CP&Y’s JKT I-40 project in Oklahoma brings home TWO Awards
There is truly no better way to end 2020 and ring in the New Year than by receiving recognition for our John Kilpatrick Turnpike (JKT) I-40 project in Oklahoma. Our Oklahoma team recently received an Excellence in Concrete Paving Award by the American Concrete Pavement Association. In addition, we were also presented an Honor Award during the Engineering Excellence Awards Ceremony hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oklahoma.
About the Project
The 3.5 mile urban tollway section included expansion of the JKT/I-40 interchange to add traffic movements to and from the south; new interchanges at SW 15th Street, SW 29th Street, and Sara Road; ten mainline bridges; three ramp bridges; and the reconstruction of the Sara Road bridge over I-40. Due to the bond sales financing of the Driving Forward program, an accelerated project development and construction schedule was set by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). Our team met bi-weekly throughout the entire design phase with all stakeholders, including the OTA, Program Manager, City of Oklahoma City personnel, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation specialists, and construction management consultants to discuss progress and anticipate potential obstacles. Unlike the typical, linear project development process utilized in Oklahoma, project design, land acquisition, and utility relocation were completed simultaneously.
Value Delivered
Throughout the design phase, our team determined various ways to minimize the right-of-way footprint and avoid displacements of businesses and residents along the proposed corridor. This included relocation of ramps along I-40 and creation of a unique, split-diamond interchange near the intersection of SW 29th Street and Sara Road. Another creative measure implemented during design was to size the four bridges at this interchange to provide cost-saving repetition. Though the four-span bridges were located along a horizontal curve with varying skews, the piers and abutments were placed to require only two individual prestressed concrete beam lengths, simplifying fabrication and reducing possible construction confusion. We also worked with the OTA late in the design phase to solve a property owner holdout by inserting a prefabricated bridge structure under the mainline to provide future commercial access.
Overall, the project brought much-needed relief to ease traffic congestion, improve the safety of our roads and bridges, spur economic growth, and increase the connectivity of the area. As the community grows, this section can also expand, with the ability to incorporate future frontage roads, U-Turns, and quicker access points. CP&Y always puts the community’s needs first and this project was no exception.