This shows the phasing, although they are already way behind the original schedule.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235051118.jpg

I'm a little confused.. exactly what phase are we in right now? The new rail bridge seems to hint that we're in phase 4A (2016), but phase "7" was completed a long time ago right? Or are we in phase 8?

Phase 4a was just completed - new rail bridge. We are currently in Phase 7. While Phase 2a has been completed for several years.

I'm a little confused.. exactly what phase are we in right now? The new rail bridge seems to hint that we're in phase 4A (2016), but phase "7" was completed a long time ago right? Or are we in phase 8?

that phasing map is outdated. Catch22 Explained it well and perhaps we could see future phases expedited if OkDOT gets more funding which is possible if Oklahoma gets its budget situation more solid. OkDOT in the past has moved projects up forward and we'll know more in September or October when they release their update of the 7yr plan.

I'm a little confused.. exactly what phase are we in right now? The new rail bridge seems to hint that we're in phase 4A (2016), but phase "7" was completed a long time ago right? Or are we in phase 8?

4A and 7 is occurring concurrently. As soon as the 50th st bridge is open, 4A will be complete.

I believe the bridge over I-44 is currently scheduled to begin in 2019, but as I said, there could be a possibility they move it up, but I'm not holding my breath.

The next two phases are penciled in to be let in November. If this date holds, it will only be a couple of months between actual construction. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully that light isn't an oil crash and a major decline in Oklahoma's economy.

This current phase won't even be done until the fall, so I don't see them starting the new I-235 bridge any earlier than 2019. Same thing with the last phase, they are going to want to finish the main interchange structure first before working on Lincoln/I-44/NB 235 ramps.

The next two phases are penciled in to be let in November. If this date holds, it will only be a couple of months between actual construction. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully that light isn't an oil crash and a major decline in Oklahoma's economy.

This current phase won't even be done until the fall, so I don't see them starting the new I-235 bridge any earlier than 2019. Same thing with the last phase, they are going to want to finish the main interchange structure first before working on Lincoln/I-44/NB 235 ramps.
That makes sense and I hope that is still in the plans. For some reason, I had thought the next phase was delayed in light of the recent funding diversions that OkDOT suffered from.

That makes sense and I hope that is still in the plans. For some reason, I had thought the next phase was delayed in light of the recent funding diversions that OkDOT suffered from.

Well the current phase was and that bumped everything back a year. The next two phases logically go together so I don't see them keeping them separated too far apart

I take the current EB 44 to NB Broadway Extension cloverleaf loop every day, and I can't quite imagine how they could do phase 8 without phase 2B at the same time.

I also can't really imagine how I'm going to get to work without going a completely different route for a while, but that is a separate question.

ODOT just posted on Facebook that the 50th St bridge over I235 is now open.

Yes, 50th Street is open:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/50th052018a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/50th052018b.jpg

Side topic and random but is there a city system map that shows all the underground waterways? I had a rental house at 36th and Francis just SW of here with a drainage outlet on the north side of the street. I have no idea where the inlet is (if there even is one). Same with the one that pops up in Edgemere park.

50th Street is finally open??? :::doing a happy dance::: I work on 48th just west of Lincoln and this has made post office runs and lunch runs so difficult. This is great news!! I may have to go to the post office this afternoon just because it isn't a 15 minute trip anymore!

Overhead signage is going up and you can see them moving fast on the southbound entrance ramp from 50th.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/235060318.jpg

They have also made good progress on the SB outer lanes and the they have moved all the dirt where the NB outer lanes will go.

Decorative retaining wall is going up on the east side. Sound barrier wall is almost done on the west side.

The really need to wrap up all of this.

The big projects are done and not it's just a matter of paving and some finishing touches.

Yes, 50th Street is open:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/50th052018b.jpg

Can somebody tell me what the piece meal wall on the east side of 235, just north of the 50th street bridge is for? They have a large indention, probably 20 feet or so) and then they are building a wall up. You can see the start of it at the bottom left of the pic above.

I was wondering about that myself.

Can somebody tell me what the piece meal wall on the east side of 235, just north of the 50th street bridge is for? They have a large indention, probably 20 feet or so) and then they are building a wall up. You can see the start of it at the bottom left of the pic above.

I believe the intention is where the tunnel boring machine was lowered down. There’s a large drainage conduit that drains north to the Deep Fork to alleviate the issues that were present under the old RR bridge. The slopes were stabilized with a soil nail wall, and that void is being built up with a mechanically stabilized earth wall.

Yes, 50th Street is open:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/50th052018a.jpg

I noticed today that the newly renovated 16th Street bridge over I-44 has bike lanes and conflict paint. Would have been nice to see such a thing here. Why the inconsistency?

I noticed today that the newly renovated 16th Street bridge over I-44 has bike lanes and conflict paint. Would have been nice to see such a thing here. Why the inconsistency?

