What is the deal with the Will Rogers Expressway??

[citizen72]

I have been married to my lady for thirty years and she is from Miami, Ok. Have been traveling the Will Rogers for all those years. It has been under repair and redo for all those years. What the heck, does someone have cash cow? No road needs to be worked on that much. They tear us road that is perfectly fine. "Hey what's the deal?"

[sgrizzle]

According to the OTA, it'll be going for years to come.

[citizen72]

But why? Are they doing it just to spend money? The road way which we travel often is never a problem.

As I said earlier they tear up all of it now just the few bad spots. Am I the only one disturbed by this?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by citizen72


But why? Are they doing it just to spend money? The road way which we travel often is never a problem.

As I said earlier they tear up all of it now just the few bad spots. Am I the only one disturbed by this?

It looks like from their plan they are resurfacing all of the turnpikes over the next few years. I don't know why on this roadway but it's been discussed in some other threads about preventative work being done on other roads, maybe that is part of it.

[cannon_fodder]

Citizen, I would ask you to remember that roadways need to be redone every 20 years with resurfacing and minor repair more frequent than that (lets call it 7).  From Miami to Tulsa is 90 miles in two directions - so 180 miles of 2 lane roadway (remembering the repair one side at a time).  

So with a 7 year rotation some 25 miles of the stretch from Miami to Tulsa will be under construction at all times.   Even if they just waited 20 years until it all but crumbled STILL 9 miles would be under construction at all times.  180 miles of roadway requires a lot of maintenance, ignoring it renders a larger bill down the road as well as increased construction time and at highway speeds could actually be dangerous.

Just my 2 cent guess on that.

[guido911]

I drove that stretch almost 4 days a week for several years and there were portions always under construction. Given the relatively poor condition of other non-toll interstate and state highways, there has to be some explanation for the ability (financiallY) of this stretch to be under constant repair and upkeep. Any reason to believe that this work is occurring simply to justify both the continuation of regressive taxation of drivers, er charging tolls, and the existence of the turnpike authority--or am I off base here...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by guido911

I drove that stretch almost 4 days a week for several years and there were portions always under construction. Given the relatively poor condition of other non-toll interstate and state highways, there has to be some explanation for the ability (financiallY) of this stretch to be under constant repair and upkeep. Any reason to believe that this work is occurring simply to justify both the continuation of regressive taxation of drivers, er charging tolls, and the existence of the turnpike authority--or am I off base here...

You said it yourself, this is a toll road. They pay for their own repairs. The federal and state funds normally designated for this highway are returned to the state for ODOT to spend elsewhere.

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by guido911

I drove that stretch almost 4 days a week for several years and there were portions always under construction. Given the relatively poor condition of other non-toll interstate and state highways, there has to be some explanation for the ability (financiallY) of this stretch to be under constant repair and upkeep. Any reason to believe that this work is occurring simply to justify both the continuation of regressive taxation of drivers, er charging tolls, and the existence of the turnpike authority--or am I off base here...

You said it yourself, this is a toll road. They pay for their own repairs. The federal and state funds normally designated for this highway are returned to the state for ODOT to spend elsewhere.

The point I was attempting to make was apparently unclear. Nevermind.