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February Commission Wrap-Up: ODOT looking forward to working on transportation funding reforms

Thursday, February 09, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
February 9, 2017
PR# 17-002

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Feb. 6 meeting include an update on federal transportation funding and the state legislative session and approval of contracts for Oklahoma Department of Transportation bridge rehabilitation projects in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Contracts were also awarded for a weigh station project in Cimarron County, highway reconstruction in Wagoner County and 20 resurfacing jobs statewide.

Executive Director Mike Patterson told the commission that several bills have been filed by state lawmakers to change how motor fuel is taxed and where the revenue is directed, which would affect state funding for highways and bridges.  

“We hope to see reforms that tie revenues from state motor fuel taxes more directly to funding for our infrastructure. We’re looking forward to being part of the conversation with the legislature about how the state funds transportation going forward,” Patterson said.

To take full advantage of the upcoming summer construction season, ODOT has already committed all of its federal funding authorized by the continuing federal resolution that expires in late April. As a result, the upcoming April and May lettings will be considerably smaller since ODOT is excluding most highway projects with federal funding in case Congress does not reauthorize funding before April 28.

The commission voted to award contracts for a more than $8 million project to rehabilitate the Harvard Ave., Pittsburg Ave., Yale Ave. and Memorial Rd. bridges over I-244 and a $5.8 million project to rehabilitate several ramps at the I-44 and I-244 junction in Tulsa. Also approved was a contract to improve a drainage structure under I-240 near Eastern Ave. in Oklahoma City.

Commissioners approved a nearly $3 million contract to replace the weigh station on US-56/US-412 near Boise City and a $14 million contract to reconstruct more than six miles of SH-16 between Wagoner and Okay. They also approved contracts for 20 resurfacing projects including improvements to US-270 in Beaver County, SH-78 in Bryan County, US-69 in Ottawa County and US-81 in Jefferson County.  

In all, commissioners awarded 50 contracts totaling $82 million to improve bridges, highways, interstates and roads in 37 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in  Alfalfa, Atoka, Beaver, Bryan, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Custer, Delaware, Garvin, Harmon, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Latimer, Logan, Love, McClain, McCurtain,  Major, Mayes, Muskogee, Noble, Oklahoma, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Roger Mills, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Texas, Tillman, Wagoner, Washita and Woodward counties. A list of all awarded contracts may be found by visiting www.odot.org/contracts, selecting the January letting and clicking Go and then Award.

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 meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 6.  

Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.

Yale Ave. bridge over I-244 in Tulsa





At its Monday, Feb. 6 meeting, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved contracts for a more than $8 million project to rehabilitate Harvard Ave., Pittsburg Ave., Yale Ave. and Memorial Rd. bridges over I-244 and a $5.8 million project to rehabilitate several ramps at the I-44 and I-244 junction in Tulsa. Pictured is the deck of the Yale Ave. bridge over I-244.


 

Boise City weigh station




 



At its Monday, Feb. 6 meeting, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a nearly $3 million contract to replace the weigh station on US-56/US-412 near Boise City in Cimarron County, pictured here. The existing facility is outdated and inadequate for use by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to weigh truck traffic coming through the Oklahoma Panhandle.

www.odot.org

(Editors and News Directors: For more information, call the ODOT Media and Public Relations Division at 405-521-6000.)

Last Modified on Oct 23, 2020
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