The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority board awarded nearly $137 million in construction contracts for five projects across the turnpike system at its monthly meeting on Dec. 9, 2025.
Three awards are part of the ACCESS Oklahoma long-range plan, including a $97 million bridge project Crossland Construction Co. to construct the first section of the new East-West Connector Turnpike between Interstate 44 and Interstate 35. This will be the longest bridge in Oklahoma at more than 1.25 mi. long.
Work will begin in early 2026 and is expected to be completed by late 2027. The project was designed to minimize impacts to the Canadian River to protect water quality and the habitat of threatened species; the bridge piers will be constructed outside of the river channel, and the OTA will monitor construction closely to ensure the contractor complies with all environmental safeguards.
The board also awarded a $27.8 million six-lane widening project on the Interstate 344/John Kilpatrick Turnpike to Duit Construction Group, a $12 million pavement rehabilitation project on the southern end of the Interstate 44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike to Interstate Improvement Inc., a $2.4 million bridge rehabilitation project on the U.S. 412/Cimarron Turnpike northwest of Morrison to PBX Corp. and an additional $3 million construction project to Sherwood Construction Co. on the East-West Connector. Most of the awarded bids came in significantly below the engineers' initial estimate.
Construction will begin in early 2026 to widen I-344/John Kilpatrick Turnpike from Wilshire Boulevard to Northwest 122nd Street to six lanes. This will include a bridge widening over SH- 3/Northwest Expressway.
OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said that the John Kilpatrick Turnpike has the most rapidly growing traffic of all turnpikes in Oklahoma, with steady growth between 8 and 12 percent annually. Widening the turnpike helps accommodate this growth. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2027.
OTA will begin pavement rehabilitation of the I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike from mile marker 5 to mile marker 20 between Walters and Randlett in Cotton County and the interchange ramps at SH 36. This $12 million project will begin in early 2026 and is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
I-44/Turner Turnpike Construction Updates
Echelle provided updates on three projects along the I-44/Turner Turnpike.
Westbound Turner Turnpike traffic shifted onto the new bridge in Wellston for the first time in early December. Eastbound Turner Turnpike traffic in Wellston moved to its permanent configuration as well.
In addition, Echelle noted that State Highway 66 will open to traffic underneath the new bridges by mid-December. He emphasized that OTA appreciates the Wellston and Lincoln County communities for their patience during the construction process. While work on the roadway is nearing completion, some work on the outside of the lanes will continue into early 2026.
Echelle noted that OTA plans to celebrate the opening of this project in early spring with a ribbon-cutting ceremony following the completion of Route 66 art installations.
OTA began work on a bridge-widening project on I-44/Turner Turnpike at County Road NS 3310 just west of Wellston in Lincoln County this week.
This $3.1 million project will widen the bridge in preparation for the future six lanes. Traffic impacts will be minimal, and work is expected to be completed by late 2026.
(Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.)
