Report Says Oklahoma Highways Improving, Drivers Not Convinced

A national report says that Oklahoma highways are doing better, but convincing drivers could be a dead end.

Thursday, September 18th 2014, 10:48 pm

By: News On 6


A national report says that Oklahoma highways are doing better, but convincing drivers could be a dead end.

The study highlights Oklahoma for not having a lot of traffic, but it says Oklahoma has a high fatality rate and poor pavement.

"They need help. They need a lot of help,” said trucker, Jim Kirkbride.

When asked about Oklahoma highways, driver Aaron McElwee was blunter, saying simply, "They suck."

The complaints are plenty, but according to a new national study, Oklahoma's highways are improving, moving from 32nd place, to 22nd.

The study looks at traffic, bad bridges, fatalities and problems with pavement.

ODOT said Oklahoma has revved up its rankings by repairing more than 600 broken bridges over the past decade, but the study says high fatality rates are dragging down Oklahoma's highway rating.

The state also ranks 10th worst in urban pavement condition.

"Potholes in almost every lane, you can't ride on a smooth road, it's just bumpy. It's terrible,” McElwee said.

Kirkbride said, "All they do is put a Band-Aid over it. It's not fixing it to the base of it."

He did say the new I-244 bridge is excellent and that it's going to be a big relief for drivers.

ODOT also reminds drivers it just finished widening lanes on I-44 between Riverside and Yale, and the state approved this month a $6.3 billion 80-year construction plan.

Even with those improvements, Tulsans keep talking about the pothole pandemic.

"Aesthetically, you know, it just doesn't look nice. It kind of looks like things are falling apart,” said driver, Joanna Marsh. "When I go to Texas, unfortunately it seems like the roads get better. So it just makes me think, what are they doing that we're not doing."

The study also looks at cost-effectiveness. It says Oklahoma does well at disbursing dollars for highway maintenance.

The study looks at information from 2012. ODOT says it has made even more improvements in the past two years. 

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