Driving Forward OK - Oklahoma Turnpike Improvements and New Construction

[MWC59]

I'd like to see drone pics of the S.W. Kilpatrick Ext. They should sign it as I-240 to I-40

[SEMIweather]

Google Maps updated their imaging in SW OKC recently, and you can now see just about the entire path of the Kilpatrick Extension.

[flyfisher07]

Just noticed the other day that southbound traffic on the two Kilpatrick bridges between Hwy 66 and Britton Rd. has been switched over to the east bridges (northbound) and they're beginning to demolish the west side.

[David]

https://twitter.com/OKTurnpike/statu...39631187386369

Up to now you've know it as the Eastern Oklahoma Corridor (EOC) but today it has a new, official name!

"The Kickapoo name both reflects and will bring awareness to Oklahoma’s strong Native American culture to all who travel this turnpike.” -Secretary Gatz

[OKC Guy]

https://twitter.com/OKTurnpike/statu...39631187386369

Nice. If they wanted to increase revenue they could take it a step further and name it Kickapoo Casino Turnpike and have the casino pay them for naming rights like we do with arenas.

[LakeEffect]

I really hope OTA didn't pay a "professional" to make that graphic...

[jedicurt]

any updated on where the SW kilpatrick expansion is at with reguards to the timeline? and when it is expected to be completed? i remember at one point hearing sometime in 2020... but didn't know if we atleast had a quarter they were shooting for

[rte66man]

any updated on where the SW kilpatrick expansion is at with reguards to the timeline? and when it is expected to be completed? i remember at one point hearing sometime in 2020... but didn't know if we atleast had a quarter they were shooting for

Went to pikepass.com thinking there would be some updates but noooooooooo. They haven't updated anything about the projects since April. Pathetic.

[Plutonic Panda]

Went to pikepass.com thinking there would be some updates but noooooooooo. They haven't updated anything about the projects since April. Pathetic.

I log on once every month or so awaiting an update there. I recently emailed them a message and surprise... no response. They don’t care.

[Snowman]

any updated on where the SW kilpatrick expansion is at with reguards to the timeline? and when it is expected to be completed? i remember at one point hearing sometime in 2020... but didn't know if we atleast had a quarter they were shooting for

The only think i have seen on it is from the weekday updates, though it only puts any dates with the junction with i40 (which is the furthest along part of the extension), this is the most recent:

I-40 off-ramp at John Kilpatrick Turnpike will be closed Monday night
The westbound I-40 off-ramp to northbound John Kilpatrick Turnpike will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday as part of an ongoing Oklahoma Turnpike Authority project.

I-40 lanes shifted, service road narrowed at SH-4/Mustang Rd. through fall 2019 for turnpike project

The following traffic impacts are a part of an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority project:

Westbound SH-152/Airport Rd. is narrowed to one lane between Council Rd. and S.W. 59th St. and the westbound SH-152 off-ramp to Council Rd. has shifted to the east. Drivers should use caution as traffic adjusts to the new configuration.
East and westbound I-40 lanes are shifted between SH-4/Mustang Rd. (mm 138) and Morgan Rd. (mm 140) and the eastbound and westbound I-40 collector road is narrowed to one lane between SH-4/Mustang Rd. (mm 138) and the John Kilpatrick Turnpike (mm 139) through fall 2019.

[bombermwc]

I really hope OTA didn't pay a "professional" to make that graphic...

Looks like one of the casino signs...lol.

WIN BIG HERE!

[Plutonic Panda]

Looks like the Gilcrease extension has officially broken ground and should be competed in a couple years. It seems by then every other project will be completed.

I would like to see OTAs next bond issue focus heavily on interchange improvements more than anything.

[BoulderSooner]

Looks like the Gilcrease extension has officially broken ground and should be competed in a couple years. It seems by then every other project will be completed.

I would like to see OTAs next bond issue focus heavily on interchange improvements more than anything.

the next OTA projects will be the next phase of turner expansion and the next phase of the EOC turnpike

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ hopefully the entire turner expansion six lanes and reconstructs the entire corridor as well as adding lighting between OKC and tulsa. A very long stretch of I-90 easy of Chicago has this treatment and it works amazing.

