Approved Monday by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, the Federal Fiscal Year 2024-2031 Eight-Year Construction Work Plan contains $8.8 billion worth of transportation improvement projects designed to improve the safety and reliability of Oklahoma’s highway network. The companion 2024-2027 Asset Preservation Plan includes a nearly $500 million investment in preventative maintenance to extend the life of the state’s highway infrastructure.
The two plans together will address the 15 remaining structurally deficient highway bridges in the state that were not already under contract for rehabilitation or replacement. Another 395 bridges at risk of becoming structurally deficient are also included. The Construction Work Plan also includes 1,100 miles of improvements to two-lane highways with deficient shoulders.
“Through the dedicated focus of the Eight-Year Plan, the department has been able to address critical highway infrastructure needs, especially on our bridges,” said Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. “We’re adjusting that focus in recent years to improve more of those rural two-lane highways that need shoulders. This will have a tremendous impact on safety in rural areas. Maintaining safe and effective routes on Oklahoma’s highway system is a critical part of the state’s economy that keeps us connected to the nation and the world.”
Investments in Oklahoma’s transportation system have made significant impacts to the quality and level of service of the state’s highway infrastructure since the first Eight-Year Plan was approved in 2003. At that time, Oklahoma had 1,168 structurally deficient bridges on the highway system, making the state among the worst nationally for bridge conditions. Oklahoma was ranked No. 5 in 2022 thanks to strategic planning with the Construction Work Plan and continued commitments from legislators, governors, and ODOT officials in the past two decades.
- $8.8 billion in total investment
- 1,738 total projects
- Addresses 643 bridges through rehabilitation or replacement
- Nearly 3,800 miles of roadway improvements, which includes more than 1,100 miles of safety improvements on two-lane highways with deficient or no shoulders
- $497 million in total investment
- 290 total projects
- Rehabilitation of 146 highway bridges
- More than 1,800 miles of pavement resurfacing
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Notable projects added or advanced in the Eight-Year Construction Work Plan include:
- In the Oklahoma City metro area, improvements to the I-35/I-240 and I-35/I-44 interchanges as well as resurfacing I-35 between the Oklahoma River and S.E. 89th
- In the Tulsa metro area, improvements to the I-44 and US-75 interchange
- In Eastern Oklahoma, resurfacing of US-69 between Checotah and Eufaula in McIntosh County
- In Southeastern Oklahoma, adding shoulders along SH-37 west of Idabel and improvements on US-259 in Hochatown in McCurtain County moved forward to 2024
- In Southeast Central Oklahoma, bridge rehabilitations over I-44 at SH-37 East and S.W. 119th in Cleveland County and at SH-145 over I-35 in Garvin County
- In South Central Oklahoma, planning for improvements along I-35 between Marietta in Love County and Springer in Carter County, as well as an I-35 bridge reconstruction at Thackerville in Love County
- In Western Oklahoma, widening US-270 near SH-58 west of Watonga in Blaine County, and pavement reconstruction on I-40 west of US-281 in Caddo County
- In Northwest Oklahoma, adding shoulders to SH-45 in Alfalfa County and resurfacing part of US-281 in Alva in Woods County
