Norman residents plan to speak out against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Tuesday night as city council considers two contracts that would make way for the Toby Keith Expressway as part of ACCESS Oklahoma’s long-range plan.
The first contract includes an agreement to relocate four water wells — two active and two inactive — and approximately 17,500 feet of water line between 48th Avenue Northwest and 24th Avenue Northwest, according to a staff report.
The second contract seeks to widen 36th Avenue, interconnect traffic signals between Tecumseh Road and Indian Hills Road, improve stormwater drainage and add sidewalks around the road, according to a staff report.
OTA would contribute about $8.95 million to the relocation of the wells, about $11.7 million to the relocation of the water lines and would provide “engineering services,” according to the first contract.
The city of Norman would be responsible for contributing $1,964,400 to water line relocations after reviewing and adopting design plans and plugging all wells involved by Dec. 31.
The 36th Avenue project aims to widen the road to four lanes while adding a new stormwater system under the road. Though the project has an estimated cost of $16 million, the city of Norman would only be responsible for $2.2 million due to recognition of prior costs incurred by the city related to the existing 36th Avenue Northwest bond project, according to the second contract.
These agenda items have prompted Norman residents to plan to speak out against the turnpike in the upcoming city council meeting on Tuesday.
Members of the “NO MORE TURNPIKES, Oklahoma!” Facebook group called for residents to attend the meeting wearing red in protest of the turnpike.
“ALL HANDS ON DECK! TIME TO DO IT, AGAIN! THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS TRYING TO USE $34,650,000 TO BRIBE OUR CITY COUNCIL INTO SIGNING OFF ON THE PROPOSED INDIAN HILLS TURNPIKE. TIME TO TELL THEM ‘NO,’ AGAIN!” the post reads.
Residents have spoken out against the turnpike at council meetings before, dating back to October 2024, when council voted to postpone a resolution that would allow the OTA to construct turnpikes through Norman.
The ACCESS Oklahoma plan, which includes the South Extension Turnpike, was first announced in February 2022 and has since faced postponement and realignment. The Toby Keith Expressway is expected to be completed by 2033 and the South Extension Turnpike is expected to be completed by 2034, according to the ACCESS Oklahoma website.
This story was edited by Macey Thaxton and Audrey McClour. Andrew Higgins and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
