By Senator Ron Sharp
Maintaining a safe and efficient transportation infrastructure throughout the state that best serves local citizens, businesses, public safety and tourism is one of our government’s most important responsibilities. Oklahoma is growing and that requires transportation improvements to prevent traffic congestion and accidents.
We’re especially seeing a lot of growth around the Oklahoma City metro area, which is requiring quite a bit of construction in our Senate district.
There is a project involving the I-40/I-35 Dallas Junction where lanes will be added for both the north and south bound lanes of I-35 in 2022. Currently, there are only single ramps. The project will require widening/replacement or parallel bridges over the Oklahoma River.
Also I-40 from the Ft. Smith Junction east to Air Depot Road is being built to accommodate five lanes, including four through lanes and one auxiliary lane. This project hasn’t been fully funded yet. So far the Scott Street, Sunnylane, Crutcho Creek, 15th Street and Sooner portions of the project have been funded.
ODOT is also extending I-40 from Air Depot Road to Douglas Boulevard to accommodate four lanes (three through lanes and one auxiliary lane). This project also is not fully funded. Douglas is part of the 8-Year Construction Work Plan (CWP) in 2020, but is also part of a FASTLANE grant ODOT has applied for that if awarded would move the project up to 2018.
Lanes will also be added in both directions on I-40 from Douglas to I-240. This is also part of a FASTLANE grant ODOT has applied for that if awarded would move this project up to 2018.
Lanes in both directions are also being planned for I-40 from I-240 to Choctaw Road. The project will also include a duel I-240 to I-40 east bound ramp connection. This is scheduled to be let this fall.
Another project will extend I-40 from Choctaw Road to the new turnpike. ODOT will be moving additional lanes scheduled to start in 2020 to 2017.
Finally, I-40 will be extended from the new turnpike to the County line with additional lanes being added in 2020.
There is so much happening in the metro area and that’s exciting because it means our city and state are growing. Boeing is adding 3,000 jobs and dedicating their new facility on July 15. The GE Service Center will be done soon and Tinker is also adding 1,300 new jobs. While these are all great developments for the city and state, they will increase traffic congestion in their particular areas. These transportation projects will help lessen that congestion and speed up commute times, which is important for not only citizens but for local businesses.
These projects will also create alternative routes should anything ever happen to the I-40 and I-35 interchange, which Tinker relies on to get equipment to and from the base. Tinker is a large employer and plays a critical role in our nation’s national security. Having sufficient access routes to the base has been of utmost concern to military officials and will help strengthen arguments for Tinker should there be any more federal consideration of base closures.
To contact me at the Capitol, please write to Senator Ron Sharp, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 429, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at sharp@oksenate.gov, or call (405) 521-5539.
