By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
EL RENO – Construction is due to start next week on a new roundabout in the Canadian County seat.
An Oklahoma Department of Transportation contractor is scheduled to begin work this Thursday, Feb. 15 at the State Highway 66/U.S.-81 intersection in El Reno.
“Work is scheduled to take about a year-and-a-half, weather permitting, and should be complete ahead of the Route 66 Centennial (in 2026),” ODOT spokesman Bryce Boyer said.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission last September awarded a $10,030,072.14 “low bid” to Redlands Contracting LLC for the SH-66/US-81 intersection modification project.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, there will be at least one lane open (in) each direction during construction,” Boyer said. “The exception being on S.E. 27th St., which will be closed to thru traffic.
“However, there will be some temporary closures that require a detour as crews shift lanes between construction phases – and we will make sure to put out a notice to drivers before those closures.”
The contract for El Reno’s roundabout was awarded to Redlands Contracting after ODOT officials reviewed three bids submitted for the SH-66/US-81 project.
All proposals were well above the engineer’s $8,653,424.90 cost estimate.
Other contractors seeking the work were Rudy Construction Co. ($11,440,009.92) and Schwarz Paving Co. ($11,536,152.29).
CONTINUOUS TRAFFIC FLOW
A roundabout is among engineering innovations being implemented by ODOT, and this will be its first in Canadian County.
Drivers slow down as they approach an intersection with a roundabout, but don’t come to a complete stop.
A roundabout creates less “stop-and-go” traffic because vehicles do not stop.
“You’re not sitting there waiting at stop signs, you’re not sitting there waiting at stop lights,” Boyer said. “You have a more continuous flow of traffic.”
“We believe adding a roundabout in this area will improve traffic flow and enhance safety, which is exactly what we need to do,” Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz said.
Some 480 calendar days have been allotted for El Reno’s roundabout project.
