Highway work

Drivers on Rt. 66 and Highway 18 may face some delays in the future, though once done, the roads will be safer and easier to drive, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Tentatively scheduled for completion around Spring 2025, an 11-mile stretch of Rt. 66 from Chandler to Stroud is set to undergo maintenance, according to ODOT public information officer Tara Henson. She said they are adding a two-inch overlay, rumble strips where there aren’t existing shoulders, and new striping.

The overlay will help prolong the life of the road, Henson said.

“It helps us from needing to do more repairs quicker or fix cracks and potholes, that sort of thing. The beauty of it is that some of the cool things that it does is allows for a smoother ride,” she said.

Henson added that it’s going to be a moving operation, meaning there will be traffic controls. There will either be flaggers or pilot cars. Flaggers are stationed at the end of each side of the project and allow for twoway traffic in one lane. Pilot cars lead traffic from one end to the other, then turn around and do the same in the opposite direction, she explained.

The second project on State Highway 18 will take place from Highway 18B to Rt. 66 on the south side of Chandler. Work is tentatively scheduled to start in 2028, with the opening scheduled for 2030. The $15 million project will expand the shoulders from four feet to eight feet and add more safety options, Henson said.

The goal is to keep traffic open during construction. They may have to put up traffic signals for a portion of the project, but it’s not yet confirmed.

“Something that means so much to us is letting your community know how much we absolutely appreciate the understanding of drivers that use that road,” she said. “We really believe that they’re going to benefit from the added safety features despite the inconveniences. And once that work is complete, I think they’re really going to enjoy it. It’s just getting through that timeframe.”