New I-244 Bridge

[rdj]

My elderly in-laws are going to love all of this when they come visit us on the hill from OKC.  When the IDL was being refurbished every time they would visit I would get a call about 30 minutes after they left asking for help  because they'd ended up God knows where and couldn't figure out how to get back to the Turner Turnpike.

The switch (and ensuing confusion) about the 75/I-244 ramp and the 64/51 ramp will blow my father in laws mind and he may end up in Coweta by the time he calls me.

Having driven thru there several times the detour isn't that bad.  However, I'm going to against the primary traffic flow.  I was impressed they poured the crossover portion while doing the IDL refurbish so they could make the switch quicker and easier.

[Townsend]

Really?  Seems 44 would be more of a straight shot since you go further south from our hoods then west, rather than looping north three miles then back.  I don't even really worry about distance anymore it's wear on the nerves.

I gave it a shot this morning.

I will continue to drive that way for a while.  I realized there are different styles of drivers on 44 compared to 244/75.  They seem to be even less pleasant but I'm up for the challenge.

I felt like Dark Helmet with the types of drivers I was surrounded by.

[bacjz00]

I e-mailed ODOT to see if I could get some more detailed renderings or plans for the bridge project.  I'm sure they're all very busy right now, but if I get anything back I'll be sure to post it here.

[Conan71]

I gave it a shot this morning.

I will continue to drive that way for a while.  I realized there are different styles of drivers on 44 compared to 244/75.  They seem to be even less pleasant but I'm up for the challenge.

I felt like Dark Helmet with the types of drivers I was surrounded by.

I tried it this morning and was amazed.  I was wondering where all the traffic was.  Only problem I saw were a couple of people on cell phones who took up a lane and a half negotiating the S-curves.

[Townsend]

I tried it this morning and was amazed.  I was wondering where all the traffic was.  Only problem I saw were a couple of people on cell phones who took up a lane and a half negotiating the S-curves.

It was better this morning.  It was a different time today.  (about an hour later)  So I'll try it again tomorrow.

[Conan71]

I rolled through around 8am.  It's also helping with school being out.  I cannot believe the contrast on the BA and elsewhere with traffic.  It's like 1/2 the idiots sleep in now.

[sgrizzle]

I e-mailed ODOT to see if I could get some more detailed renderings or plans for the bridge project.  I'm sure they're all very busy right now, but if I get anything back I'll be sure to post it here.

They have a whole page on it:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/recovery/tiger/tulsa_i244/index.htm

[SXSW]

You might see if you can get any info out of the George Kaiser Foundation.  They are the ones funding the design, or at least funding the hiring of an architect to assist ODOT/Manhattan Road & Bridge.  That's all I know.

[bacjz00]

They have a whole page on it:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/recovery/tiger/tulsa_i244/index.htm

D'oh!  Well I was kind of hoping for a rendering, but this is good stuff!

[Conan71]

Question, they managed to rebuild the I-40 bridge that was hit by the barge in something like 90 days and that included beams, decking and perhaps even a pier or two.  Any reason they couldn't throw more men at this, work round the clock, and finish the project in a year?  I believe they get a $25K per day bonus for each day it's finished early.  I think this has a 550 or 580 day time table, correct?

[swake]

Question, they managed to rebuild the I-40 bridge that was hit by the barge in something like 90 days and that included beams, decking and perhaps even a pier or two.  Any reason they couldn't throw more men at this, work round the clock, and finish the project in a year?  I believe they get a $25K per day bonus for each day it's finished early.  I think this has a 550 or 580 day time table, correct?

It's going to be a lot longer than that. When they finish this bridge they are going to start on the other one. You can double that time frame.

[Townsend]

It's going to be a lot longer than that. When they finish this bridge they are going to start on the other one. You can double that time frame.

They've already funded the East bound?

[Conan71]

They've already funded the East bound?

Watch, we'll get the west bound finished then we will be in full austerity mode.  By that time the eastbound bridge will be decked in boiler plate and the undercarriage strung with chicken wire to keep concrete chunks from falling on the wildlife and homeless folks below.

[carltonplace]

Watch, we'll get the west bound finished then we will be in full austerity mode.  By that time the eastbound bridge will be decked in boiler plate and the undercarriage strung with chicken wire to keep concrete chunks from falling on the wildlife and homeless folks below.

Sounds nice: boiler plate with concrete chunks and austerity gravy.

[Townsend]

Sounds nice: boiler plate with concrete chunks and austerity gravy.

Sop that up.