Construction of a new spur through eastern Oklahoma County connecting the Turner Turnpike to I-40 is critical not only for public safety but for the future of one of the state’s largest employers—Tinker Air Force Base. That’s according to Sen. Jack Fry, R-Midwest City.
“As a former mayor of Midwest City, I wanted to make sure we made every effort to be proactive in backing public policy and initiatives at the state and local level that demonstrated our commitment to Tinker, and I believe we’ve been highly successful,” Fry said. “Our commitment to the aerospace industry has resulted in the creation or relocation of thousands of new jobs, which is going to be fantastic for economic growth and development but it also means our already heavily congested traffic is only going to get worse without this new spur.”
The congestion not only is a safety concern for all who travel through eastern Oklahoma County on I-40 and I-35, but Fry said since 9/11, there’s an additional concern.
“Tinker is critical to the defense of our nation, and if anything happened to the I-40 and I-35 interchange, it would seriously impair the ability to move equipment efficiently in and out of Tinker,” Fry said. “Having this second transportation route supports Tinker’s mission.”
Fry said although the new spur will not run through the district he represents, he does empathize with homeowners upset about the route—he lived in the Glenwood addition when he and other homeowners had to relocate because of safety issues related to a runway at the base in the early ‘80s.
“It is a difficult situation. I’ve been there. But when you think about every road and highway in our state and the land they’re on, at some point that land belonged to someone else,” Fry said. “And many people have forgotten that the legislation authorizing an eastern Oklahoma County turnpike spur was approved back in the mid to late 1980’s. Even then the need for this additional route was known.”
Fry also pointed to recent public comments by retired Maj. Gen. William P. Bowden who noted that the turnpike spur was vital to the continued growth at Tinker Air Force Base.
“Progress does not happen easily, but as we work to rebuild Oklahoma’s economy, we cannot understate the importance of ensuring our transportation infrastructure will support our efforts,” Fry said.
NO to this turnpike, they will ruin people’s lives. This is another example of elected officials NOT listening to the voters and why the OTA needs to be done away with.
YES! On the Turnpike! YES! For jobs! YES! For growth!
Unfortunately, Senator Fry is a typical big government Republican that talks smaller government but does the opposite. He was bad as mayor of MWC and has continued the same pattern as senator. The idea that Tinker cannot survive without it without any prove shows his statement is without merit. Tinker officials have not taken a position on the new turnpike. Then he uses the fear statement that about I-40 and I-35 getting closed. He managed to forget that I- 240 is right there also. We don’t want or need a new turnpike!
Here we go again, remember if MWC didn’t tax themselves to buy GM building and give it to Tinker then the sky would fall. Now its give up your personal property and homes for a turnpike. Who does this man thinks elected him and he works for? Seems he works for the turnpike authority and the business interests involved in this land grab. Who gave the turnpike authority such power?
It would seem to even the simplest of minds we have elected representatives who have a responsibility to listen and conform to the wishes of the citizens. What has happened to our government in Oklahoma? Got to get these tyrants out of office. They are destroying our state government.