OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Transportation Commission has approved an $81 million construction project that promises to widen Interstate 235 and rebuild three bridges that span the highway.
The project approved Monday is expected to cost closer to $88 million when resurfacing work and incentives are added, officials told The Oklahoman (https://bit.ly/21tO6wQ ). The bulk of the project will begin in the fall and is expected to take nearly three years to finish.
Resurfacing work on I-235 next month will narrow the highway to one lane going in each direction during nights and on weekends.
I-235 also will be completely closed for six weekends to reconstruct its bridges. Transportation department spokesman Terri Angier said the exact dates of the closures aren’t known yet.
When work is complete, the highway will be six lanes wide between NW 36 and NW 50 and will include additional lanes for on- and off-ramps. Three bridges that span the interstate will be reconstructed, including one for carrying railroad traffic. Transportation department officials said that the entire interchange at I-235 and NW 50 will also be rebuilt.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials said the agreement with Oklahoma City-based Allen Contracting Inc. is the largest individual contract ever awarded by the state agency.
Angier said that is certain progress milestones are reached during construction, the contractor could earn up to $4 million in incentives.
Officials said the section of I-235 near NW50 handles 92,000 vehicles on a daily basis, making it one of the most congested areas of Oklahoma City.
___
Information from: The Oklahoman, https://www.newsok.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.