I-235/US-77 and I-44

All six lanes of I-235between N. 36th St. and I-44opened to traffic Nov. 9, 2018, finishing nearly a year ahead of the original construction estimate for this widening and reconstruction project.

Learn more about the opening and what's next here:https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=46612

Act 2 — I-235/US-77 and N. 50th St. —COMPLETE

• This phase will widen I-235 to six lanes from N. 36th St. to just north of N. 50th St. It also will reconstruct the N. 50th St. bridge over the interstate, the BNSF railroad bridge and a smaller bridge near N. 50th St.
• Work began Jan. 2, 2017, and all lanes opened to traffic Nov. 9, 2018. Incidental work is expected to continue int he work zone through November.
• This contract was awarded in May 2016 to Allen Contracting Inc. of Oklahoma City. Including incentives and a resurfacing project that prepared the interstate for the upcoming reconstruction, cost is estimated at $88 million.
• When awarded, this was the single largest dollar amount awarded for a highway contract in state history, exceeding contracts for the I-35/SH-9 East/Lindsey St. project in Norman and I-244 in Tulsa.
• Contractor will bring in national bridge experts to facilitate building the railroad bridge on site and moving it into place above the interstate.
• The demolition of the N. 50th St. bridge and the BNSF railroad bridge as well as moving the new railroad bridge into place will require up to six, separate full weekend closures of I-235 for traffic safety. Those closures will be announced later in the project.
• This is the third of seven phases necessary to complete the rebuild of the I-235 and I-44 interchange and this project combines two phases together.
• This project will address congestion and safety issues by providing six dedicated traffic lanes in addition to auxiliary lanes that will increase merging distance to accommodate current and future traffic.
• Regular traffic advisories will update motorists to lane closures and lane shifts throughout the project.

Act 2 Project Highlights

I-235 / I-44 construction footage from ODOT on Vimeo.

Here's a quick look at the many construction activities along northbound I-235near N. 50th St. as of Sept. 22, 2017. Work includes ongoing improvements to the drainage system, which includes a 96-inch drainage pipe and a 72-inchdrainage pipe. These much larger drainage pipes combined with more than 30drainage structures along the 2-mile stretch of interstate are expected to significantly reduce flooding issues in this area during heavy rainfall.

Broadway Extension/I-235 & I-44 Interchange from ODOT on Vimeo.

Take a last look at how I-235 looked between I-44 and N. 36th St. before the first full weekend closure started June 2, 2017. The closure allowed for the removal of the N. 50thSt. bridge span over the interstate among several other activities. The view was significantly different after traffic resumed early June 6, 2017. The contractor finished almost two days earlier than expected.

This was the view of the50-year-old BNSF railroad bridge over I-235, shown here in front of the new 45-foot-tall truss bridge,as it appeared in late January 2018.

In this photo,three of the four spans of the BNSF railroad bridge over I-235near N. 50th St. were down. The 50-year-oldbridge was not long enough to accommodate the ongoing widening and reconstruction of I-235into a six-lanefacility plus auxiliary lanes. Trains have been using the new, 45-foot-tall and more than 550-foot-long new bridge since late February 2018.

Allen Contracting Inc. crews guide the first steel beam for the new N. 50th St. bridge into place March 2 over the northbound lanes of I-235. Crews closed I-235 between N. 36th St. and I-44at 7 p.m. March 2. The interstate reopened just before 6 a.m. Monday, March 5.

Curtain Closes on Act 1 — I-235/US-77 resurfacing from N. 36th St. to N.W. 63rd St.

• Night work started Aug. 22, 2016, and finished in late September 2016 ahead of schedule.
• Nearly $3 million contract with incentives was awarded in late spring to Haskell Lemon Construction Co.
• This interstate resurfacing was designed to improve the pavement condition ahead of a three-year widening project at I-235 and N. 50th St.
• Improving the surface condition now should lessen the potential for unexpected traffic disruptions due to the impact of nearly 100,000 vehicles a day travelingon fewer lanes.

Previous Phases of I-235 Reconstruction

• 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. $88 million

Next Phases

Once these projects complete, US-77/Broadway Extension and I-235 will be widened to six lanes, improving one of the worst bottlenecks for traffic in the state.

• Reconstruct I-235 between north of N. 50th St. through the I-44 interchange to N.W. 63rd St. Estimated $45 million.
• Flyover ramps/bridges of northbound I-235 to westbound I-44 and eastbound I-44 to northbound Broadway Ext. Estimated $35 million.
• Reconstruct westbound I-44 to northbound I-235/US-77 ramp. Estimated $16 million.

Stay Up to Date

• Motorists may follow @OKDOT on Twitter and Facebook for daily traffic updates.
• Check interstate conditions before you hit the road at www.oktraffic.org.
• Sign up for daily metro area traffic advisories direct to your email at www.odot.org. Look for the blue box on the home page and select your areas of interest.