Secretary of Transportation and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Tim Gatz briefed commissioners on the continuing resolution recently approved by Congress and the president to fund the federal government through mid-December. The act extended transportation funding and policy provisions in the Fix America’s Surface Transportation Act that was set to expire in September, and will allow ODOT to continue to solicit bids on contracts with federal funds.
Commissioners heard that Oklahoma was the recipient of two grants for major highway and railroad projects from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The first, a $22-million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant will help fund upgrades and preservation of the US-281/Route 66 Bridgeport Bridge in Caddo and Canadian counties.
The second grant, a $10-million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant was awarded to the Kiamichi Tri-State Freight Rail Project, which was supported by ODOT and the Choctaw Nation. The grant will fund major upgrades to restore 36 miles of railroad between Antlers and Hugo.
Gatz highlighted progress on the agency’s widening of I-40 to six lanes east of I-240 in Oklahoma City and the partnership with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to construct an interchange with the new Kickapoo Turnpike in eastern Oklahoma County. He announced that the new turnpike has partially opened, which allows travel between I-44/Turner Turnpike and US-62/N.E. 23rd Street. The southern segment of the Kickapoo Turnpike will connect to I-40 once complete.
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The commission voted to awarded contracts for two major projects on US-69 in southeastern Oklahoma, both of which tie in to previously completed corridor upgrades. These include $32 million for the next phase of US-69 reconstruction between US-270 and S. 14th Street in McAlester and a $30-million project to reconstruct four miles of US-69 pavement north of SH-9 in Eufaula. Commissioners also approved contracts for bridge reconstruction on I-40 at Big Sallisaw Creek near Sallisaw and US-62 at the Washita River in Chickasha, construction of the Pathway to Hope Trail near I-244 in Tulsa, and bridge maintenance at Lincoln Boulevard and I-44 in Oklahoma City.
Commissioners voted to award 27 contracts totaling $138 million to improve highways, roads, and bridges in 29 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Beaver, Bryan, Caddo, Carter, Cimarron, Coal, Cotton, Dewey, Grady, Hughes, Jackson, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Love, Major, McClain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Osage, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner, and Woods counties.
