May Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: New commissioner welcomed; $89 million in projects awarded
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s May 5, meeting include welcoming the new District 3 Commissioner, updating commissioners on the status of the Heartland Flyer, receiving a national beautification award and approving construction projects on US-59 near Sallisaw and on the Duncan Bypass.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz and commissioners welcomed newly-appointed District 3 Commissioner Lisa Billy. Billy has a distinguished legislative career in the Oklahoma Legislature as well as the Chickasaw Tribal Legislature and will represent the 11 district counties of Southcentral Oklahoma. Commissioner Billy was appointed by Speaker Hilbert and replaces T.W. Shannon who vacated the position in April.
Gatz updated commissioners on the current activities surrounding Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, passenger train service currently operating in partnership with Texas. However, the Texas legislature has not made a final decision on whether or not to continue that funding. The Flyer resumed operation in 1999 after having been out of service for 20 years.
The department’s beautification efforts and partnership with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful received national recognition with presentation of the State Agency Partnership Award from Keep America Beautiful. KOB Executive Director Evelyn Schaefer noted that the partnership has been instrumental in the state with all 77 counties having participated in the Great American Cleanup for the 15th consecutive year. She also announced plans for KOB’s next partnership initiative Keep Route 66 Beautiful to partner with communities in cleaning Oklahoma’s more than 400 miles of the “Mother Road” prior to its centennial celebration next year.
Commissioners approved a $16 million project to add shoulders and replace a structurally deficient bridge on US-59 between SH-101 and Sallisaw in Sequoyah County. Work is expected to begin in early fall and take about a year to complete. In addition, a $20 million project was approved for interchange reconstruction at SH-7/Duncan Bypass and Elk Ave. A bridge will be constructed over Elk Ave. to eliminate the current stop and turn across the highway. Work is anticipated to begin in early fall and take about a year. Drivers can view or subscribe to receive traffic advisories by email at www.oklahoma.gov/odot or follow ODOT on X or Facebook.
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.
Commissioners voted to award 22 contracts totaling nearly $89 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, June 2. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available on YouTube and vimeo.com/odot.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s beautification efforts and partnership with Keep Oklahoma Beautiful received national recognition with the State Agency Partnership Award from Keep America Beautiful. Left to right are Oklahoma Transportation Chairman Bob Peterson, ODOT Chief Engineer T.J. Dill, ODOT Director of Operations Shawn Davis, ODOT Beautification Coordinator Melody Johnson, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Executive Director Evelyn Schaefer, ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz, ODOT General Counsel and KOB Board of Directors Member Sarah Penn, ODOT Assistant Director of Operations Taylor Henderson.
