Oklahoman, Published: January 24, 2011
WERE the situation reversed and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority was considering adding lanes to the Oklahoma City end of the Turner Turnpike, Tulsa boosters would no doubt clamor for equal treatment.
As it is, the only section of the turnpike with more than two lanes in each direction is between Tulsa and Sapulpa and the OTA is mulling whether to increase the section between Sapulpa and Bristow to three lanes in each direction.
The Turner Turnpike remains at four lanes east of Oklahoma City, where the toll road (which is also Interstate 44) joins the Kilpatrick Turnpike and I-35. Traffic volume from Oklahoma City to the east doesn’t justify additional lanes at this time, so there is no clamor from this quarter for getting what the Tulsa area has gotten or may get in the future.
Urban sections of turnpikes in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties are due for upgrades to three lanes in each direction based on traffic volume. Such volume, rather than a petty form of sibling rivalry we call “capital envy,” should be the main justification for highway improvements... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Mon, January 24, 2011
by John Cox