Along with an EOC extension, id like to see the Sh-74 and Broadway extension interchanges completed. I’d also like to see the SH-4 concerted entirely to freeway and connected to Kilpatrick S.W. extension

[HangryHippo]

They shouldn't be allowed to one more lane to any road until they fix the damn interchanges.

[OKC Guy]

FYI from today:


Oklahoma Turnpikes
@OKTurnpike
Tolling on SW 15th begins today at 10:00 am.
8:36 AM · Oct 23, 2019

[Scott5114]

^^^ hopefully the entire turner expansion six lanes and reconstructs the entire corridor as well as adding lighting between OKC and tulsa. A very long stretch of I-90 easy of Chicago has this treatment and it works amazing.

The Turner Turnpike only has an AADT of 15,642 at the OKC end. For comparison, I-35 around Pauls Valley carries roughly twice that. Obviously different agencies and different funding sources, but I'm not sure the Turner justifies six-laning yet.

[BoulderSooner]

The Turner Turnpike only has an AADT of 15,642 at the OKC end. For comparison, I-35 around Pauls Valley carries roughly twice that. Obviously different agencies and different funding sources, but I'm not sure the Turner justifies six-laning yet.

the current turner project is the first phase of making the entire length 6 lanes from OKC to tulsa

[bombermwc]

They're taking their dang sweet time on the SW side one. They've moved the westbound off ramp to council to the new non-clover ramp. They've closed the clover eastbound on ramp to 52, but should be able to get the new one opened soon (if they get off their butts). They move incredibly slow out there.

I'm still not seeing any logic to why they added the lanes between the two bridges or any sort of interchange work to connect 52 to the turnpike. There's a bridge there, no larger work on the actual interchange portion.

It's definitely moving at a snails pace. You can count on two hands, the number of people working on this project on any given day. Heck, some days there aren't that many.

[Plutonic Panda]

It really makes driving more enjoyable and lessens the chance of getting behind two slow drivers.

I-35 needs the six lane treatment between OKC and Dallas. TxDOT is about to start widening the remainder of I-35 between Dallas and the Oklahoma border to 6-8 lanes. The red river I-35 bridges will be 8 lanes with service roads and 6-8 lanes to win star. OkDOT should just modernize the entire interstate and widen it. Could be done for a few billion now. It will get more expensive down the line.

If Oklahoma were smart when the reconstruction and widening of I-44 is completed they’d pay off the bonds and make it a free route which have many economic benefits. There is no high speed free route between the states two largest cities.

[jonny d]

It really makes driving more enjoyable and lessens the chance of getting behind two slow drivers.

I-35 needs the six lane treatment between OKC and Dallas. TxDOT is about to start widening the remainder of I-35 between Dallas and the Oklahoma border to 6-8 lanes. The red river I-35 bridges will be 8 lanes with service roads and 6-8 lanes to win star. OkDOT should just modernize the entire interstate and widen it. Could be done for a few billion now. It will get more expensive down the line.

If Oklahoma were smart when the reconstruction and widening of I-44 is completed they’d pay off the bonds and make it a free route which have many economic benefits. There is no high speed free route between the states two largest cities.

You are talking to a very car-unfriendly board here. But I agree. I drive all over the state for work (auditor) and having efficient highways would be a huge upgrade!

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ I figured that out long ago LOL

[OKC Guy]

Oklahoma Turnpikes
@OKTurnpike
10/25/19 @ 7:00 PM to 4:00 PM on 10/27/19: Both NB and SB JKT will be reduced to one lane between US-66 and Wilshire Blvd. during this time period. When this is complete, traffic will be shifted from the NB JKT to the New widened SB JKT from NW 63rd to NW 51st St.
2:56 PM · Oct 24, 2019·Twitter Web App

[rte66man]

The Turner Turnpike only has an AADT of 15,642 at the OKC end. For comparison, I-35 around Pauls Valley carries roughly twice that. Obviously different agencies and different funding sources, but I'm not sure the Turner justifies six-laning yet.

It's more of a widening/modernization. All of the bridges are being replaced as many are safety hazards with piers too close to the road. Most of them have also reached their useful lifespan as they are nearly 70 years old. I did notice the new bridges on the recently expanded section left room for additional lanes if needed

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ IIRC, the Tulsa segment will have truck specific lanes in the future so maybe that was the extra space was there for.