OUTER LOOP: EAST-WEST CONNECTOR
INFORMATION
Outer Loop: East-West Connector
Corridor Manager:
Sean Kavanagh, PE, CFM
Poe & Associates
J. Bret Cabbiness, PE
Garver
ACCESS PROGRAM UPDATE
On Aug. 1, 2023, the Oklahoma Supreme Court affirmed the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s request for bond validation for the ACCESS Oklahoma long-range plan. This means that the 15-year plan, including three new routes to complete the Oklahoma City Outer Loop and relieve I-35 congestion, are now able to move forward.
We are at the beginning stages of this long-range plan. OTA will move forward to enter the bond market, which will allow the Authority to restart the preliminary engineering activities for projects across the state in the coming months.
This long-range plan has always been about the safety of Oklahoma motorists. OTA’s mission is to help facilitate traffic throughout the state by seamlessly connecting with the state highway system, thereby providing a choice for a safe, convenient and efficient user-funded transportation network. Our goal is to provide safe infrastructure while maintaining the lowest toll rate for our customers.
TBD
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
~28 Miles
PROJECT LENGTH
$1,500,000,000
ESTIMATED BUDGET
(Updated as of 03/25/22)
TYPE
New alignment high-speed expressway facility
OVERVIEW
The East-West Connector is a section of the OKC Outer Loop. For a history of the Outer Loop, click HERE.
The construction includes a new east-west turnpike from I-44 Tri-City area (Newcastle, Blanchard, Tuttle) at SH-37, crossing the South Canadian River, east to I-35, then continuing east along Indian Hills Road and then northeast to I-40, connecting to the new Kickapoo Turnpike. This project expands the mobility of the south Oklahoma City metro by providing greater access to Moore and Norman while continuing the Outer Loop.
The project includes interchanges at:
-I-44
-S. Western Ave/60th Ave NW
-I-35
-S. Bryant Ave/12th Ave NW
-S. Broadway
-S. Sooner Rd/12th Ave NE (SH-77H)
-S. Douglas Blvd/48th St
-South Extension Turnpike
-S. Choctaw Rd
-S. Peebly Rd
-I-40
Status | Project # | Designer | Project Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
EWC-28001 | MacArthur | New Alignment - I-44 / East-West Connector Interchange | |
EWC-28002 | MacArthur | New Alignment - Bridge over the South Canadian River | |
EWC-28003 | TEIM | New Alignment - Western Avenue Interchange Extending East to I-35 | |
EWC-28004 | TEIM | New Alignment - I-35 Interchange | |
EWC-28005 | MKEC | New Alignment - I-35 Interchange Extending East 4.5 Miles | |
EWC-28006 | EST | New Alignment - 4.5 Miles East of I-35 Extending East 3.0 Miles | |
EWC-28007 | EST | New Alignment - 7.5 Miles East of I-35 Extending East Including South Extension Interchange | |
EWC-28008 | CEC | New Alignment - East-West Connector Extending NorthEast Including Choctaw Road Interchange | |
EWC-28009 | CEC | New Alignment - East of Choctaw Road Interchange Extending NorthEast Including Peebly Road Interchange | |
EWC-28010 | CEC | New Alignment - East of Peebly Road Extending NorthEast to I-40 Interchange |
MEDIA
ACCESS OKLAHOMA PODCAST - EAST-WEST CONNECTOR
TIMELINE
Milestones will be added as project progresses.
Apr. 14, 2023
OTA placed all work on the ACCESS program on pause.
Jan. 18, 2023
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation formally responded to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s application to cross its property for turnpike expansion under the ACCESS Oklahoma plan. While the agency denied OTA’s application along the route of the South Extension, they did indicate willingness to work with OTA on the East-West Connector’s alignment across pipeline and flowage easements.
Dec. 8, 2022
OTA placed all work on the portion of the East-West Connector east of the proposed interchange with the South Extension on hold.
May 17, 2022
Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the second priority East-West Connector projects:
May 10, 2022
Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the second priority East-West Connector projects:
April 22, 2022
Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the first priority East-West Connector projects:
April 14-21, 2022
A series of four public meetings were hosted by OTA to discuss the new alignments in the ACCESS program.
April 13, 2022
ACCESS Oklahoma Newsletter sent out to property owners in the vicinity of the corridor.
Mar. 11, 2022
Engineering teams assigned to specific projects throughout the program to begin preliminary design and necessary studies of the corridor.
Feb. 22, 2022
Details of the long-range plan, designated as the ACCESS Oklahoma Program, are announced and supporting website published.
Dec. 7, 2021
Secretary Gatz announces the OTA's intent to develop a 15-year long-range transportation infrastructure improvement plan.