December Commission Wrap-Up: ODOT bridge project honored with industry award;
Dec. 4, 2019
PR# 19-046
Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz highlighted awards recently presented to the agency for traffic safety efforts and a major bridge project. The Energize for Safety Coalition recognized ODOT as a partner on the SH-33 Safety Corridor between Watonga and Kingfisher. The joint effort between state and local agencies and the energy industry includes increased traffic enforcement and education to help reduce the number of serious crashes in the area.
The 2019 Pharaoh Award from the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors was presented to ODOT Division 7’s Duncan Residency and contractor, Frontier Bridge, for construction of the new SH-79 bridge over the Red River in Jefferson County to replace the original bridge built in 1939. The award is presented annually by AOGC for the state’s best bridge project and is named in honor of the Pharaoh family of Henryetta who were pioneers in the bridge construction industry.
Gatz updated commissioners on recent action by Congress to fund the federal government with a continuing resolution through Dec. 20. While the short-term measure will allow ODOT to continue to solicit bids and award contracts for projects with federal funds through February 2020, a long-term budget is still needed to provide states with certainty that funding will be in place for transportation plans and programs. Additionally, he reported the good news that the Federal Transit Administration is moving forward to authorize the ODOT Office of Mobility and Public Transit to administer federal funds for a transit program serving the elderly and disabled that was moved from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to ODOT by the Legislature earlier this year.
The commission awarded a $13 million contract to reconstruct and widen a segment of SH-4 at Wilshire Blvd. in Yukon, including the bridge over the North Canadian River. Commissioners approved a $21 million contract for reconstruction and widening of US-270 just northwest of Seiling, the last segment of the Northwest Passage in Woodward County. The remaining segments to be widened in Dewey and Blaine counties are all scheduled in ODOT’s Eight-year Construction Work Plan. This continues the ongoing effort to connect Woodward to the Oklahoma City metro area with a four-lane highway. Also awarded were contracts for I-44 and US-64 bridge repairs at the Arkansas River in Tulsa, I-44 bridge rehabilitation in Lawton/Fort Sill and I-35 bridge repair at SH-51 near Stillwater.
Commissioners voted to award 28 contracts totaling $94.5 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 27 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee, Cimarron, Coal, Comanche, Dewey, Garfield, Grady, Greer, Jackson, Kiowa, Lincoln, Major, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Stephens, Tulsa, Washington, Washita and Woodward counties. A list of all awarded contracts can be found by visiting www.odot.org/contracts, selecting the November 2019 AM letting, clicking Go, then Award.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts every month for road and bridge construction. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.
At the Monday, Dec. 2 meeting of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Duncan Residency in Division 7 was recognized along with contractor, Frontier Bridge, for construction of the new SH-79 bridge over the Red River in Jefferson County. Pictured from left are: ODOT Division 7 Construction Engineer Cole Vonfeldt, Duncan Residency Bridge Inspector Chris Keck, Duncan Resident Engineer Colton Roberts, Division 7 Engineer Jay Earp, Commission Chairman Gene McKown, District 7 Commissioner Steve LaForge, Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz and Frontier Bridge’s Raymond Flatt, Spencer Flatt and Riley Flatt.
The recently completed SH-79 bridge over the Red River near Waurika in Jefferson County was honored by the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors with the 2019 Pharaoh Award for the state’s best bridge project. The new bridge replaces the original structure between Oklahoma and Texas that was built in 1939.
At the Monday, Dec. 2 meeting of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, the Energize for Safety Coalition recognized the Oklahoma Department of Transportation as a partner in improving the SH-33 Safety Corridor between Watonga and Kingfisher. Pictured from left are: Commission Chairman Gene McKown, District 4 Commissioner Don Freymiller, Energize for Safety Coalition President Tom Robins, ODOT Chief Traffic Engineer Chad Pendley, Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz, Division 4 Engineer Trenton January, Chief Engineer Brian Taylor, Division 5 Engineer Brent Almquist and District 5 Commissioner David Dyson.
