Bridge Closing Prompts I-244 Traffic Shift Just South Of Downtown Tulsa

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A major change for Tulsa drivers this week who use I-244 just south of the downtown IDL over the Arkansas River.

The westbound lane bridge is now closed to traffic.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has shifted traffic on the westbound lanes to the eastbound I-244 bridge.  The move closes the westbound lane bridge as construction crews begin work to demolish the structure.

Between now and 2013, the eastbound lane bridge over the Arkansas River will handle both east and westbound traffic.

The westbound I-244 bridge is being demolished to make way for a new multi-modal bridge. That bridge will handle vehicle, rail and pedestrian traffic over the Arkansas River.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the southbound U.S. Highway 75 off-ramp to westbound I-244 will remain closed and westbound U.S. Highway 64, state Highway 51 off-ramp to eastbound I-244 will remain closed too.

Both of those ramps were closed on May 16, 2011.

6/10/2011 Related Story: Tulsa's Westbound I-244 Bridge Set To Close This Weekend