Urgency of I-240/I-35 Interchange Rebulid

[SoonerDave]

I hope I will be forgiven starting a new, distinct thread on this, because I will readily acknowledge this topic has come up tangentially in some other threads. I am hoping I don't push the etiquette envelope too far by pushing this to a dedicated thread, because I've opted (to the extent one little nobody can) to make this a pet project.

The importance of this interchange project must be escalated. I'm hoping some of you who frequent this interchange, whether as a casual driver or daily commuter, might be willing to "sign on" to the thread in concurrence.

My current understanding is that the project is probably five or more years away, and then probably a two-year project once started. I realize there may be insurmountable practical obstacles to accelerating that schedule, and maybe I'm stupid for suggesting so (among myriad other possible justifications ), but I am tired of driving this stretch of highway on nearly a daily basis and regularly seeing some horrific, multi-car, body and/or car-mangling collision. The only way this is going to get resolved is to get that interchange built, and bult ASAP.

I am hoping to discover contacts at the state department of transportation (or whomever else might be willing to listen) to get this area even more vividly in the sites of those who plan and implement such projects. Maybe the effort ultimately amounts to nothing more than a polite, professional letter to a director or congressman, or a letter to the editor, or a blog, maybe all of the above, but I think we must try. I fully realize the crosstown rebuild is "the" high-profile interstate project in OKC over the next several years, and that project is overdue, but this interchange is becoming almost if not more deadly.

I don't like inflammatory adjectives like "deadly" and waving an alarmist tone, but I'm also weary of seeing these accidents at this interchange. I think this project has to be put on someone's radar and given [I]some{/i] kind of push. Maybe the effort will be for naught, but surely it won't be accelerated if no one at least tries to get the attention of those who might be able to make a difference.

SoonerDave

[proud2Bsooner]

I'm with you. There are daily accidents there. I don't think that is an exaggeration.

The issue, IMO, is that the exit that allows people to go from eastbound I-240 to southbound I-35. For the last year and a half, maybe two years, they have had it so that this exit has to yield to drivers on the southbound interchange. You used to be able to go straight to I-35 from I-240 without having to stop, slow down, or yield.

I emailed ODOT when they made the change, and I got a response from an engineer (I was surprised by that). His response was that they changed the exit because truckers on the southbound interchange can't see to yield...they have to look way back to their northwest to see if a car is coming. But the problem that this created is that the exit from I-240 backs up all the way to Shields. This area is very bad for those stuck in the Norman exit lane needing to go eastbound on I-240.

The email basically said that they agree that it is horrible, and they agreed with my assessment, but we would have to wait until the new interchange is built.

[BoulderSooner]

100% agree with you

[metro]

Sounds good to me. Keep pushing even though I'm not a regular driver in this area, it is longggggg overdue. My guess is that ODOT or the state doesn't have the funds. We don't even have a small fraction of the funds Texas uses on their roads and bridges, when they seem to put tons of them up overnight, when it takes us decades to get one major project going. Keep writing your politicians and urge them to keep fighting for things like this and to try harder to secure federal dollars, we all know Inhofe and Istook sure didn't do much on this front. Istook was too busy sending our money to Utah.

[soonerfever]

While I agree with you 100% that this needs to get done ASAP I wouldn't plan on it happening soon. I read an AP article the other day talking about the Minneapolis bridge collapse. They did a state by state study of all the bridges needing to be replaced and the progress of the rebuilds. Oklahoma ranked in the bottom three at 15%. The article said that the worst and heaviest traveled bridge is being replaced as we speak, I-40 Crosstown. They said that this project was so huge and costly that it is affecting all other trasportation projects. I have since thrown the paper away but I believe they actually interviewed someone from ODOT. While I could be wrong about future plans I am probably not going to get to excited about seeing much done until the Crosstown gets completed.

[Jacob_Daddy]

So do I, in fact my brother in law would frequent the interchange since he lives near I-240 and Sooner, but goes around the north side of Crossroads Mall to avoid it. It may have been well designed for 25 years ago, but we have so many more cars on the road now, and people are driving so much faster. It defintely needs to be rebuilt quickly.

[bombermwc]

And now with Asphalt being so high, the costs will be even higher. Granted the interchanges don't have much asphalt to them, but every little bit is an excuse for someone to delay.

[OKCMallen]

agreed. Pretty dangerous.

[OKCTalker]

My "pucker factor" goes way up when going from eastbound I-240 to southbound I-35. Traffic is almost always backed up and drivers are consistently braking late and running onto the shoulder.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Sign me up man. I have to hit that intersection all the time (I live east of there along 240).

Half the time, I'll exit Eastern when traveling westbound 240, and go a little north to 59th...Then go over to I-35 instead of dealing with that mousetrap intersection.

[JWil]

While I agree with you 100% that this needs to get done ASAP I wouldn't plan on it happening soon. I read an AP article the other day talking about the Minneapolis bridge collapse. They did a state by state study of all the bridges needing to be replaced and the progress of the rebuilds. Oklahoma ranked in the bottom three at 15%. The article said that the worst and heaviest traveled bridge is being replaced as we speak, I-40 Crosstown. They said that this project was so huge and costly that it is affecting all other trasportation projects. I have since thrown the paper away but I believe they actually interviewed someone from ODOT. While I could be wrong about future plans I am probably not going to get to excited about seeing much done until the Crosstown gets completed.

