Repaving Work Resumes On I-44 East Of Tulsa

By Craig Day, The News On 6

CATOOSA, OK -- There is a heads up that could save you time and a lot of frustration on a Tulsa-area highway.

Construction crews will be working again this weekend on a resurfacing project along I-44, just east of Dysfunction Junction.  It will be nice when it is finished, but getting to that point could make your weekend travel a slow go.

Road construction crews are doing a resurfacing project on a four mile stretch of I-44.  That means it will be down to one lane and there will be a much slower drive.

04/27/2009  Related Story: Dysfunction Junction Contract Approved

"The asphalt out there is old and in deteriorating condition.  There are potholes out there," said ODOT Engineer Randle White.

The project stretches along I-44 from I-244 east to 193rd East Avenue.  It's a 60 day project with crews mostly doing the work over the weekends.

"Anybody that has to drive that route knows that it's a heavily congested route.  It's heavily traveled and it's something you really don't want to shut one direction of traffic down to one lane whenever rush hour is going on," said ODOT Engineer Randle White.

When the project started last weekend, drivers saw a big slow down on the highway.  So, ODOT Engineer Randle White says drivers need to keep that in mind while the work is underway.

"There is certainly going to be delays.  It's hard to avoid that with the congestion and everything.  So, we ask them to plan ahead and if there is an alternate route they can take to where they are going to go, then we ask them to consider taking that route as well and relieve some of the congestion in that area," said ODOT Engineer Randle White.

The project is expected to be finished by the end of August.  The work on eastbound I-44 begins early Saturday morning at 3 o'clock and will last until Saturday night at 9.

Work will be done on that stretch of westbound I-44 on Sunday.