The eastbound Creek Turnpike east of the US 169 interchange is awful. I'm talking about the long bridge that crosses the floodplain. It appears that the piers have settled, creating a very rough road. This road was built, what, 10 years ago, and it's already falling apart. Who needs Bell's when you have the Creek Turnpike?
This has been a common question about the roads in Tulsa since the mid 60's. It took forever to build 169 from 21st to the BA. The BA and the IDL took 20 years to complete. Highway 11 from Sheridan to Gilcrease has taken 30 years. Molasses runs faster in January than any one working on the roads in Oklahoma. 169 from 21st to 51st/BA took at least 12 years to build, and this was only three miles. It took about the same time to finish the BA from Utica to what is now the IDL. And bridges in Oklahoma have been falling apart since the early 80's. This includes I-44 and 193rd, Lynn Lane, 161st, the 11th over the river, I-44 over the river which took about two years, 21st/23rd over the river which took about two years, the Creek Turnpike thru south Tulsa which was on the maps in the late 60's early 70's.
Forgive me I went on a rant.
Quote from: bugo on June 22, 2010, 12:11:50 AM
The eastbound Creek Turnpike east of the US 169 interchange is awful. I'm talking about the long bridge that crosses the floodplain. It appears that the piers have settled, creating a very rough road. This road was built, what, 10 years ago, and it's already falling apart. Who needs Bell's when you have the Creek Turnpike?
Actually, it's been that way since day one. Whether it's objectionable depends entirely on your vehicle's suspension. If your suspension is soft, it seems rather wavy and weird. If you have a stiff suspension, it's not so bad, just mildly bumpy, as most bridges are.
It's been a year or more since I've driven it, though, so it may have gotten worse.
Not only has it been there since day one, it's a known hazard to motorcyclists. There have been literally dozens of FATAL motorcycle crashes on that span and on the curved span that connects it from the southbound 169 direction. Cycles at high speed literally leap off the pavement with each expansion joint.
On some weekends when I'm working my wife's company, I pull a 10ft trailer and have come very close to loosing the trailer when i'm going too fast on the curve.
You can see black marks on the barrier walls. Some mark the last moment for bikers.
Quote from: Gaspar on June 22, 2010, 07:48:43 AM
Not only has it been there since day one, it's a known hazard to motorcyclists. There have been literally dozens of FATAL motorcycle crashes on that span and on the curved span that connects it from the southbound 169 direction. Cycles at high speed literally leap off the pavement with each expansion joint.
On some weekends when I'm working my wife's company, I pull a 10ft trailer and have come very close to loosing the trailer when i'm going too fast on the curve.
You can see black marks on the barrier walls. Some mark the last moment for bikers.
Since it's on the ramp (not quite sure where this is exactly but have a good idea) it makes me wonder who owns it. ODOT/Federal (as it is a US Highway)? OTA? Likely it needs to be brought to their attention, as that is probably the highest flyover maybe in Oklahoma. I've never seen one that high except in my 3 years of living in Houston.
That road was that way when it opened.
A good reporter looking for a story might research the fatalities on that road and write a little article about it. ::)
That could have something to do with the settling and all the rain Tulsa has been getting over the years- the bridge supports should be anchored in bedrock, but I dunno, just tossing out a guess -I don't think it could of been that bad when it first opened the engineers have to check out all that stuff before it's signed off on.. IMO there is too much road const. going on a the same time all over the city from Yale N. of I-244 and on Harvard & Sheridan to the I-44 mess, and let's not forget the const. in Catoosa and around the Hard Rock Casino to name a few. I guess they also want to work on that Catoosa highway 66 bridge so that is shut down and/or detoured. ::)
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 22, 2010, 10:32:34 AM
That could have something to do with the settling and all the rain Tulsa has been getting over the years- the bridge supports should be anchored in bedrock, but I dunno, just tossing out a guess -I don't think it could of been that bad when it first opened the engineers have to check out all that stuff before it's signed off on.. IMO there is too much road const. going on a the same time all over the city from Yale N. of I-244 and on Harvard & Sheridan to the I-44 mess, and let's not forget the const. in Catoosa and around the Hard Rock Casino to name a few. I guess they also want to work on that Catoosa highway 66 bridge so that is shut down and/or detoured. ::)
Yes, that's the stuff
It has nothing to do with settling. It's how the bridge decks and suspensions were designed to handle traffic loads. Yes, it sucks. I do, however enjoy the trail adjacent to it quite a bit.
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 22, 2010, 10:32:34 AM
That could have something to do with the settling and all the rain Tulsa has been getting over the years- the bridge supports should be anchored in bedrock, but I dunno, just tossing out a guess -I don't think it could of been that bad when it first opened the engineers have to check out all that stuff before it's signed off on.. IMO there is too much road const. going on a the same time all over the city from Yale N. of I-244 and on Harvard & Sheridan to the I-44 mess, and let's not forget the const. in Catoosa and around the Hard Rock Casino to name a few. I guess they also want to work on that Catoosa highway 66 bridge so that is shut down and/or detoured. ::)
I rode it the first day it was open, and everyone in the car commented on the bounce. The contractor came back a few weeks after it opened, on complaint from the turnpike athy I presume, and scraped the surface a bit, but it made no difference.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel from near Norfolk to the Eastern Shore bounces too. At least in the early 70s. They've since added parallel spans and probably redone the original.
