U.S. 169 Construction At Bird Creek Enters Phase 3

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation construction project on U.S. Highway 169 at Bird Creek reaches a milestone this weekend. It may take some drivers by surprise on Monday.

Commuters will see big changes in the construction zone during Monday morning's rush hour. People who travel the busy roadway are feeling the delays.

“It takes me about an hour, hour and a half instead of the 45 minutes it takes me to go to work,” John Pedersen said.

Pedersen works in Bristow and takes U.S. 169 every day. He said the traffic jam is unavoidable.

And this weekend, things are changing.

“Well they'll notice a shift in the traffic patterns for sure,” engineer Bruce Arnold said.

Northbound lanes will be shifting onto new bridges. Southbound lanes will be shifting on to the median and the old northbound lanes so that construction can begin on different parts of the bridge.

That could cause some more hangups as drivers get used to the new route.

“Pay attention to the signage out there directing them through the construction zone, and stay off your cell phone and pay attention to the road," Arnold said.

ODOT is entering Phase 3 of the project, and some of the most noticeable changes will be happening.

“The southbound portions of 169 so you'll see the old bridges being [demolished] and the new bridges constructed," he said.

As for the timeline, Pedersen said the construction is worth the wait as the road expands, but he’s ready to get it done.

“It’s going to be better once it's over with, save me a little bit more time,” Pedersen said.

ODOT has not released a date for when the steel trestles on the Bird Creek Bridge will come down.

The entire project is expected to be completed by spring 2017.