OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s recent meeting include adoption of the updated five-year County Improvements for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) plan, a report on ongoing federal funding discussions in U.S. Congress, and an update on the next phase of the modernization effort involving three transportation cabinet agencies. Contracts were awarded for major projects on I-35 in Love County, I-40 in Oklahoma County, I-35 in Kay County, US-69/75 in Bryan County, and SH-66 in Lincoln County.

The commission voted to approve the annual update to the CIRB Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2022 through 2026. The plan includes $540 million for reconstruction or rehabilitation of 272 county bridges and improvements to more than 400 miles of county roads during the next five years. The CIRB program uses designated state funding administered by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) combined with federal, local, and tribal funds for the highest priority county transportation projects.

Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz briefed the commission on ongoing infrastructure funding discussions at the federal level. He noted that the U.S. Senate recently released the text of its proposal, which includes a hybrid of the annual federal highway reauthorization and new national infrastructure investments. Gatz said he was optimistic that some form of the bill would pass before the end of the federal fiscal year in September.

He also updated the board on the next steps for the Transportation Modernization Initiative, which is working to improve shared services and create a blended organizational structure across ODOT, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. The consultant, Guidehouse, will be retained for another year to help with implementation of its modernization recommendations and early initiatives, as well as creation of cost-sharing agreements and performance metrics. The department and OTA will share the cost of the $790,000 contract with Guidehouse.

Commissioners voted to award a nearly $32-million contract for reconstruction of the I-35 bridges over US-77 and the BNSF Railway near Thackerville and a more than $1-million contract for rehabilitation of the Rockwell Avenue bridge over I-40 in Oklahoma City. They also approved contracts for I-35 resurfacing between Tonkawa and Blackwell, US-69/75 resurfacing near the Texas state line in Bryan County, and SH-66 shoulder improvements near Wellston.

Commissioners voted to award 23 contracts totaling $91 million to improve highways, roads, and bridges in 20 counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Beckham, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Craig, Garvin, Grady, Hughes, Kay, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Muskogee, Nowata, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Stephens, Texas, and Washington counties.