By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Yukon’s new highway interchange is just weeks away from being finished.
The project contractor is progressing swiftly on the much-anticipated interchange at Interstate 40 and Frisco Road, at mile marker 135 one mile west of Garth Brooks Boulevard.
The project remains on schedule with an expected “late summer completion”, state transportation officials confirmed.
“Portions of the project may be able to open to traffic before summer completes, but that remains dependent on weather and other factors,” said Lisa Shearer-Salim, an Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) spokeswoman.
“Work necessary to open to traffic includes additional paving, driveway installation, signage and final striping.”
Motorists along I-40 are asked to be cautious when traveling through the construction zone in west Yukon.
“We want to remind motorists of narrowed lanes and reduced speeds on I-40 in Yukon through summer,” Shearer-Salim said.
In September 2020, Sherwood Construction of Tulsa started work on the I-40/Frisco Road interchange.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission, at its July 2020 meeting, awarded a $14,061,010.28 contract to Sherwood to build Yukon’s new interchange.
Sherwood’s bid was nearly $2.7 million below the engineer’s $16,738,908.02 estimate. Four other companies submitted bids for the work.
320 DAYS ALLOTTED
Some 320 calendar days were allotted for the winning bidder to finish the work, according to ODOT documents.
ODOT is funding 65% of the construction cost, with the City of Yukon covering 35% of the tab. Triad Design Group was the project design company.
The average daily traffic count is almost 46,000 along I-40 near the site of the new interchange.
Besides alleviating traffic congestion at the Garth Brooks Boulevard and North Cimarron Road interchanges, the Frisco Road interchange will provide additional access to INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital.
City of Yukon officials anticipate substantial economic development along Frisco Road after the interchange opens.
They envision hotels, restaurants and other sales tax-generating retailers to build along Frisco Road in Yukon city limits.
Before interchange construction began, the City of Yukon widened to four lanes Frisco Road north of I-40 to State Highway 66 (Main Street).
