Oklahoma Transportation Commissioners did more than receive a report on the status of bridge safety in the state during their meeting this week.
One move was another phase of I-35 widening which was approved in a $16 million project for the area between mile markers 5 and 8 near Thackerville. This project will begin in the fall, following the completion of a portion just south, and is estimated to be complete in the spring. Two lanes will be open in both directions with some overnight closures.
Commissioners approved a $76 million project to improve the I-40 interchanges at mile markers 65 and 65A in Clinton. The project is a partnership with the City of Clinton and will reconstruct the existing interchanges to help with traffic flow in the growing community. The project is anticipated to start early next year and is estimated to take about three and a half years to complete, although incentivized for early completion.
Commissioners voted to award 30 contracts totaling more than $102 million to improve interstates, highways and bridges statewide. The public may access a list of all awarded contracts at the ODOT Business Center or in PDF format AM letting and PM letting.
Commissioners were given a sneak-peek at ODOT’s first-ever Snowplow Naming Contest that begins Aug. 11 and invites Kindergarten through 12th grade students statewide to name 24 snowplows in the agency’s winter fleet.
The contest encourages student creativity and community engagement while highlighting the agency’s hard-working crews during winter storms. Students can win prize packages and the winning names will appear on ODOT’s snowplows. More information will be available at OkTraffic.org on Aug. 11.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts monthly for road and bridge construction.
The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Sept 8. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available on YouTube and vimeo.com/odot.