By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A Yukon contractor is expected soon “mobilize” its crews to start construction on the second phase of the State Highway 4 project.
In February, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded a $12,628,932.55 contract to Schwarz Paving Co. to reconstruct and widen about two miles of SH-4 from SH-66 (Main Street) north past Wagner Road to the North Canadian River.
Yukon city engineer Joe Davis, of TEIM Design, discussed Highway 4 among six upcoming projects during the July 18th Yukon City Council work session.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is waiting for OG&E to finalize utility relocation before SH-4 phase two construction starts.
“OG&E has gone ahead and replaced all their facilities,” Davis told the Yukon City Council. “The problem is … the old poles are still there. With all the storm damage that’s happened around this region, they just haven’t had the personnel to go ahead and remove them.
“So, they’re anticipating those are going to be removed in the next couple weeks. Once those are removed, then the contractor is anticipated to be mobilizing. We think that the contractor should be on the site within the next few weeks.”
The City of Yukon on Feb. 21 hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the SH-4 project.
At the time, ODOT officials anticipated construction would start this June – and the project would be finished in summer 2024. Since SH-4 is a state roadway, the project is under ODOT’s supervision.
Schwarz Paving’s bid price was 3.2% below the engineer’s estimate. Four other companies submitted bids, ranging from $13,999,863 to $14,965,764.40.
The construction cost will be paid with an even split of federal and state funds, according to ODOT spokeswoman Lisa Shearer-Salim.
The SH-4 alignment is being moved west as part of the phase-two construction.
Concrete lanes will be installed at the signalized SH-66/SH-4 intersection extending north 460 feet.
“As we get closer to Main Street, the first few blocks are going to be PC-concrete,” Davis said. “As we move further to the north, it will be an asphalt section very similar to what’s out there now.”
The concrete section will be closed to thru-traffic for about a month during construction, with Wagner Road serving as an east-west detour route.
Two large drainage boxes will be installed – by the soccer fields and the span bridge at Wagner Road.
Phase two ultimately will tie into the south end of the new North Canadian River bridge.
The rest of the project will feature two, 12-foot-wide asphalt lanes with eight-foot shoulders – just like phase one.
SH-4 will remain open to traffic during construction of the asphalt section. This phase has been designed to allow future expansion of the asphalt to four full lanes.
ODOT allotted 445 calendar days for the contractor to finish the phase two construction.
The $13.1 million first phase of the Highway 4 project – from the North Canadian River to Wilshire in Yukon city limits – was finished in spring 2021.
This included the new bridge over the North Canadian River.
“The bridge is a great bridge,” Davis said. “The road is a great surface.”
Phase two construction has been delayed more than a year, first to allow ODOT engineers more time to finalize design plans and then because of lingering utility relocation issues.
The City of Yukon was responsible for right-of-way acquisition and worked with ODOT to move gas, electric, cable, and water utility lines for the first two phases.
A third phase of SH-4 construction, from Wilshire to State Highway 3 (N.W. Expressway) in Oklahoma City limits, will follow phase two.
WAGNER ROAD
A Wagner Road rehabilitation project – from Yukon Parkway to N Sara Road – also is coming up in Yukon. The City of Yukon will be responsible for the estimated $1.4 million cost.
Engineer Davis outlined plans to install a new two-lane concrete roadway to replace existing asphalt surface east of Yukon Parkway.
Each lane will be 12 feet wide with two-foot shoulders on both sides.
This will continue what was finished last year on Wagner Road from SH-4 to Yukon Parkway.
Cracked concrete panels will be replaced along the east half of the upcoming Wagner Road rehab project.
Yukon’s city engineer also discussed a proposed upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant, hydraulic study in the Kingsridge Addition, drainage improvements at Health Center Parkway, and sanitation sewer line extension along Frisco Road.
Read more details in upcoming editions of The Yukon Progress.
