KOCO ELISE JONES LEARNED WHEN THOSE BARRELS GO DOWN TODAY, THOUSANDS OF CARS TRAVEL EVERY DAY BETWEEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE. NOW IN TWO WEEKS, OTA SAYS BARRIERS WILL BE GOING UP AS THERE’S PLANS TO ADD LANES, LIGHTS AND INTERCHANGES. WHILE THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT OF MANY, WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO UPGRADE OUR SYSTEM, MODERNIZE IT, ADD SOME SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE BEGINNING OF A WIDENING PROJECT ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE SET TO BEGIN IN A FEW WEEKS, OTA SAYS. THE PROJECT, PART OF THEIR 15 YEAR, $5 BILLION ACCESS OKLAHOMA PLAN, WILL PICK UP WHERE THE DRIVING FORWARD PROJECT STOPPED JUST EAST OF TULSA. IT WILL ACTUALLY START ON THE EAST END AND WORK ITS WAY TOWARD BRISTOW. BUT EVENTUALLY WE’RE CONTINUING THAT, WIDENING ALL THE WAY TO OKLAHOMA CITY THROUGH A SERIES OF WIDENING PROJECTS. EXPECT TO SEE THOSE BARRELS FOR THE NEXT 6 TO 7 YEARS. THIS PROJECT IS REALLY FOR THE FUTURE. IT’S GOING TO MAKE THINGS MORE CONVENIENT FOR TODAY’S MOTORISTS. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE SIX LANES, THERE’S AN ADDITIONAL WIDENING THAT’S GOING TO TAKE PLACE THAT WILL NOT BE INITIALLY STRIPED FOR FUTURE HOV AND TRUCK LANES, FOR ADDING NEW INTERCHANGES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE TRAFFIC ON AND OFF MORE EASILY IF THERE’S CRASHES, IT’LL ALSO ADD ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY AND FIRSTRILLIONESPONDERS, OTA SAYS. AS THE BARRIERS GO UP, DRIVERS CAN EXPECT TO WORK ON THE OUTSIDE OF EXISTING LANES, SLOWING DO
When will work start to widen Turner Turnpike from OKC to Tulsa?
The Turner Turnpike will eventually be three lanes all the way up.
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Updated: 5:23 PM CST Jan 29, 2024
On Monday, KOCO 5 learned when work will start to widen the trip up to Tulsa.The Turner Turnpike will eventually be three lanes all the way up. Every day, thousands of cars travel between Oklahoma City and Tulsa on the Turner Turnpike.In two weeks, barriers will be going up as the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority said plans are underway to add lanes, lights and interchanges. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here."While this is the first project of many, we’re really excited to be able to upgrade our system, modernize it, add some safety enhancements throughout," said Lisa Shearer-Salim, the spokesperson for OTA.The beginning of a widening project on the Turner Turnpike is set to begin in a few weeks. OTA said the project, part of their 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma plan, will pick up where the Driving Forward Project stopped, just east of Tulsa."It’ll start on the east end and work its way toward Bristow," Shearer-Salim said. "We’re continuing that widening all the way to Oklahoma City through a series of widening projects.">> Download the KOCO 5 AppEventually, expect to see those barrels for the next six to seven years. "This project is really for the future. It’s going to make things more convenient for today's motorists, but in addition to the six lanes, there's an additional widening that’s going to take place that will not be initially striped for future HOV and truck lanes. We’re adding new interchanges that will allow us to take traffic on and off more easily if there’s crashes, but will also add access for emergency and first responders," Shearer-Salim said.OTA said as the barriers go up, drivers can expect work on the outside of existing lanes, slowing down traffic. The groundbreaking for the full project is scheduled for late February.Top HeadlinesPerson taken to hospital after vehicle badly damaged on I-35 in MoorePresidents Day 2024 Sales: Early deals you should know about2 people, including adult film actress Jesse Jane, found dead at Moore homeCar crashes into side of Braum's in south Oklahoma City, injuring 1 personMember of OKGOP committee that condemned Lankford wasn't notified of meeting, calling it illegitimate
OKLAHOMA CITY — On Monday, KOCO 5 learned when work will start to widen the trip up to Tulsa.
The Turner Turnpike will eventually be three lanes all the way up. Every day, thousands of cars travel between Oklahoma City and Tulsa on the Turner Turnpike.
In two weeks, barriers will be going up as the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority said plans are underway to add lanes, lights and interchanges.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
"While this is the first project of many, we’re really excited to be able to upgrade our system, modernize it, add some safety enhancements throughout," said Lisa Shearer-Salim, the spokesperson for OTA.
The beginning of a widening project on the Turner Turnpike is set to begin in a few weeks. OTA said the project, part of their 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma plan, will pick up where the Driving Forward Project stopped, just east of Tulsa.
"It’ll start on the east end and work its way toward Bristow," Shearer-Salim said. "We’re continuing that widening all the way to Oklahoma City through a series of widening projects."
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
Eventually, expect to see those barrels for the next six to seven years.
"This project is really for the future. It’s going to make things more convenient for today's motorists, but in addition to the six lanes, there's an additional widening that’s going to take place that will not be initially striped for future HOV and truck lanes. We’re adding new interchanges that will allow us to take traffic on and off more easily if there’s crashes, but will also add access for emergency and first responders," Shearer-Salim said.
OTA said as the barriers go up, drivers can expect work on the outside of existing lanes, slowing down traffic. The groundbreaking for the full project is scheduled for late February.
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