The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

The I-44 and US-75 interchange is finally inching forward. Engineering contracts have been awarded. https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/widening-the-roads-work-on-i---u-s/article_eb6c5886-e940-59b4-81e3-bf574b797a7b.html

Its getting difficult to drive this section every day. With the bridge rehab work going on, I've finally switched to the Creek turnpike for now, but I don't like the extra expense. This project should have happened years ago. With engineering just now starting, it will still be years from now before we see work even beginning on this.

The first phase of this project is set to be sent out for bids next June according to the new ODOT plan. This phase will replace the bridges over I-44 for Union Ave and US-75 and widen I-44 from Union to the River. It's going to be a mess for years.

So glad I don't work in that area any more!

While it will be a huge mess it is a project that is well overdue.  I've heard they are going to completely redesign the interchange and instead of clover leafs it will have flyovers. 

Now the state just needs to make the section of US 75 south of 121st to Hwy 67 a limited access highway with interchanges.  It's ridiculous to still have traffic lights on that stretch.

There's just one stoplight, at 141st. Traffic backs up there for a mile every morning and evening. It makes no sense that it's not even on ODOT's long term plans to replace.

I don't understand why they haven't done any studies on the I-44/BA interchange OR BA at 169.  Those two need flyover interchanges if any do.  I put my life in peril every time I drive those.  Cloverleafs are dumb.

In the new ODOT plan all these interchanges are scheduled to start modern reconstruction:
I-44/US-169 is scheduled to start in 2023
US-169/BA is scheduled to start in 2027
I-44/BA is scheduled to purchase right of way and move utilities in 2024

http://www.odot.org/cwp-8-year-plan/cwp_ffy2020-ffy2027/8_year_cwp_divisiontul_map.pdf

75 should be limited access all the way to 40...

Ugh. It's great that there are some theoretical dates set for these projects, but they should have been addressed years ago, and we all know these dates are going to get pushed back. It will be sometime in the 2030's that these interchanges finally get upgraded. Meanwhile we get to deal with wrecks and traffic backups almost every single day. I guess its still not as bad as *some* cities, but still a distressingly low priority.

That would cut probably 30 min off a drive to Dallas.

It should be limited access all the way to Texas.

Yeah, just drove this earlier today and that whole stretch of 69 South from McAlester should be limited access.  PITA today, and made me late for a meeting.   

This interchange rebuild starts with the 33rd W Ave bridges on 1/27. The Union bridges and widening I-44 from the river to Union will also start this year. It's going to be a massive mess for many years.

https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/odot-to-begin-i--bridge-replacements-in-west-tulsa/article_084a3a9c-eebd-588e-9b39-0bbba48b6147.html

I'm looking forward to it. Seriously, it needed to be done ages ago. Unfortunately, this project is just one little piece of it all, and I don't think all of it has been fully funded yet. They need to get all of these bridges expanded, re-do the interchange, and then finish expanding the interstate itself to 6-lane.

Is there any info out there on the widening to Union project? I haven't heard about that. I thought they were doing all of the widening at once.

I'm still just looking forward to the new interchange most of all. Hate dealing with the unnecessary backups every day.

There are design docs at this link:
https://www.ok.gov/odot/Programs_and_Projects/Public_Meetings_and_Hearings/20171102_I-44.html

I stopped by the ODOT open house meeting last night. I was surprised at how limited each work package is. They were showing off "work package 1" which is simply widening from the river to a bit past Union. So they aren't even getting all the widening done at once - there will be a period of time when I44 merges from 3 to 2 lanes for half a mile before hitting the I44/244 split.

The 75/44 interchange will be even more ridiculous after the widening. You should take a look at how the ramps and merge lanes are squeezed in. They aren't going after any additional right-of-way. Most of the interchange project isn't funded yet and is currently forecast for 2027 unless a bunch of grants come in... so that's going to be an annoying wait.

I guess the state is voting on this next week...

https://ktul.com/amp/news/local/most-expensive-highway-project-in-tulsa

Here's the type of interchange I would have liked to see (only with 75 going above the ring)
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/f4/54/18f454a6a02c617c13d6907739512462.png)  
works with the existing topography / reduces the number of entrance/exit ramps on I-44 and 75 / reduces 75 going down into the valley so much

edit:  never mind / looks cool / seems like it should work

I'm not sure I understand where all the expense is coming from to make it the most expensive project ever. Surely the portion on the East side that was finished years ago would have cost more. This is a small section, and from the plans they presented in January they are merely widening it to three lanes in both directions with a few overpass replacements. They are already almost done with one of the largest set of bridges that was started as a separate project. They aren't even acquiring any new right of way from what I saw, it's all squeezed in. Maybe they have changed plans once again from what they presented in the open house.

Am I understanding correctly that the flyover interchanges are NOT part of this first phase of work, that it's just widening the highway from the interchange to the bridge and rebuilding the bridges over Mooser Creek?  When will they rebuild the 75/44 interchange?

ODOT has the next phase on the schedule for 2027.

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/watch-now-i-44-u-s-75-traffic-tie-ups-to-continue-but-project-on/article_596066d2-957b-11eb-9864-37ceaaa4df85.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

I got excited seeing the piers go up for the flyovers, but apparently they aren't going to be finished as part of this project, they are just building them for the future... lol. At least that means the flyover building phase will go much quicker.

Hey 2027 will be here before we know it!   ;)  Seriously though I wonder if there can be any stimulus money that goes toward speeding up construction of this interchange?  Similar to how the TIGER funds sped up the rebuild of the double-decker 244 bridge?

It's pretty wild to see those column supports for the flyovers already in place.  These are the ones that I presume will take NB 75 to WB 44 over Mooser Creek.