December Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Nearly $150 million in projects awarded; Hochatown improvements moving forward
PR# 24-037
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Dec. 2, meeting include a visit from a high school construction club, approval of projects on US-259 in Hochatown, SH-152 near the airport in Oklahoma City, on SH-66 near Catoosa and US-60/US-412 near Ringwood.
ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz took a few minutes during Monday’s commission meeting to address the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors Western Heights Construction Club who were on a field trip to Monday’s meeting. One of 14 clubs established by ACOG across high schools statewide, the students were in attendance to learn a portion of the transportation process as part of workforce development.
Commissioners voted to approve a nearly $30 million improvement project on US-259 in Hochatown, north of Broken Bow in Southeastern Oklahoma. The 2.3-mile project will add a center turn lane, widening the road to five lanes and add sidewalks to the rapidly growing tourist area.
“What we're seeing down there now is the materialization of a recreational area and a tourist area that I don't really think we've ever seen before. Managing traffic in that environment on a highway system that has a lot of deficiencies is challenging to us, but this is the beginning of making it better.
We're going to be very careful to interact with a high level of detail with the businesses that are adjacent to US-259 and certainly take into consideration the desires of the community,” said Gatz.
Also approved was an $18 million reconstruction and bridge replacement project on SH-152 between I-44 and Meridian Ave. near the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City. The project is anticipated to begin in the spring, take just over a year to complete, and will help traffic flow between I-240 and I-44 with additional signage to direct drivers.
A more than $7 million project to replace a truss bridge on SH-66 near Catoosa in Rogers County was approved. This project is expected to begin in the spring and be completed in early 2026, in time for the Route 66 Centennial celebrations. A monument to the Route 66 truss bridge will be erected in a nearby park as part of this project.
Commissioners also appropriated $22 million for a project on US-60/US-412 near Ringwood in Major County. The project will add safety shoulders to westbound US-60/US-412 and overlay the eastbound lanes between SH-58 and Lahoma. The project is anticipated to start early next year, take an estimated year and a half for completion and provide a smoother commute with safety features for drivers in and through Ringwood, Lahoma and Meno.
Gatz reminded commissioners and visitors with the holidays here, drivers need to buckle up and drive sober. And, as the seasons are changing, winter weather is approaching. Crews statewide are geared up and prepared with the Panhandle already tackling two storms into this winter season. Drivers can always check current road conditions by using the free Drive Oklahoma app.
Commissioners voted to award 33 contracts totaling nearly $150 million to improve interstates, highways and bridges statewide. The public may access a list of all awarded contracts at the ODOT Business Center https://oklahoma.gov/odot/business-center/contracts-and-proposals.html.
The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available at vimeo.com/odot.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts monthly for road and bridge construction.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz addressed the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors Western Heights Construction Club who were on a field trip to Monday’s commission meeting. Students were in attendance to learn more about the transportation process as part of workforce development.
