Restore T.R.U.S.T.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2011
PR# 11-029 

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, May 2, meeting include presentation of a proclamation commemorating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s centennial, welcoming of new commission members, recognizing the Federal Highway Administrator and approval of contracts totaling more than $44 million.

Gov. Mary Fallin attended the meeting to present a 100th anniversary proclamation calling 2011 “Celebrate Transportation Year” and to introduce new members of the commission.

“What great wisdom we had in the early days of Oklahoma to make it a priority to establish a statewide transportation system – and to think back about the gravel and dirt roads they had back a hundred years ago to where we are today,” Fallin said. “Not only is a good transportation system important for safety and taking care of the traveling public, but it is also important for our economy – for attracting businesses and for keeping and maintaining jobs in Oklahoma.”

Fallin also welcomed five recently appointed members of the commission, along with three commissioners who were reappointed to the body. The appointments were announced in April.

Appointed were: John Fidler of Okmulgee, David Burrage of Atoka, Danny Overland of Shawnee, Greg Love of Oklahoma City, Todd Huckabay of Snyder, Bobby Alexander of Woodward, Bradley Burgess of Lawton and Peter Regan of Tulsa.

Fallin and ODOT Director Gary Ridley presented to Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez an Oklahoma flag she signed in thanks for his participation in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon the previous day. Mendez ran in memory of the 11 Federal Highway Administration employees killed in the 1995 Murrah Building bombing. Commissioner Pete Regan of Tulsa also ran in the marathon and presented the medal Mendez received for participating in the event.

Ridley noted Mendez is the highest-ranking federal official to attend an Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting in recent memory. In addition to his participation in the Memorial Marathon, Mendez also was in town to promote the Every Day Counts program, an initiative to have state and federal agencies work together to accelerate construction projects.

Commissioners approved a project to replace the southbound SH-66 bridge over Bird Creek in Rogers County. The bridge has been closed since December because of the deteriorating condition of the 1936 structure.

Commissioners also awarded a project to rebuild a stretch of SH-82 in Latimer County. The highway has been narrowed to one lane since 2007, when heavy rains caused a landslide.

They also approved a contract to rebuild with shoulders a nearly seven-mile stretch of US-64 east of Perry. The project includes realigning the highway to maintain traffic during construction.

In all, commissioners awarded 29 contracts totaling more than $44 million to improve highways, interstates and roads in 24 counties. Projects include bridge and highway construction and reconstruction, resurfacing and safety improvements.

Contracts were awarded for projects in Atoka, Beckham, Caddo, Cherokee, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Haskell, Latimer, Leflore, Logan, Mayes, McClain, Noble, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Rogers, Stephens, Tillman and Tulsa counties.

The eight-member panel, appointed by the governor to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards project contracts for road and bridge construction every month. The panel’s next meeting has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, in the R.A. Ward Transportation Building in Oklahoma City.

Before a project is awarded, ODOT researches, plans and designs work to be done. Contracts are bid competitively, with the OTC selecting the winning firm. Typically, work begins several weeks or months after contracts are awarded.

Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed a www.okladot.state.ok.us.

- www.okladot.state.ok.us -