Wow, OKC's roads are smooth

[Spartan]

I just got back to Ohio after spending a week back home. While there are some rare bumpy spots, the roads were all so incredibly smooth in OKC, even to an extent that I didn't quite recall. When you consider how much money OKC spends on road pavement maintenance (almost all of its bond projects), it makes sense. Living in a state where potholes are the norm, not the exception, also puts things into perspective. In fact I think OKC's roads are far smoother than those of any city north of it...even very affluent ones like Boston which has potholes you wouldn't believe.

And so there we have it. I just wanted to start an appreciation thread for how smooth OKC's roads are, and perhaps next a fan club if there should be enough interest. There should be because OKCers spend so much time on them..

Though, perhaps one thing we could improve on is everything between the road and the building face. Our development doesn't interact at all with these beautifully paved ribbons of excellence that we drive on. Maybe the occasional landscaping would also improve the driving experience and soften the harsh plains landscape we have.

But despite the harshness surrounding the roads, the pavement itself is a sight to behold. Perhaps we should shift our focus...

[venture]

It is amazing a difference when you compare the two areas. Of course OKC benefits from not having the constant assault of salt on the pavement and the longer duration freeze/thaw season they get back north.

Overall though...the roads here are in really good shape in most cases.

[bradh]

The roads are great.

The interstates are finally getting there. When I first moved here in 2009 (before all the money influx into I-35) driving through Oklahoma was ALMOST as bad as driving through Louisiana.

[adaniel]

I have to say driving back from my parents house in Dallas this weekend, I definitely noticed that, aside from a small section of rough pavement north of Pauls Valley, it was surprisingly smooth. I really can't think of any interstate in OKC that is exceptionally rough. If we can just get the interchanges fixed we'd be in business.

I think a lot of it does depend on your perspective. I remember driving some friends who were from Long Island across the 235/44 interchange. I muttered something like, why is this road so rough? They both laughed and said "where we are from this is normal!"

[bradh]

I really can't think of any interstate in OKC that is exceptionally rough. If we can just get the interchanges fixed we'd be in business.

Don't drive to Fort Smith ever? Or out just west of town on I-40? Accordion is the best way to describe parts of those stretches, but they are in the process of being remedied.

[adaniel]

^
Well to be fair I did say OKC...there are plenty of corners in this state outside the metro where the roads are atrocious.

And yes I definitely agree that 40 in the eastern part of the state is bad. I have to take it sometimes when I go to McAlester. They have fixed it up to about a mile or 2 before the Indian Nation Turnpike interchange and its by far the least favorite part of that drive...terrible pothole patches everywhere!

[OKCisOK4me]

Don't drive to Fort Smith ever? Or out just west of town on I-40? Accordion is the best way to describe parts of those stretches, but they are in the process of being remedied.

I drove to Sallisaw 2 weeks ago. It's actually pretty smooth other than a patch or two around Okemah.

[Spartan]

If we're broadening our perspective, Tulsa's roads are much rougher than ours. I believe Dallas, also, unless they've rebuilt many of them since 2011.

These things are cyclical.. I remember OKC's roads being awful for a while, esp on the southside. We're in such good shape there that we should now take time to notice it, and also point out that Tulsa's roads have always been a mess..

Remember that highways are ODOT's responsibility, not City Hall's.

[Anonymous.]

I-235/I-44 is by far the worst interstate stretch in OKC. And I am not speaking of traffic, but road quality as well.

I contacted ODOT several times about specific problems on this stretch and they don't even reply. I just replaced a front driver's side hub assembly and I don't doubt this area has a lot to do with it.

[bradh]

I-235/I-44 is by far the worst interstate stretch in OKC. And I am not speaking of traffic, but road quality as well.

I contacted ODOT several times about specific problems on this stretch and they don't even reply. I just replaced a front driver's side hub assembly and I don't doubt this area has a lot to do with it.

No offense but don't waste your time, they're not ignoring you. That entire interchange is under redevelopment. Just because you don't see a specific portion of the interchange already being worked on, doesn't mean they haven't been in planning/design for that for years.

[venture]

I-235/I-44 is by far the worst interstate stretch in OKC. And I am not speaking of traffic, but road quality as well.

I contacted ODOT several times about specific problems on this stretch and they don't even reply. I just replaced a front driver's side hub assembly and I don't doubt this area has a lot to do with it.

At least it is in the process of getting redone. 35/240 keeps getting pushed back. ODOT enjoys watching the blood flow there after the daily accidents. Some day they'll do something about it.

[adaniel]

If we're broadening our perspective, Tulsa's roads are much rougher than ours. I believe Dallas, also, unless they've rebuilt many of them since 2011.

