Editor's Notebook

An update on the South Turnpike Extension that will intersect with I-35 just north of the current water tower was on the agenda last Thursday at the chamber luncheon.

The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Joe Echelle, addressed the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce at Purcell’s FBC Multi Purpose Room and touched on a variety of turnpike issues.

Echelle told the 42 people present he became the OTA Director in 2016 after a lengthy career with ODOT.

“I did everything at ODOT except work in a toll booth,” the Director quipped.

And he said toll booth workers used to be about half of the work force.

Those booths have to be heated and cooled, have water and sewer and really aren’t safe with cash laying around, possibly for the taking.

“We do 700,000 transactions a day,” Echelle said.

He said since the authority has gone cashless it’s a huge safety advantage.

The Toby Keith Expressway is set to be completed by 2033. That road will connect I-44 with I-35 and give motorists yet another bridge to cross the Canadian River.

There will be another such bridge from the South Extension Turnpike. That one will be near Noble and is set to open in 2029-2030.

The Toby Keith and the South Extension gives motorists an alternative route when traffic starts backing up, Echelle told the chamber.

Echelle reported ODOT, which is funded from state motor fuel taxes, dedicated state funds like the ROADS Fund and federal highway grants, has 500 employees.

Broken down – 200 work in road maintenance for infrastructure. Another 200 work in the customer service center and the other 100 in the communications center.

Echelle said the cost of fuel has trimmed the number of vehicles on the roads with many families putting off traveling.

They are banking those numbers will go up in the next eight to 10 years and think the new turnpikes will help carry the load.