The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[JacksonW]

I agree, sounds more like a liberal bumper sticker than a "teabagger". Keep demonizing the teabaggers though, it's the socialist strategem.

Yeah, the tea baggers do a great job of being intellectually dishonest without any help. If we had an old white guy as president, 85% of them would never leave the barcalounger while watching 13 hours a day of Fox.

[Kerry]

Money, Smith said, “kept rolling in” ... “they just grew programs ...They kept passing and approving programs. Teacher raises, early childhood education and more.”

Kerry, Where do you want to see spending reductions made? Do you agree with Mr. Smith from the article you quoted where he talks about the money we wasted on teacher raises and early childhood education?

So you are happy with doubling the state government budget in just 5 years? How about returning funding and programs to 2004 levels. Oklahoma has 2004 level revenue they should have 2004 level expenses. This isn't economic rocket science.

[mugofbeer]

Yeah, the tea baggers do a great job of being intellectually dishonest without any help. If we had an old white guy as president, 85% of them would never leave the barcalounger while watching 13 hours a day of Fox.

Sounds like you can't make a factual statement without resorting to demonizing, insulting and name calling. Besides, what does this have to do with The New I-40 (construction updates)? If you want to be political, move to a political thread.

[king183]

Here's what I'd like: some magical new source of revenue that will allow us to complete I-40 and tear down the current Crosstown by the middle of 2011. I'm no construction expert, which probably explains why I'm always so baffled it takes so f'ing long to finish these projects.

[metro]

Odot

[king183]

Odot

Good point. Very good point. It boggles my mind and frustrates me.

[Larry OKC]

You both hit on it. Between federal funding issues, cost over runs (it has doubled) and ODOT, it is amazing that any projects actually get completed. ODOT hinted that the oft repeated 2012 date (itself a delay, see below) may be pushed back to federal funding issues.

The I-40 Crosstown, estimated at $360 million, is expected to be complete in 2008 with construction of the new boulevard taking an additional two years. The timetable could be affected by availability of funding.

S U R P R I S E !

[Watson410]

So is the completion date still 2012?

[kevinpate]

So is the completion date still 2012?

Unless it gets changed ... again.

[LordGerald]

Unless it gets changed ... again.

It is still 2012. Whether that's January 1, or December 31, the new I-40 will open sometime in the year 2012. That's directly from the project manager at ODOT.

[Larry OKC]

It is still 2012. Whether that's January 1, or December 31, the new I-40 will open sometime in the year 2012. That's directly from the project manager at ODOT.

When did he say that?

Here is the article from last month

Budget cuts could hamper Oklahoma transportation projects (Oklahoman, 4/18/10)
NewsOK

Funding cuts could push back the completion date on major projects such as Oklahoma City’s Interstate 40 Crosstown realignment and improvements to Interstate 244 in Tulsa by at least a year, Ridley said.

[kinggober]

Oklahoma Department of Transportation head says budget crunch won't slow projects

Read more: Oklahoma Department of Transportation head says budget crunch won't slow projects | NewsOK.com

[Caboose]

Yeah, the tea baggers do a great job of being intellectually dishonest without any help. If we had an old white guy as president, 85% of them would never leave the barcalounger while watching 13 hours a day of Fox.

Hail Mary!

[Larry OKC]

Oklahoma Department of Transportation head says budget crunch won't slow projects

Read more: Oklahoma Department of Transportation head says budget crunch won't slow projects | NewsOK.com

Good to hear, but anything Ridley says you have to consider the source...he seems to flip-flop a lot. Remember during the push to raise the gas tax, he said Oklahoma was several billion (maybe even multi-billion) behind and then the tax failed and the legislature increased funding (but not near the amount we were behind) and suddenly ODOTs problems were over.

Just did a quick read but still didn't see any mention of the replacement Boulevard being funded.

[kevinpate]

...
Just did a quick read but still didn't see any mention of the replacement Boulevard being funded.

Is it even on their current 8 year plan? I'm thinking not.

[LordGerald]

Is it even on their current 8 year plan? I'm thinking not.

It's not. The demolition of the olde I-40 is funded, but the boulevard construction is not on the 8-year plan.

[OKCisOK4me]

It's not. The demolition of the olde I-40 is funded, but the boulevard construction is not on the 8-year plan.

I'm fine with that. We don't need a boulevard. There's already two east/west streets within a 1/2 mile of each other. They may not be major but it's not like we need another street bisecting those. Like I've said before, we need to worry more about the streets coming up from the new I-40 location when it gets finished. Both Robinson and Walker are in horrible condition down in that area. Not only is the area blighted, the roads are too!

[mburlison]

I live in Plano now, but as I type this am back in town to work for a few days... it's amazing to me the difference in approach to road projects there. The 121 project, which by Texas standards evidently 'moved slow' seemed to me like lightening compared to this new I-40 project. When they let a project down there, it's absolutely amazing the size of the contractors (Sinacola for example) --- this project, here, just should not be taking this long.

[Larry OKC]

I’m fine with that. We don’t need a boulevard. There’s already two east/west streets within a 1/2 mile of each other. They may not be major but it’s not like we need another street bisecting those. Like I’ve said before, we need to worry more about the streets coming up from the new I-40 location when it gets finished. Both Robinson and Walker are in horrible condition down in that area. Not only is the area blighted, the roads are too!

I agree and think the Boulevard would be better aligned on one of the N/S exits from I-40 rather than an E/W one (but that might interfere w/the Mayor's preferred choice for the Convention Center).

