Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s submitted $1.3 billion in transportation projects to the Trump administration as part of the new President’s plan to improve nationwide infrastructure.
She proposed seven so-called “shove-ready” projects in Oklahoma. They are among 428 projects submitted from 49 states and territories to the White House National Trade Council. The submissions were made through the National Governor’s Association.
The seven Oklahoma projects include $300 million in I-40 reconstruction in Oklahoma City. Her plan calls to increase the capacity of the interstate from I-35 east to Shawnee to create a freight corridor with heavy local commuter traffic that supports Tinker Air Force Base.
The governor proposed a $300 million project to expand the US-75 corridor from I-244 in Tulsa through Jenks to Glenpool. Another project is a $43 million new control tower at the Tulsa Airport.
There is also a $135 million rehabilitation project of the lock-and-dam infrastructure at the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation Sytem. It includes the dredging of the river bottom.
Another $300 million project consists of improvements to I-44 west of the Arkansas River to west of I-244. This is considered the oldest piece of original interstate highway in Oklahoma.
Governor Fallin’s list also includes $150 million to reconstruct the I-44 and I-235 interchange which handles nearly 200,000 vehicles a day.
The final project has a $50 million price tag. It consists of safety upgrades to railroad crossings across the state.
“Oklahoma is ready to start nearly immediately if the money would be forthcoming,” said Gary Ridley, Secretary of Transportation in Oklahoma. “An infrastructure package does a lot of things besides just putting people to work. It invests in our future and it provides a tangible asset that can be used for many, many years after it’s built.”