October Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Commission adopts $8 billion Eight-Year Plan, ODOT awaits congressional action on infrastructure; $50 million in contracts awarded
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 2021
Press Release # 21-036
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Oct. 4, meeting include adoption of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s updated Eight-Year Construction Work Plan, a report on federal funding measures considered in Washington, D.C. and debut of a new public service announcement promoting seat belt use. Commissioners awarded contracts for several projects, including work on I-44 in Comanche County, city streets in Oklahoma County, and US-177 in Payne County.
The commission gave its approval to ODOT’s Eight-Year Construction Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2022-2029, which contains $8 billion in state and federal investments in highway improvements in the coming years. The plan includes projects to address 685 bridges to maintain Oklahoma’s Top Ten status for bridge conditions and nearly 2,296 miles of highway to improve pavement conditions; rural, two-lane highways; and urban interchanges. The department also presented its companion, $484 million Asset Preservation Plan for 2022-2025, which includes maintenance and preservation projects to extend the life of infrastructure. The public van view a list of projects in both plans at www.odot.org under the “Program and Projects” tab.
Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz updated the commission on the status of budget talks in the U.S. Congress affecting federal transportation funding, including reauthorization of the federal highway program and ongoing debate over a larger infrastructure bill. He noted that a short-term extension passed last week will preserve federal highway and public transit funding through the end of October.
“There is bipartisan support for a highway bill, and I have optimism that Congress will be able to pass a long-term reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program,” Gatz said.
Gatz also spoke on several driver safety issues, including lack of seat belt use and speeding, that are contributing to an increase in roadway fatalities in Oklahoma. He noted the state ranks near the bottom nationally for seat belt use and that an increase in speeding has been observed nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic began. As part of an ongoing safety education awareness effort, ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are sharing content on social media this month and distributing a new public service announcement encouraging drivers to buckle up.
The commission voted to approve a more than $4 million contract for rehabilitation of the I-44 bridges over SH-49 north of Lawton/Fort Sill, which includes replacement of the bridge deck and beams to raise the height of the structure to provide more clearance for trucks. Commissioners also awarded contracts for construction of a new protected turnaround at Pennsylvania Ave. and Memorial Rd. using federal funds in partnership with the City of Oklahoma City and a nearly $18 million project to reconstruct about three miles of US-177/Perkins Rd. north of SH-51 in Stillwater.
Commissioners voted to award 17 contracts totaling $50 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 22 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Blaine, Canadian, Carter, Comanche, Custer, Ellis, Harper, Johnston, Mayes, Murray, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Stephens, Wagoner, Woods and Woodward counties. The public can access a list of all awarded contracts at www.odot.org/contracts, selecting the September 2021 a.m. letting, clicking Submit, then Award at the bottom of the page.
Recordings of the commission’s meetings are available at https://vimeo.com/odot.
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, Nov. 1. The meeting will be available to view live on the web.
Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details may be viewed at www.odot.org.
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Construction will begin soon on a a project to improve three miles of a major roadway in Stillwater thanks to action by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission at its Monday, Oct. 4 meeting. The panel voted to award a nearly $18 million contract for reconstruction of the driving lanes, turn bays, medians, intersections and sidewalks on US-177/Perkins Rd. from just north of SH-51 to Airport Rd. The intersection of the highway and Lakeview Rd. is pictured here.
At its Monday, Oct. 4 meeting, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission gave its approval to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Eight-Year Construction Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2022-2029. The plan contains $8 billion in highway improvements statewide during the coming years. The plan can be viewed at www.odot.org.