I really wish someone in the media would ask the Mayor why he thinks the Boulevard is so important. He has mentioned multiple times that it is important but has never explained WHY? It just appears to be a given in his mind.

Mayor Mick Cornett Looks Ahead – Downtown, Core to Shore | OKC Central

The park and the boulevard are the lynchpins, and they serve as the catalyst for future retail, housing, and a potential Convention Center, which I’ll discuss in a moment.

SpiritBank - Full News

To me the boulevard has a distinct timetable that can’t be altered ... the boulevard is the most important element of Core to Shore. The boulevard will become the address and allow for downtown retail to get a signature foothold. The park needs to open up at the time of the boulevard. Ideally, I’d like to see the park and boulevard open at the same time in 2014. I think this will be a catalyst for downtown momentum.

Can’t find the link now but recall Mayor Cornett saying something to the effect, that the Park & Boulevard were critical, that without them, Downtown grinds to a halt. if that is true, how have we gotten along for over 100 years without them?

Supposedly the Boulevard will be the “gateway into the City” but with the relocation of I-40 5 blocks to the south, are people going to get off at the 1-40/I-44 junction and drive thru a lot of city, stop and go traffic to get to downtown? Or are they going to stay on I-40 and exit off one of the closest exits and just drive the 5 blocks north (one of the chief reasons given for the MAPS 3 Park, having something nicer for people to look at than what is there now).

By putting the Boulevard along the side of the Park, rather then the top, could make better use for the prime residential/mixed use that the ULI recommended (instead of the C.C. going there). They didn't seem to have a problem with the Boulevard where the Mayor wants it but made several suggestions to modify it it. Just seems like reorienting it would make more sense IMO

[rcjunkie]

I agree and think the Boulevard would be better aligned on one of the N/S exits from I-40 rather than an E/W one (but that might interfere w/the Mayor's preferred choice for the Convention Center).

I really wish someone in the media would ask the Mayor why he thinks the Boulevard is so important. He has mentioned multiple times that it is important but has never explained WHY? It just appears to be a given in his mind.

Mayor Mick Cornett Looks Ahead – Downtown, Core to Shore | OKC Central



SpiritBank - Full News


Can’t find the link now but recall Mayor Cornett saying something to the effect, that the Park & Boulevard were critical, that without them, Downtown grinds to a halt. if that is true, how have we gotten along for over 100 years without them?

Supposedly the Boulevard will be the “gateway into the City” but with the relocation of I-40 5 blocks to the south, are people going to get off at the 1-40/I-44 junction and drive thru a lot of city, stop and go traffic to get to downtown? Or are they going to stay on I-40 and exit off one of the closest exits and just drive the 5 blocks north (one of the chief reasons given for the MAPS 3 Park, having something nicer for people to look at than what is there now).

By putting the Boulevard along the side of the Park, rather then the top, could make better use for the prime residential/mixed use that the ULI recommended (instead of the C.C. going there). They didn't seem to have a problem with the Boulevard where the Mayor wants it but made several suggestions to modify it it. Just seems like reorienting it would make more sense IMO

There he goes again, making false accusations. The Mayor has always stated that as of now, no site has been selected, why not give it a rest until he does.

[OKCisOK4me]

Glad somebody agrees with me. If they still want to make the elaborate tie ins to a boulevard, do it to Reno and like the North Canadian River, just change the name of the street through downtown OKC. Fix Reno up and make it the grand boulevard...

[betts]

I'm all for the boulevard if the boulevard part of it is the emphasis and the street part of it is downplayed (i.e. no more than four total lanes). I have zero interest in it being a big thoroughfare and think it will actually have a negative effect on development if that is the case. It will divide C2S from the CBD for pedestrians, which I think is a huge mistake.

[kevinpate]

I'm not following at all how OKC mayor, or anyone, can think the blvd. could be in place come 2014. Sounds like the 8 year plan is at squeek by potential at best, so how does such a project, get added, bumped to the top of the priority stack and get done, particularly when the getting the old elevated crosstown out of the way can't begin until the new crosstown is fully functional?

Just seems like a new timetable is mandatory at this point.

[Larry OKC]

There he goes again, making false accusations. The Mayor has always stated that as of now, no site has been selected, why not give it a rest until he does.

What "false accusations" are you talking about? The Mayor has been fairly outspoken on the subject (but has admittedly backed off a bit, the current City line is that no site has been selected). Don't believe me, ask Steve.

Even if a sight hasn't been formally selected, that still doesn't change the fact that it is the Mayor's preferred choice. From as far back as the Core to Shore report.

I am still waiting for your detailed response of a post I made quite a while back where you said there were so many things wrong with my post you didn't know where to begin. Everything in the post was factually correct.

[jn1780]

I'm fine with that. We don't need a boulevard. There's already two east/west streets within a 1/2 mile of each other. They may not be major but it's not like we need another street bisecting those. Like I've said before, we need to worry more about the streets coming up from the new I-40 location when it gets finished. Both Robinson and Walker are in horrible condition down in that area. Not only is the area blighted, the roads are too!

I agree. A boulevard would be like having two interstates. If they thought all the downtown traffic would use the new boulevard why would they need to make the new I-40 as wide as it is. They need to just finish I-40 and re-evaluate traffic flows.

Of course they already budgeted and even built some of the overpasses that are used to access the new I-40 from the boulevard.