Because that 16th Street bridge was part of the MAPS3 Will Rogers Bike Trail project.

OH! Didn't catch that. But still....

Southbound was shifted onto new payment last night. This weekend, Northbound will be shifted to the temp lanes southbound use to occupy . Then all of permanent northbound lanes will be built. It will be nice when northbound isn't closed due to flooding.

OH! Didn't catch that. But still....

@shawnw - I support your point because 50th Street directly connects at the north end of the Katy Trail, a bike path that runs south to NE 4th Street, then west to downtown. Making 50th Street more bicycle-friendly makes a lot of sense to me.

Southbound was shifted onto new payment last night. This weekend, Northbound will be shifted to the temp lanes southbound use to occupy . Then all of permanent northbound lanes will be built. It will be nice when northbound isn't closed due to flooding.

Thanks for the info.

At this point, they really need to put the hammer down and finish.

There is still tons of work to do on the actual intersection itself and it would be nice if this could all be completed during my lifetime.

Thanks for the info.

At this point, they really need to put the hammer down and finish.

There is still tons of work to do on the actual intersection itself and it would be nice if this could all be completed during my lifetime.

Pete, are you saying that you don't expect to live to be 150 years old?! :wink:

Pete, are you saying that you don't expect to live to be 150 years old?! :wink:

And you guys thought I was joking when I said this!!!: :o


Hey who knows, maybe by the time this project is finished Elon's Boring Company will have their machines up and running (for cheap!) and let us tunnel from the OKC Underground to the Edmond/Norman/MWC/Yukon and BNSF won't be a factor.

Hahha... I know, wishful thinking.

...By the time this is ACTUALLY finished, we'll have flying cars and highways will be obsolete and flying car users will laugh at the irony of calling automobile bridges "fly-overs". That seems more likely.

Does it bother anyone else that the panels in the wall on the west side aren't all the same color? Some are gray and some are tan. Will these even out over time?

Does it bother anyone else that the panels in the wall on the west side aren't all the same color? Some are gray and some are tan. Will these even out over time?
I don't think they've finished painting them all yet...

Does it bother anyone else that the panels in the wall on the west side aren't all the same color? Some are gray and some are tan. Will these even out over time?

They are not finished painting them. They had to take some of the panels out because they weren't the right pattern. They all will be painted to match the wall on the west side to the south of the construction area.

Of course this makes me want to know who's going to repaint them when they look dingy and are flaking (like the aforementioned section).

Any updates or new images?

Any updates or new images?

The 50th street on ramp is open and they are currently paving the permanent northbound lanes.

This particular segment is getting close to completion. I would say next month it will be back to three or more lanes.

Are they not going expanding the bridge to 3 lanes?

Are they not going expanding the bridge to 3 lanes?
That's a different phase of this multi-year/decade project.

Are they not going expanding the bridge to 3 lanes?

Yes they are. It should be starting within the next year or two. I suspect they will combine the remaining phases into one, but I’m not sure on that. That will also reconstruct the Lincoln BLVD interchange and add direct access ramps from Lincoln to I-235 North to Edmond. Should be handy for some.

Yes they are. It should be starting within the next year or two. I suspect they will combine the remaining phases into one, but I’m not sure on that. That will also reconstruct the Lincoln BLVD interchange and add direct access ramps from Lincoln to I-235 North to Edmond. Should be handy for some.

Last i saw the next two phases (flyovers and mainline) were tentatively scheduled for the November letting next month!! Hopefully that holds true.

Last i saw the next two phases (flyovers and mainline) were tentatively scheduled for the November letting next month!! Hopefully that holds true.
Hopefully so! That would be nice. OkDOT has seen a decent rise in their budget, so that could fast track some projects. I’m specifically hoping the Waterloo interchange project gets bumped up.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i235100618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i235100618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i235100618c.jpg

Those Corten RR truss spans are developing a nice rich color since being installed.

really like the aesthetics of the access ramp

At some point I'd love to see more of exit area north of 50th since that is the active area at this point!

It's absurd how long it has taken ODOT to complete this. Also, I would say about a third of the time traffic is completely stopped up or is moving at a crawl through there because of an accident. Will be glad to see it done.

It's absurd how long it has taken ODOT to complete this. Also, I would say about a third of the time traffic is completely stopped up or is moving at a crawl through there because of an accident. Will be glad to see it done.

I may be wrong but I think the speed is dependent on money. Once the money comes in they bid the project. We have to wait for Fed money which the project is not funded all at once like larger states. Being a small state we have to piggyback on major funding bills at Fed level where the big states dictate things. In Dallas they get funded up front and can go 24/7/365. We can’t bid out what we don’t have the Fed money for. Unless we want to bypass Feds and pay for all ourself which will never happen.

Thats why all the Fed roads take forever here its about getting the Fed money. And then OK has to divy it up around the state too. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.

