Paving the Way for Progress on Oklahoma’s John Kilpatrick Turnpike
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has launched the John Kilpatrick Turnpike Widening Project, an effort under the ACCESS Oklahoma Bond Program to improve safety and capacity. Freese and Nichols is managing construction on this segment of the project, which widens the turnpike from Eastern Avenue to the I-35 Interchange in Oklahoma City.
The project will expand approximately 3.5 miles of the turnpike to six lanes – three in each direction – connecting the existing six lanes west of Eastern Avenue to the I-35 Interchange. It also sets the stage to connect to a future six-lane widening project on the Turner Turnpike to the east. To maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction during construction, traffic has shifted to the outside lane and shoulder.
Daily traffic on this segment of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike is expected to increase from 49,000 vehicles today to 66,000 by 2044. The widening project addresses this growth by relieving congestion and enhancing safety. Cost-saving measures, such as preserving the existing pavement rather than replacing it entirely, reduce expenses while maintaining quality standards.
As one of the first projects in the OTA’s ACCESS Oklahoma program, the turnpike expansion starts the bond initiative’s $8 billion+, 15-year plan to improve the state’s highway infrastructure. The program takes a comprehensive and transparent approach, delivering meaningful transportation upgrades for Oklahoma residents and travelers.
While this project focuses on the segment from Eastern Avenue to the I-35 Interchange, other ACCESS program components, including adjacent segments of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike, align with the broader goal of improving connectivity and safety statewide.
The project began in early February 2025 and is expected to be completed by late fall.