OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s recent meeting include additional plans to address off-system, structurally deficient bridges; receipt of an industry award; and approving a resurfacing project between Union City and Mustang and a resurfacing and roundabout installation project on SH-82 northeast of Tahlequah.

Secretary of Transportation and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Tim Gatz reiterated to the commission plans to use funds from the Bridge Formula Program to address structurally deficient bridges as part of the Scour Mitigation Program. Approximately 428 off-system bridges statewide are deemed structurally deficient because of conditional issues related to normal scour of bridge piers and other bridge components. Using $13.7 million to make these repairs will remove the bridges from being deemed structurally deficient.

Additionally, commissioners recognized the recent statewide award from the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors. The Pharaoh Award is presented for the highest quality bridge structure in the state of Oklahoma in the past year. The industry group honored ODOT’s District 4 Edmond Residency with the 2023 Pharaoh Award for the construction of the northbound I-235 off-ramp to westbound I-44 as part of the I-235/I-44 interchange improvement project in Oklahoma City.

The bridge is a key component of the $111 million project that widened the I-235 corridor and completely rebuilt the I-235/I-44 interchange. The final phase of the interchange improvement is reconstructing the westbound I-44 to northbound US-77/Broadway Exit ramp and is tentatively scheduled to be completed in summer 2024.

The commission also voted to approve a nearly $40 million resurfacing project on SH-152 between Union City and Mustang in Canadian County. The project will resurface, add shoulders and drainage, and improve sight distance on nearly 10 miles of SH-152.

Also approved was a $57 million resurfacing, partial realignment, and roundabout installation on SH-82 on the northeast side of Tahlequah. Accompanying work on SH-51 on the west side of Tahlequah will add shoulders to 7 miles of two-lane highway. Construction should begin in spring 2024.

Commissioners voted to award 18 contracts totaling more than $128 million to improve highways, roads, and bridges statewide.

The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts monthly for road and bridge construction.