STATE ISSUES 2024 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES
MAJOR PROJECTS The Chamber supports a continued focus on improvements, mobility and traffic management on the urban Oklahoma City interstate system (I-35, I-44, I-40, I-235) to promote economic development and, therefore, will advocate for full funding and timely completion of work on the following major interchanges/ projects: • I-240/I-35 (Crossroads Interchange). • Major I-35 corridor improvements from 63rd Street NE/I- 44 Interchange north to Waterloo Road, to include the Turner Turnpike Interchange. • I-44/I-40 (K Interchange/Near State Fairgrounds) West to MacArthur on I-40 • In support of U.S. Air Force mission critical growth and expansion objectives at Tinker Air Force Base, necessary improvements including increased access at Douglas Boulevard, and expansion of I-40 facility to six lanes from Douglas Boulevard to Shawnee. • I-35/I-40 Dallas Junction and I-35 (including Oklahoma River bridges) • Future development of I-44 corridor from I-40 to SH-62, including SH 152/Airport Road, (southwest OKC to Newcastle) to better provide for future mobility needs due to ongoing commercial expansion. • I-35 corridor assessment to address growth on I-35 from the Red River north to the Oklahoma River REGIONAL FOCUS The Chamber supports the ODOT/OTA regional transportation focus with the strategic objective of identifying, maximizing, preserving and protecting existing transportation assets. The
Chamber further supports this study’s ultimate strategic goal to create additional transportation capacity to protect and maximize the integrity of the entire regional transportation system to meet the continued dynamic population growth trends and resulting increased traffic loads in our region. STATE TURNPIKE PLAN The Chamber supports the 15-year, $5 billion Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide (ACCESS) Oklahoma Plan to develop a highly effective and viable state turnpike system, including construction of new access points at appropriate locations across Oklahoma to enhance safety and access, and promote economic development. As part of this long-range plan, the Chamber specifically supports improvements to the following existing high-speed facilities: • Widening the Turner Turnpike, as an innovation corridor, to six lanes connecting Oklahoma City to Tulsa, the state’s two largest population centers. • John Kilpatrick Turnpike widening from I-40 to I-35. As well as construction of the following new alignment high- speed expressway facilities in the Oklahoma City region and associated improvements: • Outer Loop: East West Connector, expanding mobility of south Oklahoma City. • Outer Loop: Tri-City Connector, to increase access and offer alternative routes from I-40 to I-44 and, ultimately, I-35. • South Extension: End connector south to I-35 south of Norman.
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