October Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Commission approves nearly $9 billion Eight-Year Construction Work Plan; $292 million in projects awarded

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Oct. 7, meeting include adoption of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s updated Eight-Year Construction Work Plan, a briefing on the federal funding highway appropriations bill, approval of a I-44 and US-75 interchange reconstruction project in Tulsa, and a bridge rehabilitation project along I-40 over I-44 in Oklahoma City.

The commission gave its approval to ODOT’s Eight-Year Construction Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2025-2032, which contains nearly $9 billion in state and federal investments in highway improvements in the coming years. The plan includes projects to address 632 bridges and nearly 3,800 miles of pavement improvements which includes more than 950 miles of improvements to two-lane highways with deficient or no shoulders.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz said of producing the Eight-Year Construction Work Plan, “The inflationary spike that we are seeing makes it very challenging for us to keep pace with estimate adjustments when rebalancing the Work Plan and creating confident funding projections. We’re seeing some projects move around in the context of the delivery schedules but overall, no projects were removed from the Plan.”

The companion 2024-2027 Asset Preservation Plan presented to commissioners includes a nearly $500 million investment in preventative maintenance to extend the life of the state’s highway infrastructure. Asset preservation projects include pavement resurfacing and rehabilitation, bridge rehabilitation, painting and joint-sealing.

Commissioners also noted the Transportation Alternative Projects which dedicates more than $35 million to 43 projects statewide designed to promote connectivity and active transportation like sidewalks, trails and safe routes to school.

The public can view all three plans at http://www.odot.org under the “Programs and Projects” tab.

Gatz updated the commission on the continuing resolution passed by Congress which will carry the highway funding appropriations bill through the end of December.

The commission voted to approve a nearly $252 million contract to continue the reconstruction of the I-44 and US-75 interchange in Tulsa. The most expensive contract ever awarded for a highway project in Oklahoma, it is a continuation of the interchange project that began in early 2021 and received two major federal funding grants, $10 million from RAISE grants and an $85 million “Mega” grant. This phase of the project is expected to begin in spring 2025 and take about two and a half years to complete.

Also approved was a bridge rehabilitation project on east and westbound I-40 over I-44 in Oklahoma City. Awarded for $2.4 million, it is set to begin in spring 2025 and take about six months to complete.

Commissioners voted to award 20 contracts totaling $292 million to improve interstates, highways and bridges statewide. The public may access a list of all awarded contracts at https://oklahoma.gov/odot/business-center/contracts-and-proposals.html by selecting the September lettings.

The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4. 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.