I-44 Construction Thread

[sgrizzle]

There is no place to put the ramps in the new configuration. The existing ramps are pretty dangerous and hinder traffic flow.

[bacjz00]

that has been my understanding, yes. I believe that you will have to go up to Peoria, where there will be a Texas turnaround.

Sounds good to me.  I-44 should be an easy way for folks to get through our city....fighting with local grannies trying to accelerate from 35 mph to 70 mph isn't the way to accomplish that.  I'm all for the removal of these ramps and funneling traffic down the frontage road. 

[Conan71]

Does anyone have an idea of how they plan to deal with the Lewis interchange once they tackle that project?  I don't see any way they could close Lewis or I-44 through there for any great length of time.  A co-worker and I were driving past this morning and wondering if they might do a "fly-over" for I-44 through traffic until it's done. 

That's got to be a logistical nightmare, or is that why it comes after Riverside and Harvard interchanges are complete?

[Hoss]

There is no place to put the ramps in the new configuration. The existing ramps are pretty dangerous and hinder traffic flow.

Kinda like the way US169 was redesigned at the 11th Street interchange.  I thought widening was great, but the redesign of that interchange was brilliant.  It gives southbound motorists time to get over for westbound I-44.   Before, it was a danger zone and needed to be redesigned.

Kinda like the interchange at the BA and 169 need to be redesigned to stacks instead of a cloverleaf.  Outlived it's usefulness, I'm afraid.

[FOTD]

Does anyone have an idea of how they plan to deal with the Lewis interchange once they tackle that project?  I don't see any way they could close Lewis or I-44 through there for any great length of time.  A co-worker and I were driving past this morning and wondering if they might do a "fly-over" for I-44 through traffic until it's done. 

That's got to be a logistical nightmare, or is that why it comes after Riverside and Harvard interchanges are complete?

They are lowering 51st street several feet near the intersection. Yes, it will all be a nightmare. Wonder when they will take down the office buildings?

The 169 and BA interchange design seen several years ago was a doozie. Mobil home park and Stokley were included. They will never get around to redeveloping that poorly designed mess.

[carltonplace]

Does anyone have an idea of how they plan to deal with the Lewis interchange once they tackle that project?  I don't see any way they could close Lewis or I-44 through there for any great length of time.  A co-worker and I were driving past this morning and wondering if they might do a "fly-over" for I-44 through traffic until it's done. 

That's got to be a logistical nightmare, or is that why it comes after Riverside and Harvard interchanges are complete?

Are they replacing the Lewis Ave Bridge?

[Conan71]

I don't see any choice but to replace that POS of a bridge...

[MsProudSooner]

A friend of mine met someone who works for the engineering firm that worked on the I-44 project.  She said that the Lewis interchange will be the very last part of the project to be completed due to it's complexity.  There will be no way to get south of I-44 on Lewis during this phase of construction.

[Townsend]

A friend of mine met someone who works for the engineering firm that worked on the I-44 project.  She said that the Lewis interchange will be the very last part of the project to be completed due to it's complexity.  There will be no way to get south of I-44 on Lewis during this phase of construction.

I see incensed Parkhills customers in my magic 8 ball.

[bacjz00]

The 169 and BA interchange design seen several years ago was a doozie. Mobil home park and Stokley were included. They will never get around to redeveloping that poorly designed mess.

Since you brought it up, what is the plan for the BA & 169 interchange?  According to the INCOG Transportation Plan (is this even worth anything?) there is a $25,000,000 FEDERALLY FUNDED line item in 2012 for that interchange.  What does 25 million get you? And is this money that's expected to be accessible by that time?

[nathanm]

Since you brought it up, what is the plan for the BA & 169 interchange?  According to the INCOG Transportation Plan (is this even worth anything?) there is a $25,000,000 FEDERALLY FUNDED line item in 2012 for that interchange.  What does 25 million get you? And is this money that's expected to be accessible by that time?

$25,000,000 gets you some design work and an EIS. Or perhaps some right of way acquisition if those are already done.

[sgrizzle]

Are they replacing the Lewis Ave Bridge?

I-44 is moving south. The overpass won't even be in the same place.

[YoungTulsan]

I-44 is moving south. The overpass won't even be in the same place.

This, plus right now the highway is an underpass beneath Lewis.  The new configuration should have the highway overpassing Lewis.  Just thinking about this makes me believe there will be a ridiculous amount of earthwork needed done in this area.   If you recall the I-44 & Yale upgrade, they constructed a temporary bridge which kept the highway open while the old bridge was demolished and new one was constructed.   They may need to do this sort of thing here.

[Nik]

This, plus right now the highway is an underpass beneath Lewis.  The new configuration should have the highway overpassing Lewis.  Just thinking about this makes me believe there will be a ridiculous amount of earthwork needed done in this area.   If you recall the I-44 & Yale upgrade, they constructed a temporary bridge which kept the highway open while the old bridge was demolished and new one was constructed.   They may need to do this sort of thing here.

Unless the plans have changed in the 3.5 years since the original schematic (in the first post of this thread), it looks like the highway will still be below Lewis.

[sgrizzle]

Unless the plans have changed in the 3.5 years since the original schematic (in the first post of this thread), it looks like the highway will still be below Lewis.

I'm pretty sure you're correct in that assumption. They have only made minor alterations like access road and ramp placement since then.