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Press Release - Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation

Progress Continues on New Crosstown: Third Project Begins

On the heels of celebrating Independence Day and new bridges near the Bricktown Canal, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation announces the beginning of its next construction project in the rebuilding of the I-40 Crosstown Expressway. This construction project, started July 16, is number three in a series of projects necessary to build the new corridor.

The $14 million project is located near Shields Blvd. in downtown Oklahoma City and involves building a permanent north-south Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad bridge over the future Crosstown thoroughfare. This railroad bridge replaces a temporary one put in place during earlier construction to ensure railroad traffic would not be interrupted throughout construction.

Because the new interstate is being built along a new alignment, construction is not visible to current traffic and is expected to cause only minimal interruptions. This project should be complete in Fall 2008.

ODOT and its team of consulting engineers are working diligently in preparing design plans on future projects to ensure reconstruction efforts remains on target. A series of projects throughout the corridor are expected to be bid over the next year.

Since the initial planning stages in 1996, ODOT has worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City, various community organizations, railroad companies and Congress to address critical needs related to the Crosstown.

Reconstruction on the I-40 Crosstown Expressway began in late 2005 and is estimated at $557 million. Stretching four and a half miles, from May Ave. to I-235, the new 10 lane interstate is being built approximately five blocks south of the current corridor which carries approximately 120,000 vehicles a day. Once interstate construction is complete, the old Crosstown will be disassembled and will be the location of a new Boulevard which will ensure smooth integration into downtown Oklahoma City. The new interstate is expected to be open to traffic in 2012.

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(Editors and News Directors: For media inquiries, contact the ODOT Public Affairs Division at 405-521-6000.)

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