OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s recent meeting include presentation of two awards to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and updates on transportation happenings in Washington, D.C. affecting federal funding and public transit programs. Contracts were awarded for projects on SH-4 in Canadian County, US-270 in Woodward County, I-44 and US-64 in Tulsa County, I-44 in Comanche County and I-35 in Payne County.

Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz highlighted awards recently presented to the agency for traffic safety efforts and a major bridge project. The Energize for Safety Coalition recognized ODOT as a partner on the SH-33 Safety Corridor between Watonga and Kingfisher. The joint effort between state and local agencies and the energy industry includes increased traffic enforcement and education to help reduce the number of serious crashes in the area.

The 2019 Pharaoh Award from the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors (AOGC) was presented to ODOT Division 7’s Duncan Residency and contractor, Frontier Bridge, for construction of the new SH-79 bridge over the Red River in Jefferson County to replace the original bridge built in 1939. The award is presented annually by AOGC for the state’s best bridge project and is named in honor of the Pharaoh family of Henryetta who were pioneers in the bridge construction industry.

Gatz updated commissioners on recent action by Congress to fund the federal government with a continuing resolution. While the short-term measure will allow ODOT to continue to solicit bids and award contracts for projects with federal funds through February 2020, a long-term budget is still needed to provide states with certainty that funding will be in place for transportation plans and programs. Additionally, he reported that the Federal Transit Administration is moving forward to authorize the ODOT Office of Mobility and Public Transit to administer federal funds for a transit program serving the elderly and disabled that was moved from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to ODOT by the Legislature earlier this year.

The commission awarded a $13-million contract to reconstruct and widen a segment of SH-4 at Wilshire Boulevard in Yukon, including the bridge over the North Canadian River. Commissioners approved a $21-million contract for reconstruction and widening of US-270 just northwest of Seiling, the last segment of the Northwest Passage in Woodward County. The remaining segments to be widened in Dewey and Blaine counties are all scheduled in ODOT’s Eight-year Construction Work Plan. This continues the ongoing effort to connect Woodward to the Oklahoma City metro area with a four-lane highway. Also awarded were contracts for I-44 and US-64 bridge repairs at the Arkansas River in Tulsa, I-44 bridge rehabilitation in Lawton/Fort Sill and I-35 bridge repair at SH-51 near Stillwater.

Commissioners voted to award 28 contracts totaling $94.5 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 27 counties.