Another point about this project and traffic. If one thinks about it this interchange is a throttle right now. Be careful your wishes. What is gonna happen once this is done is in morning the Edmond/north traffic is gonna get to downtown faster. Well, thats a ton more traffic needing to get off at limited exits and those off ramps/side roads can’t handle that extra volume. So instead of sitting at the 44/235 area you will sit at the 23rd street overpass area stopped. And likewise, in the afternoon rush a ton of traffic wants to go turnpike west but need to merge right to get to the 1 lane overpass. So all that traffic which sped up from downtown is not gonna have the 44/235 throttle and thus will back up a few miles or more from the turnpike onramp. So you might slow down/stop south of Hefner going north on 235. Eliminate the current throttle and it only moves the jam somewhere else.

When they expanded the turnpike a few or so years ago they should have put a left exit or made it 2 lanes. They never thought ahead to how traffic will move faster to another choke point.

Look at turnpike eastbound at Western off ramp (in afternoon) for an example of what will happen at both ends of 235. Its backed up practically onto the turnpike. And Chisolm Creek has a ton more growing to do plus Costo and other new builds. The off roads can’t handle the traffic now, at least during rush hour.

Be careful your wishes. What is gonna happen once this is done is in morning the Edmond/north traffic is gonna get to downtown faster. Well, thats a ton more traffic needing to get off at limited exits and those off ramps/side roads can’t handle that extra volume.

Yea I already feel that the East side of downtown access to the highway isn't all that great if you are coming from the West side. Everyone gets funneled into two points, then once you get on, you immediately hit a backup at 23rd and if you don't high that one, go 1/4 mile and you hit the next one. More often than not, I stick in the neighborhood streets until I get to 36th.

I like the fact that the 50th Street overpass has a span just to the west of the BNSF tracks to allow for double tracking. It won't be cheap to add a new bridge over 235, the Deep Fork, and 44, but at least they didn't preclude that from happening.

Weird they didn’t include bike lanes in the 50st overpass. But it is nice they allowed for double tracking. I noticed that as well.

It's absurd how long it has taken ODOT to complete this. Also, I would say about a third of the time traffic is completely stopped up or is moving at a crawl through there because of an accident. Will be glad to see it done.

By this, do you mean this phase? I think they're actually ahead of schedule on this phase. The only way to go faster would be to close a full lane of traffic, which would make the backups far worse.

Good news, the plans are up for bidding for the next two phases of this project in November! Not so good news (I think anyway), just checked the striping plans and NB 235 mainline will narrow from 3 to 2 lanes just north of the interchange to allow for a double lane on-ramp (I44 EB flyover and WB to I235NB). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/a2018/plans1811/530_1811_NHPPI-2350-(009)PM_0903327/246-0903327-SIGNING%20AND%20STRIPING%20(7).pdf

Not so good news (I think anyway), just checked the striping plans and NB 235 mainline will narrow from 3 to 2 lanes just north of the interchange to allow for a double lane on-ramp (I44 EB flyover and WB to I235NB).Surely that won't be permanent, right?

Time will tell, but the marking plans in the link are the final (not temporary) marking layout. Unless it's change-ordered mid-project or the final plan sets (online says they're not the plans to bid with) change i don't think that'll be moving.

Kind of defeats the purpose of widening the road to six lanes to remove the bottleneck.

LOL, it's hilarious how pathetic ODOT is

Good news, the plans are up for bidding for the next two phases of this project in November! Not so good news (I think anyway), just checked the striping plans and NB 235 mainline will narrow from 3 to 2 lanes just north of the interchange to allow for a double lane on-ramp (I44 EB flyover and WB to I235NB). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/contracts/a2018/plans1811/530_1811_NHPPI-2350-(009)PM_0903327/246-0903327-SIGNING%20AND%20STRIPING%20(7).pdf

There is room to make adjustments for the I-235 NB Lanes, but at the sacrifice of merging the two lanes coming from WB & EB I-44.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1926/44832318254_6427e3a156_o.png (https://flic.kr/p/2biFmho)

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Southbound lanes of 235 have been shifted to new lanes this morning. Because it was still dark, I could not see if northbound lanes have also shifted.

Northbound is still in the same configuration. Still a bit of work remaining on that side, especially near and on the 50th street ramp.

Looks like the southbound lanes need a little more touch up work and then they could restripe to final configuration and open all lanes soon.

There is room to make adjustments for the I-235 NB Lanes, but at the sacrifice of merging the two lanes coming from WB & EB I-44.


Also, this next phase still isn't the final phase. So, even though this is the "permanent" striping for this phase of construction, the final phases could include additional lane changes?

Also, this next phase still isn't the final phase. So, even though this is the "permanent" striping for this phase of construction, the final phases could include additional lane changes?

Perhaps, this shows three lanes from when the project was first announced.
https://www.ok.gov/odot/images/I235Rendering_web.jpg

The new configuration Southbound was MUCH better this morning, especially in the dark. Glad to see that happen.