Tulsa’s $252M ‘Stonehenge’ project begins

Development started Monday on the I-44 and U.S. 75 interchange in Tulsa, Oklahoma, identified to locals as “Tulsa’s Stonehenge” and “Site visitors Henge” because of the towering empty bridge piers left standing for years, Oklahoma DOT mentioned in a information launch. The state has recognized it as one of the outdated, unsafe and congested areas of Tulsa’s I-44 Hall.

The $252 million mission goals to revamp the interchange and different infrastructure within the space. It combines three phases into one and represents the most costly contract the Oklahoma DOT has ever undertaken, in line with the discharge. The company tapped Tulsa-based Manhattan Street & Bridge for development. 

Piers for future flyover ramps had been constructed prematurely in the course of the $90 million Part 1 in 2023 to be able to save time and scale back visitors disruptions as soon as funding turned out there for the remaining phases, the company mentioned.

@oklahomaexperiences When a street development mission in Oklahoma takes so lengthy it turns into publicly accepted as a landmark. ???? #tulsastonehenge #oklahoma #tulsaoklahoma #famouslandmarks #constructionfails #bridges ♬ Pirates Of The Caribbean – Main Theme – He’s A Pirate – Geek Music

The principle a part of the mission entails finishing the reconfiguration of the I-44 and U.S. 75 interchange, in line with Oklahoma DOT. Different work consists of:

• Widening U.S. 75 between 71st Road and forty first Road.
• Changing the U.S. 75 interchange at 61st Road.
• Constructing a brand new frontage street between 61st Road and Skelly Drive.
• Extending and connecting 51st Road underneath U.S. 75.
• Setting up a pedestrian bridge over railroad tracks alongside 51st Road close to Elwood Avenue.

The work is made doable partially because of $95 million in funding from two federal grants as a part of the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act: An $85 million Mega Grant, which helps massive, advanced tasks which are tough to fund by different means, and a $10 million RAISE Grant, which funds floor transportation tasks which have a substantial influence on the native or regional stage.

The mission is predicted to be full by summer time 2028, climate allowing, per Oklahoma DOT. A future mission will full the widening of I-44 between the I-44/I-244 Western Cut up and the Arkansas River.

This is only one of 1,647 tasks deliberate for the state over the subsequent eight years, in line with the Oklahoma DOT’s 2025-2032 Eight-Year Construction Work Plan, which designates $8.6 billion to quite a lot of street and bridge efforts all through the state.