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The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is investing over $50 million in improvements to Interstate 44 and the H.E. Bailey Turnpike over the next five years. The upgrades are part of a broader capital improvement plan targeting multiple Oklahoma turnpikes. The improvements will include road and bridge rehabilitation, as well as guardrail reconstruction, to enhance safety on these high-speed corridors.
Jeff Garder, director of construction for the OTA, emphasized the need for these upgrades, noting the aging infrastructure of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, which is over 60 years old. The plan includes a major access project south of Lawton, with complete repaving between mile markers 20 and 30. More than $19 million is earmarked for improvements on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike this year alone.
The investment is part of the OTA's long-term ACCESS Oklahoma plan, which aims to modernize and expand the state's turnpike system. The plan also includes a toll rate increase that took effect on January 1, 2025, expected to generate a 15% revenue boost to support these infrastructure projects.
The OTA is also focusing on minimizing disruptions during major events, such as the 2028 Summer Olympics, by strategically scheduling construction projects. ODOT highlighted that lane shifts and closures will be part of ongoing projects, with efforts to maintain traffic flow during peak times.