Okla. commission OKs final grading of Crosstown

The state Transportation Commission on Monday approved grading for the most expensive road project in state history - replacing a dilapidated section of Interstate 40 through downtown Oklahoma City.

The elevated section of interstate is in such bad shape that holes frequently open in the road deck, sending chunks of concrete tumbling to the ground below. It is "fracture critical," meaning a failure of any number of elements would bring down the entire structure. State engineers say it is inspected frequently and is safe.

Commissioners approved a $22.5 million contract for the final phase of grading on the new $640 million Crosstown Expressway, a federally funded project. This phase is to be complete in about a year. Officials expect to begin paving near the end of 2010.

The new highway will run 4 1/2 miles along the Oklahoma River and is expected to be open to traffic in 2012.

The existing road will be demolished, making way for a broad downtown boulevard city planners hope will revitalize the area. Built in 1965, the expressway carries 120,000 vehicles a day, almost 50,000 more than the planned capacity of 72,000.

I-40 is a main east-west link through the United States.

Also Monday, Department of Transportation Director Gary Ridley discussed work his agency is doing to implement a 5 percent budget cut required by declining state revenues.

The department reduced its summer temporary hire program from 110 workers to about 65 employees and then eliminated the work force in early August, Ridley said.

"We tried to read the tea leaves early on," Ridley said.

The agency also has delayed the purchase of new light vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans and cars.

"Normally we try to get 175,000 miles on those vehicles before we trade them in," Ridley said. "Now they're just going to have to run a little further."

The agency also eliminated nearly all out-of-state travel, most overtime and left about 50 vacant positions unfilled, Ridley said.

"There may be some construction projects that we postpone if things get any worse," he said.

The commission also approved an agreement with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority that will allow Ridley to serve as director of both state agencies, replacing Phil Tomlinson, who retired as executive director of the OTA. The move is expected to save on salary costs for both agencies. Former Transportation Secretary Neil McCaleb held both positions under then-Gov. Frank Keating.