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January Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Two projects receive national awards; 2024 accomplishments celebrated

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s January 6, meeting include presentation of two industry awards for construction, reports on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s notable accomplishments in 2024 and updates on major projects starting in the new year.

ODOT and the Commission were presented with two national awards from the American Concrete Pavement Association for Excellence in Concrete Paving. The ACPA is the national trade association for the concrete pavement industry and is involved in the design, construction and preservation of concrete pavements. The Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards recognize winners in multiple categories and are determined by concrete pavement professionals; the awards recognize contractors, engineers and project owners.

District 2’s Madill Residency won Gold in the Divided Highways - Rural category for a US-69/75 reconstruction project between Calera and Durant, Bryan County, in Southeastern Oklahoma. District 4’s Stillwater Residency received the Gold award in State Roads category for the reconstruction US-177/Perkins Rd. between McElroy Rd. and Lakeview Rd. in Stillwater, Payne County, in Northcentral Oklahoma.

Commissioners watched ODOT’s 2024 Year in Review video, a look back on major transportation highlights from the past year. The compilation includes the department’s progress on addressing rural, two-lane highways; the opening of the US-281/Route 66 Bridgeport bridge; the 25th anniversary of the Heartland Flyer and the continuation of installing Wrong Way Detection Systems along the I-35 southern corridor, among several other achievements. The video can be viewed here.

ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz updated commissioners on multiple, much needed projects starting in the new year that will affect traffic for some time. Starting in late February through spring 2026, crews will be working on SH-152 from Meridian Ave. east to I-44 to widen lanes and improve access to the Will Rogers International Airport. Currently underway through spring is a bridge rehabilitation project on the S.W. 119th bridge over I-44 then following completion, an additional bridge rehabilitation on the S.W. 134th bridge over I-44 from spring to fall to address the structurally deficient bridges originally built in 1964.

Outside of the Oklahoma City metro area, there is a project taking shape on US-259 in Hochatown, Southeastern Oklahoma, through October 2026. Construction will widen the road to a five-lane section and include pedestrian improvements to better accommodate the growing tourism and unique attractions in the area. In the Tulsa metro, a second phase of full construction will begin on the I-44 and US-75 interchange in April. The initial work will start on the westbound I-44 to southbound US-75 flyover bridge and along Skelly Dr. frontage road. Drivers will see changes to traffic by mid-summer; the project will continue through 2028.

“We want the traveling public to be aware of those projects. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and know that all construction work is disruptive to traffic. Our best hope is for the traveling public to stay informed, pay attention and really be careful through those work zones,” said Gatz. Drivers can view or subscribe to receive traffic advisories by email at www.oklahoma.gov/odot or follow ODOT on X or Facebook.

As is customary, no new road and bridge construction projects were put out to bid in December for consideration at the January meeting. The next bid opening for ODOT projects is scheduled for January 9, and 16, 2025.

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.

The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available at on YouTube and vimeo.com/odot.

At January’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation were presented with the Gold Rural Award from the American Concrete Pavement Association for Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards for a US-69/75 reconstruction project between Calera and Durant in Bryan County in Southeastern Oklahoma.

Pictured are Eric Stuteville, District 2 commissioner; Shawn Davis, ODOT Director of Operations; Brent Burwell, ACPA Oklahoma/Arkansas executive director; Brett Prichard, ODOT District 2 engineer; Anthony Echelle, ODOT District 2 Engineer; Jeff Brown, ODOT Madill Residency; Taylor Barnes, CEC; Marcus Mason, Duit Construction; Tim Gatz, ODOT executive director; Mike Lipps, Duit Construction; Jason Moody, CEC; Eric Atkinson, CEC.

At Monday’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation were presented with the Gold award in State Roads category for the reconstruction US-177/Perkins Rd. between McElroy Rd. and Lakeview Rd. in Stillwater, Payne County, in Northcentral Oklahoma.

Pictured are Brent Burwell, ACPA Oklahoma/Arkansas executive director; Kevin Bloss, Olsson; Russell Beaty, Olsson; Chad Green, ODOT Stillwater Residency; Logan Anderson, ODOT Stillwater Residency; Marcus Mason, Duit Construction; Shawn Davis, ODOT director of operations; Mike Lipps, Duit Construction; Tim Gatz, ODOT executive director.

Last Modified on Jan 14, 2025
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