Turnpike Authority Gets Approval For Creek Turnpike Widening Project

Staff And Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Bond Oversight Council has approved a request by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to issue $150 million in bonds for improvements to the Creek and Kilpatrick turnpikes.

The money from the bonds would be used for widening of seven-mile sections of the Kilpatrick and Creek turnpikes.  Work should start in the spring and will take almost two years to complete.

State Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley says inside lanes will be added along the Creek Turnpike from U.S. Highway 75 to Memorial Drive in Tulsa.  A concrete barrier will separate east- and westbound traffic.

OTA spokesman Jack Damrill tells News On 6 traffic on that stretch of the Creek Turnpike is averaging 53,000 vehicles a day.   The turnpike authority estimates that will grow to 64,000 vehicles per day by 2012.

8/26/2010 Related Story: OTA To Study Widening The Creek Turnpike In South Tulsa

Inside lanes also will be added along the Kilpatrick Turnpike from Eastern Avenue to MacArthur Boulevard in Oklahoma City.

The projects will not cause tolls on the roads to increase.

The Kilpatrick Turnpike is budgeted at $69 million. The Creek Turnpike project is expected to cost $76 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.