October Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Commission approves nearly $8 billion Eight-Year Construction Work Plan, $32 million in projects awarded despite fiscal challenges

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

PR# 25-033

Updated: Monday, October 20, 2025

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, Oct. 6 meeting include adoption of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s updated Eight-Year Construction Work Plan and Asset Preservation Plan and a briefing on the federal funding highway appropriations bill.

The commission gave its approval to ODOT’s Eight-Year Construction Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2026-2033, which contains nearly $8 billion in state and federal investments in highway improvements. The plan includes projects to address 209 bridges, 12 of those structurally deficient and nearly 2,800 miles of pavement improvements which includes more than 675 miles of improvements to rural, two-lane highways with deficient or no shoulders.

This year’s balance has been challenging due to historic construction inflation. Nationwide, DOTs are experiencing nearly 18 years of cost inflation over the last three years. The department has had to adjust project costs, in turn, moving multiple projects out of the Eight-Year Plan window. Those projects are also listed in the Plan.

“We have an investment strategy in place; our priorities haven’t changed. It just might take us a little longer to get to those much-needed projects than we would like, which means we might have to do lifecycle-type work at that location. The needs are just outpacing our abilities which could start putting more pressure on our maintenance side,” ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said.

The companion 2026-2029 Asset Preservation Plan presented to commissioners includes a nearly $510 million investment in preventative maintenance to extend the life of the state’s highway infrastructure. Asset preservation projects include pavement resurfacing and rehabilitation, bridge rehabilitation, painting and joint-sealing.

Gatz reflected on the current government shut down noting that, at present, it will have minimal effect on the department’s operations. However, even a potential continuing resolution wouldn’t provide a full year of funding which could impact construction contracts next year.

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 36 contracts totaling more than $32 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 Oct. 11 and Oct. 18.

The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available on YouTube and vimeo.com/odot.

Last Modified on Oct 20, 2025

View the full article: Oklahoma.gov