Two SH-364/Creek Turnpike bridges over Haikey Creek in Broken Arrow will undergo rehabilitation beginning in October after the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board awarded a nearly $72 million construction contract. The project was awarded on Tuesday to OBC Inc. during the Board’s monthly meeting.
The 25-year-old bridges will have their concrete deck, parapets and concrete beams replaced and repairs made to the substructure. Traffic will remain open during construction but will be narrowed to one lane in each direction and shifted onto one bridge while work occurs on the other bridge. While the project is expected to continue through summer 2027, OTA’s agreement with contractors includes incentives to encourage timely and accurate completion of work. Contractors on this project may earn $20,000 per day, for a maximum of 45 days, to potentially move up the completion timeline to spring 2027.
In September, bridge repairs are expected to begin on I-344/John Kilpatrick Turnpike at N.W. 23rd St. and N. Sara Road near Oklahoma City in Canadian County, following a strike Feb. 27 by an illegally over-height vehicle. Five beams on the two bridges were damaged in the strikes. Repairs will include removing damaged concrete, cleaning and preparing concrete surfaces, patching the spalled concrete with pneumatically placed mortar and repairing severed strands. The Board awarded the nearly $124,000 contract to Built Right Construction.
Westbound John Kilpatrick Turnpike (running south) will be narrowed to one lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for about a week for repairs. Additionally, there will be non-concurrent closures on the Sara Rd. and 23rd St. bridges for the repairs. During these closures, the other bridge will remain open to serve as a local traffic detour. The project is expected to last 12 days and OTA’s agreement with contractors includes incentives to encourage timely and accurate completion of work. Contractors on this project may earn $5,000 per day, for a maximum of 3 days for early completion.
Stroud Service Plaza closes temporarily
Executive Director Joe Echelle updated the Board on a significant change to the I-44/Turner Turnpike Stroud service plaza, which will be closed to traffic at 8 a.m. July 15. This closure will allow construction of the new Love’s and McDonald’s facilities and the expansion of the truck parking lot to progress much faster and will increase safety for the traveling public who were trying to navigate an active construction zone. Commercial motor vehicle drivers should plan for the closure by fueling up before leaving Tulsa to travel on the Turner Turnpike, Echelle said. The service plaza is expected to reopen to the public by late fall 2025, about two months ahead of schedule.
