Mid-May opening date possible for turnpike extensions

(OKLAHOMA CITY) - State turnpike officials said Thursday that one of the final sections of highway linking the Turner Turnpike to the Will Rogers Turnpike in northeastern Oklahoma could be open by mid-May.

Friday, March 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6


(OKLAHOMA CITY) - State turnpike officials said Thursday that one of the final sections of highway linking the Turner Turnpike to the Will Rogers Turnpike in northeastern Oklahoma could be open by mid-May.

Once the extensions to the Creek Turnpike are completed, drivers will be able to bypass Tulsa to reach several suburbs. The final section of the turnpike should be finished by late summer.

Cold weather and problems with a contractor delayed last month's opening of the five-mile section between 161st E. Avenue and 101st Street S. The problems will cause the project to overrun its budget by about $26 million.

A new contractor is completing the work. Crews are paving the road and adding signs and stripes.

Parts of the road from the Turner Turnpike to 161st Avenue and from 101st Street to the Muskogee Turnpike are open. Officials said Thursday the total cost of the turnpike will be $589 million.

Also, Oklahoma toll road travelers will see 11 new tollbooths and 67 new or refurbished coin machines before the end of the year. OTA members on Thursday approved $186,900 for the booths and $169,806 for coin-machine cabinets.

Authority officials said the new booths will replace several old ones along the Turner, Will Rogers, Cherokee and H.E. Bailey turnpikes.

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