These things are cyclical.. I remember OKC's roads being awful for a while, esp on the southside. We're in such good shape there that we should now take time to notice it, and also point out that Tulsa's roads have always been a mess..

Remember that highways are ODOT's responsibility, not City Hall's.

I'll cut most of Eastern Oklahoma a bit of a break since it is so much wetter in that part of the state. Doesn't let ODOT off the hook but I can understand why.

As far as Tulsa is concerned, that's just mismanagement by their city government. The highways are decent now that 44 is getting a needed upgrade, but it doesn't help the average Tulsan since their freeway system is pretty useless for getting around town (although its great for getting through the city).

I've always been impressed by Dallas's freeways, and they are actually doing a good job fixing the main arterials. They were much worse back when I was growing up there.

[bradh]

What they heck on they doing to 635 on the north side? Just drove through there between 75 and 35E for the first time in a while last weekend.

[Anonymous.]

No offense but don't waste your time, they're not ignoring you. That entire interchange is under redevelopment. Just because you don't see a specific portion of the interchange already being worked on, doesn't mean they haven't been in planning/design for that for years.

I know it is scheduled to be redone, but they still do patch work on it. THey just replaced one of the concrete barriers in the middle a couple weeks ago. The area I am talking about is actually where asphalt has raised against concrete creating a speedbump. This is in the southbound lanes, south of I-44 interchange. It needs to be ground down, that is all.

[Spartan]

Every time I go to Tulsa I remember Spartan how true this is. OKC seems to have a really good handle on resurfacing.

Like adaniel said, it's just a different city management competency (or lack thereof).

[Buffalo Bill]

What they heck on they doing to 635 on the north side? Just drove through there between 75 and 35E for the first time in a while last weekend.

$3.0B (+ or -) worth of improvements. A couple years budget for ODOT.

http://www.newlbj.com/documents/I635...ctOverview.pdf

[Gene]

They finally fixed the stretch of 23rd between Meridian and May. That was awful for years. They still haven't painted the lines a month later, but I'll take what I can get.

[bradh]

$3.0B (+ or -) worth of improvements. A couple years budget for ODOT.

http://www.newlbj.com/documents/I635...ctOverview.pdf

Thanks, I could tell it was gonna be some below grade lanes, but that helps.

[adaniel]

Thanks, I could tell it was gonna be some below grade lanes, but that helps.

Don't know where I read it, but I am pretty sure this is currently the biggest road construction project in the US right now. Its being financed by Spanish company Cintra, who will be collecting tolls on it for 50 years.

When its done, you'll be able to drive in toll lanes (called TEXpress lanes) that adjust their price according to congestion while the masses idle in gridlock on the main lanes. Screwy, but probably the future of highway construction in this country.

The worst part of construction is only now getting started so I would avoid the area for at least the next two years.

[bluedogok]

What they heck on they doing to 635 on the north side? Just drove through there between 75 and 35E for the first time in a while last weekend.

Is that the 26 lane monstrosity that was proposed (or variant of) a plan that was announced when I lived there in 1992. I lived off of 635 (Forest/Abrams area) so I was pretty familiar with it there.

[Spartan]

Keep in mind the Dallas metro has 7 million inhabitants.

OKC has 1 million.

[Anonymous.]

I know it is scheduled to be redone, but they still do patch work on it. THey just replaced one of the concrete barriers in the middle a couple weeks ago. The area I am talking about is actually where asphalt has raised against concrete creating a speedbump. This is in the southbound lanes, south of I-44 interchange. It needs to be ground down, that is all.

Feel the need to update this as credit is due.

ODOT actually ground down this exact section I informed them about. They must have done it Sunday night. They never replied to my inquiries, but it is great to see they're listening still.

For what it is worth, it took about a little over a month from notification of the problem, to solution. That is some good turnaround considering the conditions of interstates/highways around here.

[Larry OKC]

i don't know where you folks are experiencing all of these smooth roads (we do have some, but they are the exception and not the rule). The resurfacing work in recent years, I have experienced has been very shoddy and not any better than before it was done. Wasting hundreds of thousands if not millions in the process. We are not getting what we are paying for with the shoddy work and will end up paying for it to have to be done again years before they should.

[Plutonic Panda]

I wish they would do the roads in cement and do it right!

[UnclePete]

i don't know where you folks are experiencing all of these smooth roads (we do have some, but they are the exception and not the rule). The resurfacing work in recent years, I have experienced has been very shoddy and not any better than before it was done. Wasting hundreds of thousands if not millions in the process. We are not getting what we are paying for with the shoddy work and will end up paying for it to have to be done again years before they should.

I agree, but I have to know if Spartan's title for his thread was tongue in cheek.