This falls in Edmond news for Edmond residents but it's within OKC city limits so I figured on posting in both areas. Not to mention it will get a better lookover in the OKC Metro thread than the Edmond thread & everybody who travels this route needs to be informed. Thank you & Goodnight.

Courtesy of kfor.com.

Broadway Extension/Memorial Road construction begins Monday (http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=8692315&nav=menu99_2_6)

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Broadway Extension reaches another milestone as construction begins on the highly anticipated highway interchange at Memorial Road and Kelly Avenue near Edmond.

The project is the next phase of Broadway Extension/I-44 corridor reconstruction and includes realigning the interchange, widening Broadway Extension and reconstructing ramps and frontage roads at Kelly Avenue and Memorial Road.

It is scheduled to be complete in late 2009. The $30 million project was awarded to Allen Contracting and Muskogee Bridge Company by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission.

Schedule (Subject to change)

Beginning Monday, July 21, motorists can expect several closures at the Broadway Extension and Memorial Road interchange:

Broadway Extension: two lanes in each direction between 122nd St. and Memorial Road;
Memorial Road: one lane in each direction at the Broadway Extension interchange;
Closed: northbound Broadway Extension off-ramp to westbound Memorial Road; and
Closed: northbound Broadway Extension on-ramp from Memorial Road.

Features of the project, including addition of a dedicated off-ramp from northbound Broadway Extension to northbound Kelly Avenue, are designed to accommodate the area's rapid growth and increased traffic volumes. Reconstruction will realign Kelly Avenue into a continuous street, minimize traffic tie-ups and increase the carrying capacity of the corridor.

With 65,000 cars per day, drivers in the area are urged to find an alternate route as construction crews mobilize. Because the corridor is narrow, space around the work zone is limited. Motorists are asked to use extreme caution when driving near construction crews.

Speed limits will be reduced to 45 miles an hour with lower speed limits in transition as necessary. Drivers are asked to heed warning signs, slow down and be aware of work crews.

Throughout construction, all businesses in the corridor will remain accessible. Signs directing traffic to these locations will be in place. If traveling through the interchange, drivers are asked to allow extra time and are reminded traffic fines double in work zones.

Message boards are located in advance of construction areas and provide real-time traffic conditions. Daily travel advisories, including detours, will be issued before future closures affect traffic. To avoid congested areas, Edmond and northwest Oklahoma City commuters should consider using alternate routes.

Detour and alternate routes include:
Alternate routes: I-35 (east); Lake Hefner Parkway (west)
East and westbound traffic: 33rd St. in Edmond; 122nd St. in OKC (route could change)
North and southbound traffic: Santa Fe Ave.; Eastern Ave.

In hopes of minimizing driver inconvenience, ODOT has included contract incentives to reduce the number of days construction affects motorists. The incentive also includes penalties should construction continue longer than the contract allows.

Additionally, construction on the Broadway Extension corridor's previous phase at 36th St. in Oklahoma City is scheduled to be complete in the next few months.

Daily traffic advisories detailing temporary road closures can be found on the ODOT Web site at Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation (http://www.okladot.state.ok.us).

For additional information or schedule/route changes visit Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation (http://www.okladot.state.ok.us)



So for those of you that may not live in Edmond but travel there for business you are now aware of this.