Arepresentative from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority updated the Chandler Municipal Authority on upcoming construction plans for the area at its regular meeting on July 14, among other items.
Ladan Nelson from OTA said the Chandler Interchange would be the first project and is set to start in Fall 2026. The project aims to modify the tie-in to Interstate44atHighway18, transforming it into a modified diamond interchange.
OTA will expand SH 18 over the turnpike, adding a turning lane, and it will remove the westbound on/off ramp bridge, as well as do some preliminary work in preparation for the turnpike widening. Bids opened on Thursday and Nelson said the OTA plans to make a selection at the August board meeting.
It will take a little over a year to complete, weather pending, and OTA is including incentives to open faster.
Nelson said there will be an impact on traffic. There will be some closures throughout the construction -- specifically to demo the bridge and place the new bridge --, but they will attempt to do these at night. She added that they will give ample warning and traffic advisories and plan to work with the City of Chandler to keep drivers informed.
The CMA asked that OTA coordinate with the Department of Transportation, which plans to start a project to replace the railroad bridge on Mickey Clarkson/Route 66, to ensure that there are no overlaps on closures.
OTA also plans to do some widening of the Turner Turnpike north of the airport, with this project slated to start around Spring or Fall 2027. It is working with the city engineer to schedule how and when to deliver dirt from this project to the Chandler Airport for the runway expansion project. Nelson said they are also working to ensure that the impact on the airport is minimal, though there will be some intermittent closures.
The CMA also received updates on the current water and wastewater treatment plants’ expansions. Robert Mullins from SRB Engineering said there were currently no issues with the water treatment plant, while Benjamin Boateng with the City of Chandler said work is ongoing at the wastewater plant.
The CMA then awarded the OTA waterline relocation project to Heartland Utility Services. The company turned in the lowest bid of $520,000. This will mostly be covered by the OTA; however, the City of Chandler will cover the difference of $40,000 to $50,000 to upgrade the water lines to a larger size in preparation for future growth. City Manager Jason Orr said the funds were in the CMA Cap Fund.
The CMA also approved a pay app of $639,278.75 to W.L. McNatt and Company for the McClanahan Park project, a change order of $39,972 to W.L. McNatt and Company for the McClanahan Park project, a pay app of $381,563.70 to Orr Constructin for the water treatment plan and invoices of $5,909.20 to HCGC, LLC., for the McClanahan Park project.