The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority revealed a revised alignment for the South Extension Turnpike project at a public announcement Tuesday.
The South Extension Turnpike is part of OTA’s ACCESS Oklahoma plan, a 15-year, $8 billion plan to develop new turnpikes, and renovate and expand existing highways statewide.
The new alignment for the four-lane, 500-foot-wide South Extension would run south through Norman between 48th and 60th avenues, from the East-West Connector at East Indian Hills Road to Interstate 35 at State Highway 74.
The revised alignment moves the South Extension west by two miles and features simplified interchanges at its north and south connection points. Interchanges on the South Extension would connect to Highways 9 and 77, and interchanges would be considered at intersections with Alameda Street, Lindsey Street, East Etowah Road and Maguire Road.
The South Extension alignment would still run approximately 19 miles through Cleveland County from the East-Connector on Franklin Road to I-35 in Slaughterville, as initially proposed. The project is expected to cost $1 billion.
Map of the new South Extension turnpike alignment.
“The most effective option, which the Legislature has envisioned OTA to provide, is to offer a new four-lane, high-speed corridor that will provide an alternative route for traffic whose destination is not the Oklahoma City metro area, taking them safely around the busiest and most populous area of our state,” ACCESS Oklahoma Executive Director Joe Echelle said.
In March, the South Extension was rerouted to avoid federal property at Lake Thunderbird. The Oklahoma Supreme Court approved the project in 2023 after the original alignment was denied by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
“Litigation and the need to move the proposed roadway west caused delays,” Echelle said. “We apologize for the circumstances preventing us from moving forward more quickly and providing certainty.”
Revision details
Trenton January, ACCESS Oklahoma chief engineer, said the new alignment will impact an estimated 75 homes, which is similar to the proposed plan’s estimation from 2022.
“We recognize that this will be difficult for those homeowners, and OTA’s pledge to them is to work diligently and transparently with them through the entire process along these next stages as we move forward,” January said.
A month after the OTA’s initial ACCESS Oklahoma announcement in 2022, a group of residents impacted by the proposal formed the grassroots organization to oppose the development, Pike Off OTA. The group counted 665 homes in the direct path of the turnpike and 4,730 homes within a half mile, according to OTA’s project map.
Echelle said OTA's goals in moving the corridor west were to provide certainty about what locations would be affected for homeowners more quickly and to impact fewer homes, though January said the estimates do not differ much.
“Some have accused the OTA of not listening. The OTA created a website and phone number to receive comments, questions and concerns,” Echelle said. “Since 2022, we've answered thousands of questions and received hundreds of comments, culminating in our recent round of public meetings earlier this summer, where we sought input from area property owners at three separate open house meetings.”
OTA held a public meeting May 21 in Purcell and a meeting May 27 in Norman to gather input from residents.
“Everyone is learning today that the South Extension has a new path, and you, the property owner, are our priority,” Echelle said. “We recognize that there will remain some uncertainty while the engineering design work moves forward in the coming months. OTA is committed to answering your questions and expediting this process as much as possible.”
January said in addition to the number of impacted homes, the OTA considered several factors when revamping the alignment, such as avoiding subdivisions, dense developments and section line roads.
“We also considered environmental impacts, such as less disruption to the potential rose rock formations, as well as considering municipal long-range plans and mobility for traffic in the area,” January said. “Our engineers also looked closely at floodplains and tried to minimize the number of bridges needed, while doing our best to provide a straight corridor that will support an 80-mile-an-hour design speed.”
The alignment would move east of 60th Avenue as it moves south, which January said avoids floodplains, wetlands and streams.
January said the alignment does not interfere with AIM Norman’s Area and Infrastructure Master Plan or proposed plans in Noble, and that when the OTA gets closer to 60% completion of the design phase, it will be more accurate about which properties the corridor will be built on.
The northern portion of the extension is expected to open to traffic in 2032 and the section south of State Highway 9 is expected to open in 2034, according to January.
Impact on residents
Ladan Nelson, ACCESS Oklahoma program manager, said the OTA intends to communicate with affected residents during the next 12-18 months of preconstruction, which will also see geotechnical and survey operation.
“Please spread the word to your neighbors, anyone, so we can make sure that we're answering you and helping you all during this difficult process,” Nelson said. “We want to ensure that you all know that the property owners are our number one priority.”
OTA will also host three open houses this month for property owners who may be impacted by the new alignment. The first two meetings will be held in Norman and the last will be held in Noble:
• 5-7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Nancy O’Brien Center for the Performing Arts
• 2-4 p.m. Sept. 27 at the NCED Conference Center and Hotel
• 5-7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Noble High School
Legislative response
In a press release from the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus, Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman), Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman), Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) and Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) condemned the OTA’s methods.
"Today’s announcement by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority casts a renewed cloud of uncertainty and fear over yet another 25,000 acres of homes, farms, and ranches in Cleveland and McClain Counties,” the press release states. “Once again, thousands of Oklahomans are being forced to live under the looming threat of displacement, and without a clear, evidence-based justification.”
The press release states that the OTA continues to operate in a way that undermines public trust and expresses concern that the announcement marks the beginning of “another round of backroom deals made through the so-called 'right of way access' process.”
“Since 2022, we have brought to light that this process is riddled with secrecy, devoid of transparency, and ripe for political favoritism. The last time a path was announced, we learned that well-connected individuals, including political figures, received disproportionately favorable deals when selling their land. That is unacceptable,” the press release states.
In February, 2023, the Oklahoman reported that Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle) was paid $103,460 above the appraised value for her house, which was in the potential pathway of an OTA project. She was the first to sell her property to the OTA and was given $25,915 in moving expenses.
The press release called the announcement “another opportunity for OTA to bully and traumatize the public,” and called for the OTA to stop “trying to manipulate the narrative and listen to what their conscience is trying to tell them.”
This story was edited by Thomas Pablo, Natalie Armour and Ana Barboza.
