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OUTER LOOP: EAST-WEST CONNECTOR

INFORMATION

Outer Loop: East-West Connector

Corridor Manager:

Sean Kavanagh, PE, CFM

Poe & Associates

J. Bret Cabbiness, PE

Garver

PROJECT UPDATE

 

At this time, the OTA is continuing design and planning work on only the section of the East-West Connector from I-44 to just east of I-35 at Air Depot. OTA has paused all activity on the eastern portion of the route to I-40 (including the interchange with the South Extension). Until the Oklahoma Supreme Court issues its decision on OTA’s application for approval of bonds, the OTA does not have access to the bond market to fund planning and construction activities for the ACCESS Oklahoma Program.

 

In January, the 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. OTA will continue to coordinate and plan the East-West Connector to ensure the easement crossings are planned, designed and constructed without interfering with the easement interests or the Norman Project’s infrastructure or operation. 

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
Active
EWC-28001
MacArthur
New Alignment - I-44 / East-West Connector Interchange
Active
EWC-28002
MacArthur
New Alignment - Bridge over the South Canadian River
Active
EWC-28003
TEIM
New Alignment - Western Avenue Interchange Extending East to I-35
Active
EWC-28004
TEIM
New Alignment - I-35 Interchange
Active
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

East-West Pod

DOCUMENTATION

Documentation for this project will be added as it becomes available.

04/13/2022

ACCESS Oklahoma Newsletter - April 2022

TIMELINE

Milestones will be added as project progresses.

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. 

Jan. 11, 2023

OTA resumed work on the ACCESS program in a limited capacity.

Dec. 8, 2022

OTA placed all work on the ACCESS program on pause.

May 17, 2022

Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the second priority East-West Connector projects:

- EWC-28008 = CEC

- EWC-28009 = CEC

- EWC-28010 = CEC

May 10, 2022

Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the second priority East-West Connector projects:

- EWC-28005 = MKEC

- EWC-28006 = EST

- EWC-28007 = EST

April 22, 2022

Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the first priority East-West Connector projects:

- EWC-28001 = MacArthur

- EWC-28002 = MacArthur

- EWC-28003 = TEIM

- EWC-28004 = TEIM

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

ACCESS Long-Range Bond Program Announced.

Dec. 7, 2021

Authority Board approves OTA Long-Range Transportation Plan.

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