August Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: ODOT’s national bridge condition ranking climbs; $160 million in projects awarded

Oklahoma Department of Transportation Press Release

August 07, 2025

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Aug. 4 meeting include a briefing of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s national bridge condition ranking climbing to No. 4, a look at an upcoming snow plow naming contest, a contract to improve two I-40 interchanges in Clinton and the next I-35 widening project near Thackerville.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz informed the commissioners that Oklahoma has been ranked No. 4 among the states with the lowest percentages of structurally deficient bridges on the highway system, according to the most recent inspection data from the Federal Highway Administration as analyzed by ODOT. These are non-tolled interstates, U.S. highways and state highways under ODOT jurisdiction. The top three states were Arizona, Texas and Georgia.

Today, 35 highway bridges rate as poor, meaning fewer than 1% of all highway bridges are structurally deficient. The remaining bridges are programmed to be addressed in the Eight-Year Construction Work Plan or the Asset Preservation Plan.

Oklahoma first broke into the Top Ten national bridge ranking in 2019 after nearly two decades of focused planning and effort as well as significant support from the Oklahoma Legislature to reverse the state’s 49^th place in the nation for bridge conditions in 2004. At that time, 1,168 of the 6,800 state highway bridges, or 17%, of the structures maintained by ODOT were rated structurally deficient or in poor condition.

“We have come a long way thanks to the support of the commission, governors and the Legislature. The Roads Fund, which originated back in 2005, was the beginning of new investment at the state level and has really helped turn the tide along with continued support, good staff and private sector partners,” said Gatz. “This is something to be proud of but we will need to continue our efforts in order to keep our infrastructure manageable.”

Commissioners were given a sneak-peek at ODOT’s first-ever Snowplow Naming Contest that begins Aug. 11 and invites Kindergarten through 12^th 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.

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.

In addition, another phase of I-35 widening 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.

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.

Commissioners voted to award 14 contracts totaling more than $160 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.

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.

View the press release: Okahoma.gov