January Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: I-35 project receives two national awards; 2025 accomplishments celebrated
PR# 26-001
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Jan. 5 meeting include presentation of two industry awards for construction, reports on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s notable accomplishments in 2025, updates on projects starting in the new year and reminders about winter weather.
ODOT was 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 3 won the Gold in the Divided Highways – Rural category and the Best in Show Innovation award for an I-35 reconstruction project in Wynnewood, Garvin County. This project recycled 100% of the existing concrete, eliminating need for material to be hauled off-site to a landfill. Additionally, accolades were given for using an overhead conveyor system which reduced construction traffic, creating a much safer environment for both the public and construction workers all while maintaining two lanes of traffic. The department shares the awards with Duit Construction Co. and MacArthur Associated Consultants.
“It is gratifying to have the partnerships that we do with our contractors and the industry and to see outcomes like this. I do want to add extra emphasis to the impact that the innovation in the use of the conveyor had on the traveling public because reducing the dangers that crews and the traveling public encounter every day in work zones is extremely critical to us,” ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said.
Commissioners watched ODOT’s 2025 Year in Review video, a look back on major transportation highlights from the past year. The compilation includes the department’s progress on modernizing aging facilities, repairs to the US-70 Roosevelt bridge causeway, construction on Tulsa’s I-44 “Traffic Henge” and preparations for the Route 66 centennial, among several other achievements. The video can be viewed here.
Gatz updated commissioners on much needed projects starting in the new year that will affect traffic for some time. Currently underway is an interchange improvement project on I-40 in Clinton. A partnership with the City of Clinton, the $76 million project will reconstruct and rehabilitate two interchanges at Gary Blvd. and Neptune Dr./10th St. and replace four bridges over the next two years. The first stage of the contracting process for replacement of the US-70 Roosevelt bridge is underway with the next step to select a team in the spring to continue its contract with ODOT to deliver the final design and construction services. The bridge project is being delivered using a method called Modified Progressive Design Build — the first time this approach has been used in Oklahoma by ODOT. Construction is anticipated to begin later this year. Drivers can view or subscribe to receive traffic advisories by email at www.oklahoma.gov/odot or follow ODOT on X or Facebook.
Although recent weather has been amenable, Gatz reminded commissioners and the public that it is important to be weather-aware these next months. ODOT crews are ready and prepared statewide for inclement weather but drivers play a key role in safety also. Drivers should keep an eye on the weather forecasts and if there is precipitation, stay home if at all possible. If one has to travel, watch for black ice which looks like wet pavement but is a sheet of ice – bridges freeze first – and to check road conditions on the free Drive Oklahoma app.
As is customary near the holidays, 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 15, and 22, 2026.
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. 2. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available on YouTube and vimeo.com/odot.
At Monday’s Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, ODOT District 3 Engineer Ron Brown (far left) and his district were presented with the Gold in Divided Highways - Rural and the Best in Show Innovation awards from the American Concrete Pavement Association. The award recognized an I-35 reconstruction project in Wynnewood, southcentral Oklahoma. Brown is joined by District 3 Purcell Residency’s Asst. Resident Manager Chance Kendall, (former) Resident Engineer Preston Hiemstra, Transportation Specialist John Council, District 3 Commissioner Lisa Billy, ODOT Director of Operations Shawn Davis, ODOT Chief Engineer T.J. Dill, ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz, Executive Director of the OK/AR Chapter of ACPA Brent Burwell along with partners from Duit Construction Co. and MacArthur Associated Consultants.
During inclement weather, drivers are advised to stay weather-aware, avoid driving if at all possible and use the free Drive Oklahoma app to check road conditions. The app can be downloaded on any IOS or Android device. Drivers can also visit okroads.org to view conditions via snowplow cameras during weather events.
