I-235/US-77 and I-44

This was the view of the I-235/US-77 and I-44interchange in early March 2020 and it will continue to change dramatically as reconstruction continues through winter 2022 to widen I-235/US-77 to six lanes at I-44.

Traffic Alert 

I-235/I-44 interchange work continues through early 2022; expect lane shifts and intermittent ramp closures

Motorists should be alert to the following traffic impacts in the I-235/US-77 construction zone at I-44 for ongoing reconstruction and widening that continues through early 2022:

• Motorists should be alert to changing conditions including lane shifts, narrowed lanes and workers along north and southbound I-235 between N. 50th St. and N. 63rd St. and along east and westbound I-44 between Western Ave. (mm 126) and Kelley Ave. (mm 128B). Both I-235 and I-44 will be narrowed to two lanes in each direction during peak commute hours but may narrow to one lane some nights and weekends.
• Northbound I-235/US-77 motorists have improved access to N. 63rd St. with the shift of the exit ramp to its permanent configuration. The dedicated ramp lane is separate from northbound I-235/US-77 traffic, eliminating conflict points. Drivers will need to use caution in the area as these ramp lanes will merge into one lane approaching the N. 63rd St. traffic signal through early 2022.
• Eastbound I-44 to northbound I-235/US-77 traffic now has direct access to the N. 63rd St. exit lane from the far right lane of the new northbound flyover ramp.
• Westbound I-44 off-ramp traffic will no longer merge with northbound I-235/US-77/Broadway Ext. traffic to access N. 63rd St. but will stay in the right off-ramp lane.
• Drivers are advised to use extra caution when merging onto southbound I-235/US-77 from N. 63rd St. as this on-ramp is shifted and there is a limited merge area.

Drivers should plan ahead and use their Off Broadway alternate routes of I-35, I-40, SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway, N. Lincoln Blvd. and Martin Luther King Ave. to avoid the area.

The following changes are now in place to exit from northbound I-235/US-77 to westbound I-44with the September opening of the new flyover ramp:

• Drivers need to be in the right lane of northbound I-235 and exit at N. 50th St. (mm 50B). Once on the ramp,stay to the left to access the new, one-lane ramp to westbound I-44 (mm 44A).
• There is a limited merge area at the end of the ramp onto westbound I-44. Be prepared to stop and yield to mainline I-44 traffic. This area remains an active construction zone. Motorists are urged to use extra caution in the area while traffic adjusts to the new configuration.
• The existing loop ramp to westbound I-44, which was accessed on the north end of the interchange, is now closed and will be removed from service. (Shown on the map above in red.)

When complete, the I-235/I-44 interchange will be the first four-level interchange on the state highway system. The future eastbound I-44 flyover ramp to northbound US-77/Broadway Ext.is expected to open in fall 2020 while overall construction work continues on the $105 million Off Broadway project through fall 2021. Motorists are reminded to continue using their Off Broadway alternate routes such as I-35, SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway, I-40, Lincoln Blvd. and Martin Luther King Ave.

The newly realigned northbound I-235 off-ramp to eastbound I-44 is shown in yellow in the above graphic.
The previous ramp exit shown in red is now closed. Motorists are advised to use caution in the area as traffic adjusts to the new configuration.

Motorists should be alert to the realignment of the northbound I-235 off-ramp to eastbound I-44, which is now open to traffic. Caution is advised in the area as motorists adjust to the new exit location, which is just to the north of N. 50th St. Additionally, eastbound I-44 remains narrowed to two lanes up to Kelley Ave. (mm 128B) and motorists are advised to use caution entering this area of the work zone.

ALTERNATE ROUTES

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and use their Off Broadway alternate routes of I-35, I-40, SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway and Martin Luther King Ave. to avoid the area.

Additional lane closures and traffic shifts will continue to occur throughout 2020 as lanes are added. The construction contract allows up to four additional complete interstate closures for a weekend each time — three for I-235 and one for I-44 at the interchange. Those closures will be announced as information becomes available.

Stay tuned to http://www.odot.org and to the department's Twitter and Facebook pages @OKDOT for updated lane closure information as the project progresses.

Alternate routes to I-235/US-77 include I-35, I-40, SH-74/Lake Hefner Parkway and Lincoln Blvd. Martin Luther King Ave. also is an option in partnership with the City of Oklahoma City.

This is how theI-235/US-77 and I-44interchangelooked prior to the latest phase ofreconstruction starting in January 2019. Work will continue through winter 2022 to widen I-235/US-77 to six lanes at I-44.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• This phase will widen I-235/US-77to six lanes between N. 50th St. and N. 63rd St and will feature a four-levelinterchange, the first of its kind on the state highway system.
  
  
• This $105 million contract was awarded in December 2018 to Allen Contracting Inc. of Oklahoma City, making it at that time the largest, single dollar amount contract awarded in department history.
  
  
• There will be 11 bridges total constructed as part of this phase to reconstruct the I-235/US-77 andI-44 interchange, which includes building two new flyover ramps to move traffic more efficiently from northbound I-235to westbound I-44 and from eastbound I-44to northbound I-235/US-77/Broadway Ext.
  
  
• Once the flyover ramps are constructed, the two cloverleaf ramps for those movements will be eliminated. The cloverleaf ramps for westbound I-44 on-ramp to southbound I-235 and southbound I-235 off-ramp to eastbound I-44 will be widened and reconstructed. These ramps will have an up to 10-day closure later in the project.
  
  
• The contract allows for an up to 45-day closure of the northbound I-235/US-77/Broadway Ext. off-ramp to N. 63rd St. later in the project.
  
  
• Click here to read the project launch press release.

Work on the new flyover ramp bridge piers continues along I-235at the I-44 interchange in late 2019.

STAY UP TO DATE

• Motorists may follow @OKDOT onTwitterandFacebookfor regular traffic updates.
  
  
• Check interstate conditions before you hit the road atwww.oktraffic.org.
  
  
• Sign up atwww.odot.orgfor daily metro area traffic advisories direct to your email. Look for the blue box on the home page, enter your email address and select your areas of interest.
  
  
• Traffic advisories and interstate conditions also can be found in ODOT's mobile app for iPhone and Android.
  
  

NEXT PHASE

• Reconstruction of westbound I-44 ramp to northbound I-235/US-77 and addition of a direct connect from N. Lincoln Blvd. to US-77/Broadway Ext. is estimated at $16.8 million and currently scheduled for award in late 2022 and for construction in early 2023.

This graphic shows the sequence of the seven phases needed to reconstruct and widen I-235/US-77 at I-44. The phase that started in spring 2019 is shown in red and orange. The pink phase is scheduled for award in late 2022.

PREVIOUS PHASES

• 2011— Southbound US-77 ramp to westbound I-44 at $19.2 million. Shown on map above in yellow.
  
  
• 2013— I-44 eastbound to I-235 southbound ramp at the I-235/I-44 interchange at $10 million. Shown on map above in light blue.
  
  
• 2017— I-235 between N. 36thSt. and I-44, which includes the installation of the 4-million pound BNSFrailroad bridge. This $88 million phase is shown on the map above in green and dark blue. Learn more about this phase athttps://www.ok.gov/odot/OFF_Broadway_and_I-235.html