During Tuesday’s Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board meeting, several employees were recognized for their response to a series of bridge strikes in northeast Oklahoma. On the afternoon of Dec. 16, OTA maintenance employees were working along the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike when they heard a vehicle strike one of the county overpass bridges. The crew acted quickly, contacting Oklahoma Highway Patrol before putting up barriers to block the damaged bridges and protect motorists.
OHP pulled over the driver and discovered that the truck struck not one, but six bridges between Verdigris and Big Cabin due to carrying an illegal oversize load. Within 30 minutes, a bridge inspector was on scene to inspect the bridges.
Into the evening hours on Dec. 16, OTA employees worked on finding materials to repair the bridges and communicate closures to local municipalities, residents and media. A declaration of emergency was made on the morning of Dec. 17, and by 7 a.m. a contractor was on site preparing a repair plan. When repairs officially started on Dec. 18, OTA set a goal of completing them ahead of heavy holiday travel. OTA ultimately met that goal, with the bridges opening to traffic Dec. 23.
This is a significant moment, as this is the most bridges that have ever been struck at one time along a turnpike. Several OTA leaders, including board members and Executive Director Joe Echelle praised departments across the agency, including maintenance, engineering and public relations, for their timely and appropriate response to the situation.
“My compliments to everybody on this team. Considering the amount of damage, the speed that you guys worked at and the cooperation with ODOT and everybody, was just phenomenal,” said OTA Board member Dana Weber.
Partnership with Town of Wellston for industrial access road approved
During Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Board took the first steps toward constructing a new industrial access road near the Town of Wellston as a part of the I-44/Turner Turnpike and SH-66 interchange project. The new road was requested by the town and reflects a partnership between OTA and Wellston. The project will connect the Turner Turnpike to the nearby rail yard through a connection to Skyline Drive and a railroad terminal, allowing OTA to ship large amounts of construction materials directly from the rail yard to future turnpike construction sites.
“It’s a win-win for us and for the Town of Wellston,” said OTA Chief Engineer Trent January.
In addition to OTA right of way, parts of the property that the service road will sit on are being donated by the Town of Wellston.
Next steps for capital plan, East-West Connector and Turner Turnpike project
Budgets for several significant projects were considered and approved during Tuesday’s board meeting, including a section of the East-West Connector Turnpike and two capital plan improvement projects. The contract for a bridge over the 10 Mile Flats Creek on the East-West Connector was awarded to L & N Bridge, LLC for $19 million. An $18.5 million pavement rehabilitation project at multiple locations on the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike and SH-364/Creek Turnpike was awarded to Cummins Construction, and a nearly $7 million contract was awarded to Emery Sapp & Sons for pavement rehabilitation project on the SH-351/Muskogee Turnpike between East 181st Street near Porter to just southeast of US-69.
OTA expects to let and potentially award approximately $136 million in construction projects across the turnpike system this year. Due to lower than anticipated bids and higher than anticipated toll revenues, eight additional projects were moved up into the 2026 capital plan.
The board also voted to adopt a Resolution of Necessity for the condemnation of certain real property interests along the East-West Connector and Turner Turnpikes, the majority of which are vacant land. For properties along the East-West Connector, OTA has been in communication with property owners for more than six months in an effort to reach an agreement. On the Turner Turnpike, condemnation is required to help resolve title issues that cannot be otherwise resolved. While the option to pursue condemnation is necessary to help construction stay on schedule, OTA’s preference is to work with all property owners to find agreeable terms.
Board approves OTA executive director pay increase
During Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Board evaluated the performance and compensation of OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle. Following executive session, the Board approved an updated compensation of $325,000, for Echelle effective in January. His previous salary was $240,000.
“The Board’s consensus is that he does a great job, manages people well,” Board Chairman John Jones said. “This new salary was based on a market study of similar size tolling authorities plus state agencies.”
OTA reflects on 2025 accomplishments
OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle presented the agency’s 2025 Year in Review video during the meeting. The video looked back on 2025 as a year of alignment, delivery and long-term momentum, marked by targeted progress and a clear focus on the future. It featured remembrances, accomplishments and challenges overcome in 2025. Some examples included: honoring former board member Gene Love, receiving an International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association award for combating “smishing” scams, the completion of the first ACCESS Oklahoma projects, and the release of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency’s report on OTA. View the video here.
TO WATCH the full January Board meeting, click here. OTA Board Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026