Commission approves historic interstate projects in Norman & Canadian Co., $156 million in projects Test
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Dec. 8 meeting include approval of the largest single construction contract in the history of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for major work on I-35 in Norman and award of contracts for bridge work on I-40 in Canadian County, highway widening in Cleveland County and safety improvements on US-69 in McIntosh County.
Commissioners awarded a historic contract with a $71 million base bid to widen I-35 from four to six lanes south of Main St. in Norman, reconstruct the north half of the
I-35/SH-9 East interchange and reconstruct the Lindsey St. bridge as a Single Point Urban Interchange. The City of Norman is contributing $4 million to the cost of the project for drainage work and artwork on the new Lindsey St. bridge. The award also provides an additional $2 million in possible financial incentives for early completion and is the single largest construction contract in ODOT’s history, surpassing the contract for reconstruction of the Inner Dispersal Loop in downtown Tulsa awarded in 2009.
More planned improvements to the I-35 corridor in the area include reconstruction of the I-35/I-240 interchange in several phases beginning in Federal Fiscal Year 2016 and replacement of the Indian Hills Rd. bridge over I-35 in FFY 2020.
“This is a monumental project because it will help support continued growth in the Norman area by completing the widening of I-35 to six lanes from downtown Oklahoma City to the South Canadian River that began in the early 1980s,” Executive Director Mike Patterson said. “Additional state funding in recent years finally made large projects like this possible.”
The commission also voted to award a $25 million contract for reconstruction of the I-40 bridges over the South Canadian River west of El Reno near the Canadian/Caddo County line.
“These projects are both prime examples of why continued transportation funding is so important,” Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley said. “Our interstate corridors not only impact the state, but are also major trade routes on the national transportation system.”
Also approved was an $11 million contract to reconstruct more than two miles of
US-77 near Slaughterville, the first of several phases to widen the highway in Cleveland County, as well as a nearly $3.8 million contract to install cable barrier on more than 14 miles of US-69 in McIntosh County.
Following a brief executive session, Commission Chairman Greg Love announced that he was forming a subcommittee of commissioners to conduct an annual evaluation of Patterson’s job performance and salary. The subcommittee is expected to make its report and any recommendations at their next monthly meeting.
In all, commissioners awarded 24 contracts totaling more than $156 million to improve bridges, highways, interstates and roads in 20 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Creek, Delaware, Garfield, Greer, Kay, Kiowa, Lincoln, McIntosh, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Tulsa, Wagoner and Woods counties.
The eight-member panel, appointed by the governor to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards project contracts for road and bridge construction every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 5 at 11 a.m. in the R.A. Ward Transportation Building in Oklahoma City.
Before a project is awarded, ODOT researches, plans and designs the work to be done. Contracts are bid competitively, with the commission selecting the winning firm. Typically, work begins several weeks or months after contracts are awarded.
Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.okladot.state.ok.us.
—www.okladot.state.ok.us—
(Editors and News Directors:For more information, call the ODOT Media and Public Relations Division at 405-521-6000.)
