Some Motorists Still Confused Over Tulsa IDL Detours

IDL construction is going to take some getting used to. The Monday morning commute for many drivers was a mess.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/tulsa-idl/route.php" target=_blank>IDL Construction Zones and Routes</A> | <A href="http://www.newson6.com/global/Category.asp?c=171516&nav=menu682_2_4" target=_blank>IDL Coverage</A> | <A href="http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10751456" target=_blank>Avoid Tulsa's Inner Dispersal Loop </A>

Monday, July 20th 2009, 12:43 pm

By: News On 6

Some Motorists Still Confused Over Tulsa IDL Detours

By Latoya Silmon, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa's IDL construction is going to take some getting used to. Day one was a mess for many drivers because they weren't prepared for all the changes to their morning commute into downtown Tulsa.

A sea of orange barrels and signs was meant to help drivers maneuver around one of the biggest construction projects in Tulsa history. But instead, the signs are confusing some motorists.

"It totally took me off guard! I was headed trying to get on 75 to get to the BA and it just totally took me off guard. Now I'm trying to think of an alternate route real quick," said Renee Carter.

"It took forever to get downtown. We had to be in court, yeah, it was really bad," said Linda Rice.

"Pretty crazy and I'm late, almost 30 minutes late," Jill Mcanich said.

And they're not the only ones thrown off by the roadblocks now in place on the Inner Dispersal Loop.

One motorist tried backing up to get out of an exit.

Most of the motorists Monday morning just got off on a different exit and tried to find their way. Day one may have made many motorists late to work and feeling out of the loop, but it is hoped the very thing that confused them will start to make more sense the next time they read those orange signs.

"Yeah they're going to help, they're going to help. I know what to do next time," said Mark Sharp.

Learn more about the IDL construction zones and routes

ODOT has provided the following information:

Inner Dispersal Loop ramps, lanes close through 2009
The following ramps will begin to be closed during the overnight hours on Sunday. All westbound lanes of I-244 on the north and west legs of Tulsa's IDL will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Monday. The lanes and ramps are expected to remain closed for approximately seven months.
- westbound I-244 on & off-ramps at Cincinnati/Detroit (on north leg of IDL)
- southbound US-75 off-ramp to westbound I-244
- eastbound US-412 off-ramp to westbound I-244
- northbound US-75 off-ramp to westbound I-244