May Commission Meeting Wrap-Up: Storm response update given; $143 million in projects awarded
Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s May meeting include an update to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s response to the storms in late April, multiple national awards recognizing the department’s conservation efforts and an update on two upcoming projects to resurface and add shoulders to rural, two-lane highways, one located on US-59 near Stilwell and the other on US-259 near Idabel.
ODOT Chief Engineer Brian Taylor briefed commissioners on ODOT’s response to the recent storms and tornadoes in southern and southcentral Oklahoma. Seven of the department’s eight statewide field districts were called to help with clean up. More than 75 employees and nearly 30 pieces of equipment, including dump trucks, were used to assist emergency responders in Sulphur, Marietta and Holdenville.
The Wagoner County maintenance yard vehicles sustained broken windshields and storms overturned several salt spreaders. Other districts statewide have been responding to flooding events and debris removal following receding waters, replacing signs and structures blown over and keeping an eye on a driftwood buildup on the Neosho River bridge in Ottawa County.
“Our boots on the ground are just incredible individuals and they’ve been working around the clock to help their communities. There is much to be said about them and their efforts,” said Taylor.
The department was recently recognized for its successful demonstration of the compatibility of environmental conservation with infrastructure building. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service again awarded ODOT for its innovative and successful implementation of the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances Program. ODOT was one of two departments of transportation to receive the Outside the Box Award for its exceptional achievements in this area.
In addition, two other awards were bestowed at this event. The national Asclepias Adder Award for the highest average milkweed stem count across southern and western U.S. transportation rights of way and the national Wind Beneath our Wings Award which recognizes ODOT Natural Resources Biologist Vonceil Harmon’s positive communication with the Rights of Way Working Group and her willingness to mentor other transportation sector partners new to the national Monarch conservation program.
Commissioners awarded several contracts, among them two projects to resurface and add shoulders to rural, two-lane highways, a $23 million project located on US-59 between SH-51 and Baron Fork Creek near Stilwell in Adair County and a $28.5 million second phase of three on US-259 south of Idabel in McCurtain County. Both projects are 7-miles long and are estimated to begin in late fall and take about a year.
Commissioners voted to award 41 contracts totaling $143 million to improve highways, roads and bridges statewide. The public may access a list of all awarded contracts at https://oklahoma.gov/odot/business-center/contracts-and-proposals.html selecting the April 11, and April 18, 2024 lettings.
The next Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, June 3. The meeting will be available to view live via Ustream and past meetings are available at vimeo.com/odot.
The nine-member Oklahoma Transportation Commission, appointed by the governor and legislative leadership to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards contracts monthly for road and bridge construction.
At Monday’s Transportation Commission meeting, commissioners were briefed on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s response to the recent storms in April. Seven of the department’s eight statewide field districts were called to help with clean up. More than 75 employees and nearly 30 pieces of equipment, including dump trucks, were used to assist emergency responders in Sulphur, Marietta and Holdenville in addition to managing flooding and ODOT equipment damage.
At Monday’s Transportation Commission meeting, the department highlighted national awards received for Monarch conservation efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service again awarded ODOT for its innovative and successful implementation of the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances Program. ODOT was one of two departments of transportation to receive the Outside the Box Award for its exceptional achievements in this area, along with receiving the national Asclepias Adder Award for the highest average milkweed stem count across southern and western U.S. transportation rights of ways and the national Wind Beneath our Wings Award given to ODOT Natural Resources Biologist Vonceil Harmon’s positive communication with the Rights of Way Working Group.
Pictured are Joe Brutsche, ODOT Environmental Programs director; David Saulsbury, ODOT Environmental Programs assistant division manager, Vonceil Harmon, ODOT Natural Resources biologist, Brian Taylor, ODOT chief engineer and Daniel Nguyen, ODOT director of Project Delivery.