A college friend knew someone in the bridge business. He said they put too much arch in the spans to accomodate traffic loads. The suspension in my car matched the arches in the bridge at 55mph, the speed limit at the time. Very annoying.
I believe our roads in OK are built to spec. Unfortunately, that spec is sub-standard compared to many other places.
Wheeeeeee!!!! That was fun...let's ride again!!!!
Quote from: Conan71 on June 22, 2010, 10:51:58 AM
It has nothing to do with settling. It's how the bridge decks and suspensions were designed to handle traffic loads. Yes, it sucks. I do, however enjoy the trail adjacent to it quite a bit.
Actually, I remember reading something on the bridges (maybe on here?) and it
does have to do with settling, but not in the way people typically expect.
The skinny: The engineers thought the supports would settle more than they did (none), so they included extra rise in between the spans. Since it never settled, we're left with a dangerous, wavy highway.
I damn near lost our travel trailer a few weeks ago on that stretch of road. I thought the damn thing was going to break loose from the hitch before I could get slowed down. At 45mph it was still bouncy, but not nearly as frightening.
Quote from: dsjeffries on June 22, 2010, 01:18:04 PM
Actually, I remember reading something on the bridges (maybe on here?) and it does have to do with settling, but not in the way people typically expect.
The skinny: The engineers thought the supports would settle more than they did (none), so they included extra rise in between the spans. Since it never settled, we're left with a dangerous, wavy highway.
This would be the reverse as the arches peak at the center of the spans not at the expansion joints, IIRC.
Hee hee.. I brought this topic up back in 2006 :)
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=5325.0
Quote from: Mike 01Hawk on June 23, 2010, 09:42:05 AM
Hee hee.. I brought this topic up back in 2006 :)
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=5325.0
Ha, I miss the old Inteller.
I think it ended up he drove a Chrysler. It used to be owned by Jon Voight.
Bids going out to add inside lanes to the Creek from Memorial to 75.
Per Tulsa World:
Quote
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Construction contracts for widening portions of the Creek and Kilpatrick turnpikes are expected to be put out for bids in January or February, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority was told Friday.
During a special meeting, the authority voted to move forward with the sale of bonds to finance the projects.
The OTA plans to add inside lanes to the Creek Turnpike from U.S. 75 to Memorial Drive.
Inside lanes will also be added to the Kilpatrick Turnpike from Eastern Avenue to MacArthur Boulevard in Oklahoma City.
The additional lanes are needed to alleviate congestion, officials have said.
Once the contracts are let, it usually takes 45 to 60 days to award a contract, said Jack Damrill, OTA spokesman.
Construction is expected to take between 18 months and 22 months, said Tim Stewart, OTA deputy director.
Very little right of way will be needed because the lanes fall within the current alignment on property owned by the OTA, Stewart said. Some right of way may need to be acquired to put up sound walls, he said.
Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley, who serves as OTA and Oklahoma Department of Transportation director, said his predecessors at the OTA planned well for the expansion.
Because little right-of-way will be needed, it wills save the state tens of millions.
"The OTA is about economic development," said Albert "Kell" Kelly, chairman.
Kelly said the expansion will increase economic development.
Tolls are not expected to be increased to pay for the widening, Ridley said.
The projected cost of widening the Creek Turnpike is $72 million, said Gene Love, an OTA member.
The cost of widening the Kilpatrick is about $62 million, said Gordon Johnson, OTA chief engineer.
Quote from: Townsend on June 03, 2011, 04:56:25 PM
Bids going out to add inside lanes to the Creek from Memorial to 75.
Per Tulsa World:
They should try and get the company that's doing that for HOV lanes out here. They started a new project in January and are planning on completion by the end of the year for a 30 mile stertch.
Quote from: Townsend on June 03, 2011, 04:56:25 PM
Bids going out to add inside lanes to the Creek from Memorial to 75.
Per Tulsa World:
So I guess they will have to tear out the wire guard rails they just put up.
They have road work going on all over. They just finished that downtown I-244, 412, & Highway 75 mix master thing and now they are tearing up the hwy 75 bridge just to build another bridge when there is nothing wrong with the current bridge. I-44 is a mess west of Sheridan. :-[
Quote from: Red Arrow on June 03, 2011, 06:26:27 PM
So I guess they will have to tear out the wire guard rails they just put up.
Won't surprise me. I see alot of waste and un-needed road work being done. Why tear up the highway 75 bridge (with already 3 lanes) just to build another bridge with 3 lanes? There is nothing wrong with the bridge and I don't think it's that old. They should also limit work to avoid traffic bottlenecks. Don't tear up another road until that last project is finished. Why not wait till I-44 is done before tearing up the hwy 75 brigde?
