The over-year-long project to rebuild the turnpike bridge over Route 66 and prepare for future widening at Wellston is not quite done yet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) said State Highway 66 in Wellston could be reopened as early as mid-November. Lisa Shearer-Salim, chief of public relations for OTA, added that westbound I-44/Turner Turnpike should shift onto the new bridge off the detour around late November/early December.
However, there will still be ongoing work outside the roadways until spring, according to OTA, mostly on lights and more aesthetic items.
Salim said the six-laning of I-44/Turner Turnpike and realigning the westbound off-ramp -- which is already in use -- will provide significant safety enhancements to motorists. She added that reconstruction of one of the original Turner Turnpike bridges is a significant reinvestment in the turnpike system, which positions it to serve motorists well into the future.
“As for the project overall, OTA is pleased with the progress made and is very appreciative of the Wellston community’s patience during this necessary construction. We have greatly appreciated the town’s and county’s partnership,” Salim said.
The construction has affected the Wellston community, according to residents.
Fire Chief Todd Beesley said the big thing he’s noticed is OnCue, which he stops by nearly every day. While he’s unsure of the full impact on the business, it has made parking and getting out of there more difficult. It’s also affected businesses throughout the town.
“At the last town board meeting, I think that the sales tax for the month was down a little bit from what it usually is,” he said. “So I’m sure everybody around here is ready for that to be over with. And then hopefully, on the other side of it, what it will do, we’ll generate some increased traffic through here to bring back that revenue that we may have lost during the construction.”
Beyond that, there has been an uptick in calls to the fire station for accidents on the turnpike due to the construction, Beesley said. When construction first started, calls doubled on the eastbound side in that mile section for about a month to a month and a half before they leveled out. After recent adjustments in the barricade over the last few weeks, there have been several crashes on the westbound side.
Beesley added that the turnpike is difficult anyway, depending on where the crash is, because his department either has to go nearly to the Kickapoo Turnpike to make a turnaround or to Chandler.
“So that just adds to it. And then if traffic is backed up, it just adds even more. But it has definitely impacted our response,” he said. “And then with what’s going on with 66 under the turnpike and the detour, that adds even more time now. They have got it to where we are able, in an emergency, we can get a fire truck through there on 66 through the construction.”
Local businesses like Butcher BBQ Stand have struggled with the construction cutting off access to its location. The owner made a heartfelt plea on social media