s technically still on schedule. With the way ODOT I’m sure they already have funding But this grant would sure help them be able to use some of the current elsewhere. I really wish this state would let ODOT take out bonds.

[rte66man]

Thanks. That makes more sense than. I had read that as they had planned to not even let The project until 2026. Glad to know it’s technically still on schedule. With the way ODOT I’m sure they already have funding But this grant would sure help them be able to use some of the current elsewhere. I really wish this state would let ODOT take out bonds.

Like they did with GARVEE? Even that was pushing it.

[Plutonic Panda]

Like they did with GARVEE? Even that was pushing it.

Yeah they would have to go to the state legislator and ask for bonds because they can’t legally take out bonds on their own.

[bombermwc]

From the State of the City address:

It takes awhile, but I came into office as Mayor determined to retire old stereotypes about South OKC being overlooked by public investment. And this year it was hard not to notice how many ribbons we’ve been cutting in South OKC. Just in the last two months, we’ve opened a beautiful new senior wellness center, a new Almonte library, a revitalized Woodson Park athletic complex, and a new clubhouse and state of the art driving range at Earlywine golf course. Earlier this past year we opened a brand new fire station in far Southwest OKC. And there is so much more to come. For South OKC, MAPS 4 will bring upgrades to every neighborhood park, two new parks, new youth soccer investments at Southlakes, new placemaking at Lake Draper, a state-of-the-art youth center, a new bus rapid transit line, a new trail linking to Lake Draper, bus shelters, placemaking in Capitol Hill and Stockyards, a new animal shelter, a pedestrian bridge over the river, and beautification along key highway corridors, including aesthetic upgrades to South OKC’s three highway pedestrian bridges.

I dont think 134th and I44 is what we mean when we say South OKC. That area is doing just fine on its own with development/etc. When people say South Side...they mean north of 89th (The OKCPS zone). Much like NE OKC, it's just not given much investment. The biggest thing done is probably the park revitalization near 29th and 44. And yes, that was pretty big and the newer fire station there. But there is a lot of work left to do to make the residents of that zone of the city feel included in planning. A lot of what the city does in this zone, is more about removing structures than rehabbing. Now, I realize that if there isn't a commercial interest that you can't force it. But incentives, small business incubators, etc. those things help a lot.

[catcherinthewry]

I dont think 134th and I44 is what we mean when we say South OKC. That area is doing just fine on its own with development/etc. When people say South Side...they mean north of 89th (The OKCPS zone).

I'm not sure you should use the pronoun "we" when you can't even name Woodson Park. Personally, "I", actually being a southsider, consider south of 89th South Side every bit as much as north of 89th.

[SoonerDave]

I'm not sure you should use the pronoun "we" when you can't even name Woodson Park. Personally, "I", actually being a southsider, consider south of 89th South Side every bit as much as north of 89th.

Ditto. There is this old school notion that "real" south OKC is only north of 89th. Hogwash. I've lived on both sides of 89th and watch it grow and think it way past time to kick those old notions to the curb. S. OKC is developing as far (if not farther?) as 149th and it deserves all the consideration any other part of S. OKC gets

[bombermwc]

I think you're missing my point folks. I'm not trying to disconnect the two to say that far south OKC isn't developing. In fact I clearly said that it was. It's an extension of Moore on the west side as part of the MPS district and is a very attractive place to live. Lot's going on there.

My point was, that that far SW OKC area growing, shouldn't be a claim for an official to say that South OKC is getting the attention it needs. It would be like saying if NW OKC near Deer Creek is developing, then the work not being done near somewhere like 50th is ok. Or Deep Deuce counts for NE OKC. I think you get the point there. The extremes do not count for the inner sections and are really their own areas in their own right. Far SW OKC at 149/May does not equal 44th and Western, for example.