- Oklahoma Turnpike Board Approves Widening And Interchange Contracts
- LA Metro Launches Phase 2 Of One Car Challenge
- Tolls Suspended On Newly Opened India Expressway Due To Pavement Slippage
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Oklahoma Turnpike Board Approves Widening And Interchange Contracts
During its August 4 meeting, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) board awarded more than $133 million in construction contracts for three projects.
Sherwood Construction received a $29.9 million contract to rebuild the Turner Turnpike (I-44) interchange with SH-18 near Chandler. The project involves widening and raising the highway bridge over the turnpike, adding new tolled exit and entrance ramps, and removing existing current infrastructure. Sherwood’s bid was approximately 28.7 percent below the engineer’s estimate.
C3 Construction won a $55.5 million contract to construct a new Kilpatrick Turnpike (I-344) interchange near Oklahoma City. The scope of work includes seven bridge widenings; retaining wall, frontage, and local road construction; and mainline widening. “The area is seeing tremendous growth,” according to an OTA engineer.
Manhattan Road and Bridge received a $47.9 million contract to widen nearly two miles of the Will Rogers Turnpike to three lanes in each direction near Catoosa, in Rogers County. The project also involves reconstructing two bridges.
In other meeting highlights:
- The board ratified the OTA executive director’s emergency declarations regarding two July bridge strikes, one of which damaged six of 14 beam lines on the Will Rogers Turnpike bridge over US-60 in Vinita.
- University of Oklahoma President Joe Harroz addressed the board about the “essential” need for two proposed South Extension Turnpike interchanges in Norman, the location of the university’s main campus.
- The board authorized OTA to negotiate agreements with the Oklahoma Arts Council for up to $5 million in artwork to be installed on ACCESS Oklahoma corridors.
LA Metro Launches Phase 2 Of One Car Challenge
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) is dedicating a $2 million grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to its One Car Challenge, which was successfully piloted in Santa Monica in 2023. “The initiative is a core component of Metro’s broader Travel Rewards program, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and encouraging sustainable transportation across the region,” according to an agency news release.
Up to 2,000 Los Angeles County households will be eligible for the program, which offers $600 to households that keep at least one of their cars parked at home for five weeks in favor of alternative forms of transportation. Results from Phase 1 in Santa Monica indicated “a significant behavioral shift away from solo car trips, with the most notable increases seen in walking and micromobility.”
In addition to informing long-term transportation policy with the goal of improving regional traffic flow and lowering vehicle emissions, the agency “aims to generate statistically significant vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction data needed to determine whether incentivized projects such as the One Car Challenge could be used as a proven transportation demand management (TDM) tool in the future.”
Alternative and Active Transportation California Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives Los Angeles (CA) Metro Region Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) Transportation and Infrastructure Research & DevelopmentTolls Suspended On Newly Opened India Expressway Due To Pavement Slippage
“The National Highways Authority of India has suspended toll collection on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway after slippage was detected along an approximately 300-metre stretch of the newly opened corridor,” NDTV reports. “The NHAI has also initiated action against concessionaire PNC Infratech Limited, the project’s Independent Engineer and officials responsible for construction monitoring and supervision.”
The road damage was detected less than two weeks after the INR 4,200 crore (USD 440.7 million) expressway was inaugurated on July 13.
The article details the disciplinary actions, including a proposal by the agency to declare PNC Infratech a “‘non-performer,’” which could ban it from participating in future NHAI bids.
Tolls will not be reinstated until the road is rehabilitated at the company’s expense. Additionally, lost toll revenue will be compensated by PNC, and a penalty valued at two percent of the project’s performance security may be levied.
The Times of India also covers this story.
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance India Issues of Law National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) P3 Privatization & Private OwnershipSubscription Information
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