Intersection improvement project begins Feb. 6 at US-169 and Memorial Dr. in Tulsa

A major intersection improvement project begins Monday, Feb. 6, on Memorial Dr. at the US-169 and SH-364/Creek Turnpike interchange in south Tulsa. The project will construct eastern Oklahoma's first Diverging Diamond Interchange. Work is expected to be completed in spring 2024, weather permitting.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on northbound and southbound Memorial Dr. between 93rd St. and 97th St. throughout the majority of the project, except a brief period when northbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane under the US-169 bridge. No ramp closures are expected for either US-169 or SH-364/Creek Turnpike during construction.

Drivers are urged to give full attention to the road throughout construction and be aware of shifting lanes and new traffic configurations as work progresses.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded the nearly $13 million project to Becco Contractors Inc. in October 2022.

Once the completed, drivers will experience a new traffic configuration on Memorial Dr. at US-169. Signage, signals and pavement markings will guide drivers through the intersection, which will briefly take north and southbound traffic to the opposite side of the road as usual. This contraflow traffic alignment will allow for safer, free-flowing (un-signalized) turns onto the highway or turnpike using dedicated ramp lanes. Pedestrian safety is also improved by way of shorter routes across traffic lanes.

Oklahoma's first Diverging Diamond Interchange opened in September 2020 at the I-40 and SH-6 interchange in Elk City. DDIs offer a proven solution for improving traffic flow and safety at interchanges.

• The first DDI in the U.S. was constructed in Springfield, Mo., in 2009.
• DDIs create safer, less congested intersections.
• DDIs allow for fewer conflict (collision) points.
• DDIs give drivers better sight distance at turns.
• DDI pedestrian crossings are shorter.
• DDIs aim to eliminate left turns across traffic and thereby increase safety.
• DDIs give "free-flowing" or simple left- and right-hand turns from all directions.
• Wrong way entry to ramps becomes extremely difficult.

NOTE: US-64 is concurrent with US-169 east of the interchange and with Memorial Dr. south of US-169 and SH-364/Creek Turnpike.