The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s announced more than $9 billion in upgrades and improvement Monday, as part of the Eight-Year Construction Work Plan and Four-Year Asset Preservation Program.
Approved by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, the Eight-Year plan will spend $8.8 billion on critically needed transportation improvement projects designed to improve the safety and reliability of the state’s highway network. Its companion plan, the Four-Year Asset Preservation Plan includes nearly $500 million in preventative maintenance investments.
Together the two plans address 15 structurally deficient highway bridges in the state not already under contract for rehabilitation or replacement. Also included are another 395 bridges at risk of becoming structurally deficient. The Construction Work Plan will address 1,100 miles of improvements to 2-lane highways with deficient shoulders officials said.
“Through the dedicated focus of the Eight-Year Plan, the department has been able to address critical highway infrastructure needs, especially on our bridges,” Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “We’re adjusting that focus in recent years to improve more of those rural two-lane highways that need shoulders. This is will have a tremendous impact on safety in rural areas. Maintaining safe and effective routes on Oklahoma’s highway system is a critical part of the state’s economy that keeps us connected to the nation and the world.”
The Eight-Year Construction Work plan includes 1,738 projects covering nearly 3,800 miles of roadway improvements, while the Asset Preservation Plan includes 290 total projects rehabilitating 146 highway bridges and more than 1,800 miles of pavement resurfacing.
Projects in the funding announcement include improvements to the I-35/I-240 and I-35/I-44 interchanges in the Oklahoma City metro area, and improvements to the I-44 and US-75 interchange in Tulsa.