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 04, 2011, 12:47:54 PM
They have road work going on all over. They just finished that downtown I-244, 412, & Highway 75 mix master thing and now they are tearing up the hwy 75 bridge just to build another bridge when there is nothing wrong with the current bridge. I-44 is a mess west of Sheridan. :-[
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/kallsop2/stupid.jpg)
Quote from: dbacks fan on June 04, 2011, 12:54:33 PM
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/kallsop2/stupid.jpg)
Must be that water in Omaha...
That stupid bridge is of the same design as the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed several years ago. It's rating is lower than that bridge received just before it collapsed. Those facts helped ODOT, INCOG, City of Tulsa & the Tulsa Chamber to lobby for the federal funds to replace it.
Awesome! Make the Creek three lanes per side so the stupidity from 169 can carry over to the south side.
Quote from: rdj on June 05, 2011, 08:07:27 AM
That stupid bridge is of the same design as the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed several years ago. It's rating is lower than that bridge received just before it collapsed. Those facts helped ODOT, INCOG, City of Tulsa & the Tulsa Chamber to lobby for the federal funds to replace it.
Guess the time it takes him to look up the bridge rating ran over his alloted time at the library...
Are they going to widen the bridges in the Jenks area (Elm and the River) or are they going to attempt to restripe them at minimun lane width to accomodate 3 lanes? At the $72mil price tag I would tend to think that they are.
Quote from: Hoss on June 05, 2011, 01:00:28 PM
Guess the time it takes him to look up the bridge rating ran over his alloted time at the library...
If you look at an areial photo of the WB 244/ SB 75 bridge it looks like swiss cheese that someone tried to fill in all the holes.
Quote from: dbacks fan on June 05, 2011, 01:44:45 PM
If you look at an areial photo of the WB 244/ SB 75 bridge it looks like swiss cheese that someone tried to fill in all the holes.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma&ll=36.143095,-96.005493&spn=0.00096,0.002528&t=h&z=20
Like this? (see link)
Quote from: Red Arrow on June 05, 2011, 06:06:07 PM
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma&ll=36.143095,-96.005493&spn=0.00096,0.002528&t=h&z=20
Like this? (see link)
Yikes. I used to drive this stretch of road everyday to work...(worked at 23rd and Jackson, so I exited at the 17th/Southwest Blvd exit). I remember how bad it was then. If I remember looking it up, it's the worse rated highway in the city limits, and definitely the worst rated along an interstate route.
Quote from: Red Arrow on June 05, 2011, 06:06:07 PM
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma&ll=36.143095,-96.005493&spn=0.00096,0.002528&t=h&z=20
Like this? (see link)
Yep, that's it. And for perspective, compare the size of some of the repairs to the two tankers going across the bridge.
I am curious as to why the Creek and Kilpatrick expansions are happening before the Turner?
The Turner has been under constant repair for the 23 years that I have had a license. Tolls have gone up and up, traffic has increased, and you can count on 15% of your trip being 1 lane at any given time due to the constant repairs.
Quote from: Weatherdemon on June 06, 2011, 09:34:30 AM
I am curious as to why the Creek and Kilpatrick expansions are happening before the Turner?
The Turner has been under constant repair for the 23 years that I have had a license. Tolls have gone up and up, traffic has increased, and you can count on 15% of your trip being 1 lane at any given time due to the constant repairs.
Actually, other than the new Rte. 66 bridge spanning I-44 between Kellyville & Bristow, there's no current work going on and no lane closures. Of course, that's this week...
Just wait a minute or two. The idiots at the OTA will find something to tear up.
The Creek section is disgusting. Rain didn't do that; idiots did that. I have waited and hoped for dozens of years that the OTA would finally hire a Civil Engineer AND let him/her do their job. Alas, it is not to be! I shall pass on to that big turnpike in the sky before they actually become competent. But then, it really IS all about the interest on those double tax exempt bonds for the buddies of high office holders, isn't it??
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 04, 2011, 12:47:54 PM
They have road work going on all over. They just finished that downtown I-244, 412, & Highway 75 mix master thing and now they are tearing up the hwy 75 bridge just to build another bridge when there is nothing wrong with the current bridge. I-44 is a mess west of Sheridan. :-[
Are you for real??
Quote from: ZYX on June 06, 2011, 11:13:18 PM
Are you for real??
For the love of Bill Cosby and his delicious pudding...do you really want an answer to that?
Quote from: ZYX on June 06, 2011, 11:13:18 PM
Are you for real??
Walk away from that question, you risk serious headaches and indigestion, similar to drinking the water in Mexico.
Quote from: rdj on June 05, 2011, 08:07:27 AM
That stupid bridge is of the same design as the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed several years ago. It's rating is lower than that bridge received just before it collapsed. Those facts helped ODOT, INCOG, City of Tulsa & the Tulsa Chamber to lobby for the federal funds to replace it.
There are no deck truss bridges in Tulsa. The closest one is on I-44 near the Missouri line.
Quote from: bugo on November 03, 2011, 01:45:42 AM
There are no deck truss bridges in Tulsa. The closest one is on I-44 near the Missouri line.
M'kay, that's a weird bump