I-44 Construction Project In East Tulsa Enters New Phase

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The work to replace two worn out bridges on Interstate 44 in east Tulsa has entered a new phase.

The contractor has moved westbound traffic on I-44 onto a new bridge where the highway crosses 161st East Avenue.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the contractor is set to demolish the old westbound bridge this weekend if the weather cooperates.

The demolition shouldn't affect traffic on I-44, but the road underneath the interstate will be closed between 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

ODOT says the bridges were built in 1958 and were in such bad shape it moved up their replacement by two years.

The project is replacing the two two-lane bridges with one bridge that can eventually handle 8 lanes of traffic.  It's costing almost $7 million and should be completed early next year.