March Commission Wrap-Up: Upcoming I-40 corridor work in Del City, highway welcome signs highlighted
$102 million in contracts awarded
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2020
PR# 20-006
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, March 2 meeting include updates on major upcoming I-40 work in Del City and installation of new welcome signs at state border entrances, as well as presentation of an award from a national beautification organization recognizing the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Commissioners awarded contracts for several sidewalk and trails projects, along with highway projects on US-77 in Cleveland County, US-60/US-81 in Garfield County, US-70 and US-70B in Choctaw County, US-81 in Jefferson County and SH-165 in Muskogee County.
Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz briefed commissioners on upcoming work on the I-40 corridor in Del City, which includes resurfacing east of the I-35 Fort Smith junction in March in preparation for a major project to replace six structurally deficient bridges over city streets and a creek later in the year. Though I-40 will remain open during construction, the project will significantly disrupt freight and commuter traffic along the corridor, which serves Tinker Air Force Base. The estimated $82 million bridge reconstruction project goes to bid later in March.
“This upcoming project on I-40 will address some of the last remaining structurally deficient bridges on the highway system in the Oklahoma City metro area,” Gatz said. “This sets the course for us to modernize the entire I-40 Tinker Diagonal between I-35 and I-240 in the near future.”
Gatz also updated commissioners on the installation of 10 large welcome signs with new Oklahoma branding on interstates and highways at major entrances at the Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas state lines. The older “Welcome to Oklahoma” signs were already in need of replacement, so the work was aligned with Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Tourism and Branding Matt Pinnell’s statewide branding initiative. Smaller signs at other highway border crossings will be installed by ODOT in the coming months.
An award recognizing ODOT’s beautification efforts was presented by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful on behalf of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful. This is the fifth consecutive year ODOT has been honored with the State Agency Partnership award, which recognizes public agencies that collaborate with their local KAB affiliates on litter cleanup and education programs.
The commission approved contracts for three pedestrian projects, including a sidewalk improvements on SH-9 in Keota and multiuse trail construction in Jenks and near Sand Springs. Gatz noted that these pedestrian infrastructure projects help communities support active transportation and meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.
Commissioners voted to award an $11.6 million contract to reconstruct a section of US-77 north of Lexington as part of an ongoing effort to widen the corridor from two to four lanes between Lexington and Noble in several phases. They also awarded a $17.5 million contract to reconstruct a nine-mile segment of US-60/US-81 and add turn lanes at major intersections north of Enid. Other contracts were approved for several summer resurfacing projects, including US-70 and US-70B in Hugo, US-81 near Waurika and SH-165 in Muskogee.
Commissioners voted to award 34 contracts totaling nearly $102 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 26 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Atoka, Beaver, Beckham, Canadian, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cleveland, Coal, Craig, Delaware, Ellis, Garfield, Greer, Haskell, Jefferson, Kay, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Muskogee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Texas, Tulsa and Woods counties. A list of all awarded contracts can be found by visiting www.odot.org/contracts, selecting the February 2020 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 monthly contracts for road and bridge construction. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, April 6. Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.
(Editors and News Directors: For questions, please call the ODOT Media & Public Relations Division at 405-521-6000.)
New welcome signs highlighted
Ten new “Welcome to Oklahoma” signs were recently installed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to greet travelers on interstates and highways at major state entrances, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission learned at their Monday, March 2 meeting. The older welcome signs were in need of replacement, so the work was aligned with Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Tourism and Branding Matt Pinnell’s statewide branding initiative. Smaller signs at other highway entrances will be installed by ODOT in the coming months.
ODOT recognized with national award from beautification group
At the Monday, March 2 meeting of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful presented an award recognizing its partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the fifth consecutive year the agency has been honored with the award. The State Agency Partnership award from the national group Keep America Beautiful honors agencies that work with their local KAB affiliates on litter cleanup and education programs.
Pictured, from left, are ODOT Beautification Coordinator Melody Johnson, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Executive Director Jeanette Nance, Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz, Commission Chairman Gene McKown and ODOT Policy and Legislative Administrator Montie Smith, who is a member of KOB’s Board of Directors.
Contract awarded for US-77 project near Lexington
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded an $11.6 million contract at its Monday, March 2 meeting for reconstruction of a three-mile section of US-77 north of Lexington in Cleveland County. This project is part of an ongoing effort by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to widen the corridor from two to four lanes between Lexington and Noble in several phases. The existing two-lane highway, pictured here, has deteriorated pavement and lacks adequate shoulders and turn lanes.
