FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2011
PR# 11-043
RE: Last Contract for Mainline I-40 Crosstown Alignment Gets Approval
Progress on the new I-40 Crosstown in downtown Oklahoma City reached a monumental milestone Monday when the Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded the last paving contract for mainline interstate construction.
The significance of this project is it is the last project to be constructed before drivers can begin to use the new alignment.
The $32 million project involves I-40 from east of Western Ave. to just west of South Lincoln Blvd. and includes paving, bridge foundation for the pedestrian bridge, installation of traffic monitoring devices, safety barrier and signage. In an effort to expedite the project, construction is expected to begin early fall. The contract is a joint venture between Duit Construction Co., Inc. and TTK Construction Co., both based in Edmond.
“Our goal since day one has been safety and the need to get traffic off of the old, outdated bridge and onto a new facility,” Gary Ridley said, Oklahoma Department of Transportation director. “This contract approval puts us much closer to doing just that and bring Phase One construction to an end.”
Once paving is complete in 2012, traffic will move to the new lanes. However, construction on the corridor will continue after traffic has shifted. Even after traffic is moved to the new interstate in 2012, a sizeable amount of work will remain on the mainline.
Phase 2 of the Crosstown will be to build the downtown thoroughfare and connections. The old highway structure will be dismantled beginning in 2012 to make way for the new downtown roadway and to fully link downtown Oklahoma City with the new I-40 Crosstown.
The new 10-lane Crosstown is a 4.5 mile-corridor between I-44 (Amarillo junction) and I-35/I-235 (Dallas junction) being built about five blocks south of the existing interstate. The overall Crosstown project, which includes the downtown reconnection to the interstates, is estimated at more than $670 million using federal dollars and state funds.
Information on the project will be posted in the Traffic Advisories section of www.okladot.state.ok.us
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Posted on
Tue, August 2, 2011
by John Cox