OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s recent meeting include a visit from a high school construction club and approval of projects on U.S. 259 in Hochatown, SH-152 near the airport in Oklahoma City, SH-66 near Catoosa, and U.S. 60/U.S. 412 near Ringwood.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz took a few minutes during the commission meeting to address the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors Western Heights Construction Club, who were on a field trip. One of 14 clubs established by ACOG across high schools statewide, the students were in attendance to learn a portion of the transportation process as part of workforce development.

Commissioners voted to approve a nearly $30 million improvement project on U.S. 259 in Hochatown, north of Broken Bow in Southeastern Oklahoma. The 2.3-mile project will add a center turn lane, widening the road to five lanes, and will add sidewalks to the rapidly growing tourist area.

“What we're seeing down there now is the materialization of a recreational area and a tourist area that I don't really think we've ever seen before," Gatz said. "Managing traffic in that environment on a highway system that has a lot of deficiencies is challenging to us, but this is the beginning of making it better.

We're going to be very careful to interact with a high level of detail with the businesses that are adjacent to U.S. 259 and certainly take into consideration the desires of the community."

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Also approved was an $18 million reconstruction and bridge replacement project on SH-152 between I-44 and Meridian Avenue, near the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City. The project is anticipated to begin in the spring, take just over a year to complete, and will help traffic flow between I-240 and I-44 with additional signage to direct drivers.

A more than $7 million project to replace a truss bridge on SH-66 near Catoosa in Rogers County was approved. This project is expected to begin in the spring and be completed in early 2026, in time for the Route 66 Centennial celebrations. A monument to the Route 66 truss bridge will be erected in a nearby park as part of this project.

Commissioners also appropriated $22 million for a project on U.S. 60/U.S. 412 near Ringwood in Major County. The project will add safety shoulders to westbound U.S. 60/U.S. 412 and overlay the eastbound lanes between SH-58 and Lahoma. The project is anticipated to start early next year, take an estimated year and a half for completion, and provide a smoother commute with safety features for drivers in and through Ringwood, Lahoma, and Meno.

Commissioners voted to award 33 contracts totaling nearly $150 million to improve interstates, highways, and bridges statewide.