OTA

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority presented details regarding its ACCESS Oklahoma project during an interim study at the Oklahoma state Capitol on Sept. 27, 2022.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority will release a revised alignment for the South Extension Turnpike on Sept. 24.

The South Extension Turnpike is part of OTA’s ACCESS Oklahoma, a 15-year, $8 billion plan to develop new turnpikes and renovate and expand existing highways statewide.

The South Extension would run approximately 19 miles through Cleveland County from the East-Connector on Franklin Road to south I-35 in Slaughterville. The project is expected to cost $1 billion and would be completed by 2036, according to the ACCESS Oklahoma website. 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 in 2022.

According to a Thursday press release, the OTA will also host three open houses on Sept. 24, Sept. 27 and Sept. 29 for property owners who may be impacted by the new alignment. The locations of the meetings will be announced at a later date.

The OTA will host a livestream that can be found on its Facebook page, YouTube channel or on its website. 

This story was edited by Ana Barboza, Thomas Pablo and Natalie Armour.

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