I-235 / I-44 Interchange

[OKCisOK4me]

I know I've said this before, I still hope they will change the clover leafs into flyovers. :3

You'll get half your wish since two of them will be flyovers

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah, haha. Better to look at the glass half full I guess.

[Bellaboo]

Saw something on the news where ODOT was going to start construction of the southwest part of the interchange this June.

[BoulderSooner]

The contract for the reconstruction of the ramp from EB I-44 to SB I-235 was awarded by ODOT on Monday.

Some details:
Contract length is 240 Calendar days.
SB I-235 ramp to NW 50th Street will close.
NW 50th St ramp to NB I-235 will be closed and removed.
The bridge from SB I-235 ramp to NW 50th Street will be removed.
Western Ave ramp to EB I-44 will remain open during construction.
EB I-44 will be restricted to 2 lanes through the construction zone.

yep

[adaniel]

Saw something on the news where ODOT was going to start construction of the southwest part of the interchange this June.

So does this mean this project is being fast tracked and we don't have to wait until 2017 for work to start up again?

[warreng88]

So does this mean this project is being fast tracked and we don't have to wait until 2017 for work to start up again?

I am curious if the delay of the start of the boulevard has anything to do with this.

[Nick]

Well this is good news. The faster this interchange gets fixed, the better.

[BoulderSooner]

I am curious if the delay of the start of the boulevard has anything to do with this.

don't think so ..

[BoulderSooner]

So does this mean this project is being fast tracked and we don't have to wait until 2017 for work to start up again?

yes the east bound I44 to south I235 ramp will start this year

[Nick]

What's the next ramp to start once they finish this one? The NB 235 to EB 44?

[BoulderSooner]

What's the next ramp to start once they finish this one? The NB 235 to EB 44?

i would guess so .. but after this one nothing is scheduled until 2017 (this one wasn't either until recently)

[Buffalo Bill]

What's the next ramp to start once they finish this one? The NB 235 to EB 44?

50th Street and the BNSF RR bridge.

[Nick]

Bill, are you sure? Was that how it was originally proposed to progress?

[Buffalo Bill]

Bill, are you sure? Was that how it was originally proposed to progress?

Yep. Yep.

[BoulderSooner]

Yep. Yep.

any idea if those projects will be "moved up" as well

[Snowman]

any idea if those projects will be "moved up" as well

Your guess on the federal and state budgets over the next five years is probably as good as anyone elses

[Buffalo Bill]

any idea if those projects will be "moved up" as well

It's possible. It mostly depends on available funds and program balancing.

[Plutonic Panda]

and maybe change those two cloverleafs to fly-overs

[Nick]

and maybe change those two cloverleafs to fly-overs

Man, you and I really, really want to see some Texas (or any other state) style interchanges here.

[Plutonic Panda]

The High-Five would be the sh**. I this cost around 250mil. It would be nice to see something similar to this. I doubt seeing it happen though. We also don't have the express toll ways that Dallas has going through the interchange.

[Dar405301]

i think the main reason that we have to wait for these large projects to be built out is that we're not allowed to borrow money for road construction. we have a pay-as-you-go system.

[OKCisOK4me]

i think the main reason that we have to wait for these large projects to be built out is that we're not allowed to borrow money for road construction. we have a pay-as-you-go system.

That is correct. We don't do it like Texas.

[Teo9969]

i think the main reason that we have to wait for these large projects to be built out is that we're not allowed to borrow money for road construction. we have a pay-as-you-go system.

Which tells me we're doing pretty dang well if we thought we weren't going to start the next phase until 2017 and it's only 2013!

[worthy cook]

I would be really interested in seeing how much it would be to take out bonds + interest to get it done VS pay as you go with the natural rise of construction costs in 2017 and beyond. If that makes any sense.

[Nick]

Is there really that much political animosity toward selling bonds at what are still incredibly low rates and getting our interchanges and highways up to snuff and then paying them off quickly?

Edit: who am I kidding? It's Oklahoma...