Yeah, nothing with the Southside junction will get done until the Crosstown is finished. Hence the long wait.

[ssandedoc]

I agree something needs to be done here and ASAP.

[swilki]

agreed. this intersection is horrible. anyone how any idea of what the proposed solution is?

[ShiroiHikari]

I'm with you. There are daily accidents there. I don't think that is an exaggeration.

The issue, IMO, is that the exit that allows people to go from eastbound I-240 to southbound I-35. For the last year and a half, maybe two years, they have had it so that this exit has to yield to drivers on the southbound interchange. You used to be able to go straight to I-35 from I-240 without having to stop, slow down, or yield.

I emailed ODOT when they made the change, and I got a response from an engineer (I was surprised by that). His response was that they changed the exit because truckers on the southbound interchange can't see to yield...they have to look way back to their northwest to see if a car is coming. But the problem that this created is that the exit from I-240 backs up all the way to Shields. This area is very bad for those stuck in the Norman exit lane needing to go eastbound on I-240.

The email basically said that they agree that it is horrible, and they agreed with my assessment, but we would have to wait until the new interchange is built.

Quoted for emphasis. This, in my opinion, is the most dangerous spot on OKC highways. Every time I go that way I'm scared I'm going to get crashed into and die.

Why don't they change who has to yield? Why do the people coming from 240 have to yield? They should make the people coming from the other way yield or stop or something. Do you all think that would help? Because getting smashed into from behind by people going 70 MPH sounds like a bad idea to me.

[jbrown84]

It's a terrible design. It doesn't work for either direction to have to yield.

[JWil]

What they need to do is this:

-- Shut down the current entrance ramp from Shields to I-240 East
-- Shut down the current exit from I-240 E to Shields
-- Create an entrance ramp from the service road between Santa Fe and Shields
-- Use the current exit from I-240 E to Santa Fe into a split Santa Fe/Shields exit

Yes, this would erase the option of Shields to I-240, but the fact is Shields just broke off from I-35 a mile or two southbound. Just let them go to the other side and use a Texas Turnaround or something. In the grand scheme, closing that entrance would solve a TON of problems. Would it suck for those who need it? Yeah, but there are so many entrances/exits all right there just to the west that it's not the end of the world. And if you're on I-240, you'd still have access to Shields, you'd just have to exit at Santa Fe and use the Frontage Road. And if you need to get on I-35 from Shields, then follow that Frontage around to SE 82nd St. and get on there. (As an example, think about how you can't get on I-44 West (runs south) from NW 39th Expressway/Rt. 66 East anymore.

Seems like the best and quickest option at this point. Then look at re-opening it later.

[plmccordj]

I have seen the renderings and it looks like the same old stuff. I am usually an advocate of using local companies to do projects but I have noticed a pattern. The construction never fixes problems. Instead of making the necessary changes to eliminate cloverleafs and on ramps merging right next to the exits they just rebuild the same thing. In most cities, they standardized by making all exits on the right and make flyovers to accomplish this. One of the biggest complaints about Oklahoma City I hear from out of town truck drivers is that we have exits on the left and when we do have them on the right, we always put an on ramp about 100 yards away from an off ramp. Maybe I am complaining too much but those things are so irritating. I-240&I-35, and the I-44&I235 interchanges must be the worst designed interchanges in America. Just this once I say hire an out of state company to build it so the locals will see how it is supposed to be and the local companies may get a clue how an interchanges is supposed to be.

[Bobby821]

NOPE, I don't want the interchange changed one bit ever. This interchange has been like this my whole life. I DO NOT want them changeing it or taking away more of our land to build a road or anything else for that matter!! Leave it alone and I hope it stays even years away if not more...

[Martin]

nope, i don't want the interchange changed one bit ever. this interchange has been like this my whole life. i do not want them changeing it or taking away more of our land to build a road or anything else for that matter!! leave it alone and i hope it stays even years away if not more...

-M

[CuatrodeMayo]

NOPE, I don't want the interchange changed one bit ever. This interchange has been like this my whole life. I DO NOT want them changeing it or taking away more of our land to build a road or anything else for that matter!! Leave it alone and I hope it stays even years away if not more...

Troll.

[Bobby821]

For the flippin last time I am NOT a Troll, can I not have an opinion about matters that is not in with the rest of the Click. I for one do not see an issue with the interchange it has been like this my entire life and i do not see any reason for changing it. If people would not be morons and would slow down and pay attention a lot if wrecks would not happen. Plain and simple as that !!

[SeinfeldBlock]

IMO, clovers do not work. Shift down, floor it, shift fast.

Look at 44/235. That's a joke, too.

[sgt. pepper]

clovers do not work.

amen amen and amen!!

Look at 44/235---that is an ultimate joke, too.

i think this interchange is more in need than 240/35. it is also on the board. does anybody know when this is suppose to get started?

[sgt. pepper]

and i think the best designed interchange in the city is 44/40...no clovers and traffic runs smooth.

[Bobby821]

I Love clovers and they look neat from the air too.