The Edmond Sun

Local News

Discussion

July 27, 2011

State eyes Route 66 enhancements

Van Mitchell Special to The Sun

ARCADIA — Officials sought public input this week for how to improve State Highway 66 from Post Road east to the Oklahoma/Lincoln county line near Arcadia.

Craig Moody, Oklahoma Department of Transportation public involvement specialist, told the capacity crowd at the Arcadia Community Center Tuesday night that the meeting was designed to answer questions about the proposed project and get public feedback.

“This is not set in stone,” Moody said. “This is something we are still looking at and discussing. We have not created any design plans. We are listening to you.”

Moody told the audience that traffic has been increasing steadily on State Highway 66 and road safety was a growing concern.

He said the projects would be divided into two sections — a west project and an east project. Upon completion the highway would be able to carry a heavier traffic load and improve traffic safety.

Moody said the proposed west project includes widening a 1.6 mile section of S.H. 66 to four lanes from Post Road east to the Coffee Creek bridge. The $7.2 million project is expected to start construction in 2015.

Moody said the current daily traffic count for the west project is 7,500 vehicles per day. With the proposed improvements that count would rise to 10,000 vehicles per day.

“We feel confident that we could construct that project through traffic,” Moody said. ‘We wouldn’t have to close the road.”

Moody said the east project includes resurfacing a 6-mile stretch of S.H. 66 from the Soldier Creek bridge east to the Oklahoma/Lincoln county line and adding 8-foot shoulders along that stretch of roadway.

Estimated cost for the east project is $18.7 million and construction is expected to start in 2016. Current daily traffic count for the east project is 4,200 vehicles per day. With the proposed improvements that count is estimated to rise to 6,700 vehicles per day.

“The majority of this section of road is two-lane with no shoulders,” Moody said. “This is a concern for us.”

Moody said ODOT would have to conduct an environmental study and conduct a right-of-way and utility relocation plan before any construction could start. Funding for the road projects would be a combination of federal and state money.

Moody added that none of the proposed road projects would go through Arcadia.

 “We are not making any improvements through Arcadia at this time,” Moody said. “What is there now is how it’s going to be.”

Several audience members questioned Moody about the need for a four-lane section on the historic Route 66 highway that runs through Arcadia.

One of the most vocal critics of the four-lane project was Arcadia Mayor Marilyn Murrell.

“I think we ought to be able to reach a compromise,” she said. “Fix our bridges and give us some shoulders and don’t turn any more of Route 66 into a four-lane period. We want to preserve our Route 66.”

U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. highway system. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on Nov. 11, 1926.

The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, before ending in Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles.

Route 66 served as a major path for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and it supported the economies of the communities through which the road passed.

U.S. 66 was officially removed from the U.S. highway system on June 27, 1985, after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been replaced by the Interstate Highway System.

Moody said he understood the concerns of residents and assured them that their comments would be taken into consideration when designing the projects.

“This particular project is special,” Moody said. “You have four cities with Oklahoma City, Edmond, Luther and Arcadia involved. It’s a historic route. It’s Route 66. In 2005 Oklahoma recognized Route 66 as a state scenic byway and in 2009 it was designated a national scenic byway.”

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos