Major interstate projects approved by Transportation Commission

Major improvements are coming for interstates in Oklahoma City as a result of action taken Monday by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. The projects involve an estimated $110 million in repairs.

The Commission approved contracts for projects including the replacement of six bridges on Interstate 40 in Del City. It also okayed the improvements and repairs to nine other bridges on Interstate 44 between I-40 and SW 74 in southwest Oklahoma City

Work could begin sometime this summer and the projects could take up to 2 and one-half years to complete on I-40 in Del City and a year on I-44.

“Either one of these projects, being on the urban interstate–I-40 and I-44—we will experience some major traffic disruptions,” Tim Gatz, executive director of the Oklahoma Transportation Department told commissioners.

He said the I-40 bridges are “some of the worst that we have any where on the interstate.” Some have been patched and at least five of the bridges have been deemed structurally deficient.

Manhattan Road and Bridge Co. of Tulsa was awarded a nearly $80 million contract to replace the I-40 bridges at Crutcho Creek, SE 15 and Sooner Road in Del City. When the projects begin, traffic will be narrowed to two lanes in each direction between Sunnylane Road and Air Depot Boulevard.

Sherwood Construction was awarded a $27.5 million contract for the I-44 project and traffic will also be narrowed to two lanes during the duration of the work.