In today’s construction news, read about this Thanksgiving holiday in Oklahoma, a number of traffic issues are being caused by highway construction projects. Meanwhile, legal challenges are being faced by Philly Shipyard as Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD), a U.S. provider of dredging services, is requesting an injunction to stop the construction of what is allegedly the first offshore wind subsea rock installation vessel (SRIV) in the United States.
Oklahoma Holiday Travel Will Be Impacted by Highway Construction Projects
Original Source: Highway construction projects to affect Holiday traffic in Oklahoma
Highway building projects in Olahoma are causing several traffic issues over Thanksgiving.
Holiday traffic on interstates, major highways, and turnpikes will be affected from Thursday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Nov. 29.
Traveling? Consider how the projects effect your plans.
Oklahoma City Metro I-40 narrows near Douglas Blvd. in Midwest City until 2025.
From Town Center Dr. in Midwest City to the I-240 intersection, eastbound I-40 will be restricted to two lanes with lane shifts and ramp closures until 2025. Take care because there are no shoulders or merging lengths. Use I-240 or US-62/N. 23rd St.
Closed eastbound I-40 Douglas Blvd. on- and off-ramps.
Both westbound I-40 on- and off-ramps to Anderson Rd. are closed.
Eastbound I-40 moves to the new westbound lanes.
Westbound industrial on-ramp is closed indefinitely.
The protected turnaround at Town Centre is still recommended for westbound I-40 drivers to access the eastbound Industrial Blvd. on-ramp.
The westbound I-40 off-ramp to Douglas Blvd. is open, but cars should use the new protected turnaround to access the eastbound Industrial off-ramp to reach the Hruskocy Gate.
The left lane of the eastbound I-40 off-ramp to Town Center Dr./Eaker Gate is closed until spring 2025.
Through 2025, I-240 narrows at I-35.
East and westbound I-240, S.E. 59th St., Pole Rd., and I-240/I-35 service roads will close as part of a multi-phase interchange enhancement project:
Narrowed eastbound I-240 off-ramp to Eastern Ave.
Bridge replacement limits Crossroads Blvd. to one lane in each direction through 2025.
The westbound I-240 on-ramp from S.E. 74th St. is closed forever.
From Eastern Ave. to Crossroads Blvd., S.E. 74th St./I-240 Service Rd. is restricted to through traffic until January 2025
S.E. 59th narrows occasionally.
The eastbound I-240 Pole Rd. off-ramp is permanently closed.
East and westbound I-240 and frontage roads will narrow occasionally for pavement rehabilitation and railroad bridge replacement.
Northbound I-35 off-ramp to eastbound I-240 will narrow intermittently.
Through 2025, I-35, I-44 constricted near N. 63rd St.
The following bridge reconstruction closures apply through 2025:
The I-35 northbound off-ramp at N. 63rd St. is closed until fall 2024.
Through fall 2024, northbound Bryant Ave. is one-lane between 50th St. and Aluma Valley Dr.
N. 63rd is closed between Bryant and Martin Luther King.
Between N. 50th St. and Wilshire Blvd., north and southbound I-35 is two lanes.
From Wilshire Blvd. to Martin Luther King Ave., westbound I-44 is one-lane.
Bryant Ave.’s southbound I-35 on-ramp is closed forever.
Expect traffic and delays and allow extra travel time.
Smaller I-35 at SH-9W, Goldsby to 2026.
For corridor widening and intersection improvements, northbound and southbound I-35 will be sporadically narrowed between SH-9W in Norman and Main St. in Goldsby through 2026.
I-35 lanes have a shorter merge area through 2024, so drivers should be careful.
All northbound and southbound N.W. 12th Ave. lanes are relocated between SH-9W and Lamar Rd. through July. You can access southbound I-35 from N.W. 12th Ave., but not as a service road.
Edmond, Arcadia SH-66 narrows by 2025
For resurfacing and widening, SH-66 between Anderson Rd. in Edmond and Luther Rd. in Luther will be occasionally one lane until summer 2025. Motorists should expect:
Between Post Rd. and Westminster Rd., SH-66 will be one-lane each way.
SH-66 will be occasionally one-lane between Anderson Rd. and Luther Rd. with a traffic signal and speed reductions.
Through fall, SH-66 lanes shift south between Post Rd. and Westminster Rd.
El Reno’s SH-66, US-81 narrow to one lane by 2025.
The SH-66/US-81 crossroads in El Reno will be closed through 2025 for roundabout construction:
SH-66 will be limited to one lane in each direction at US-81, with one lane in each direction at SH-66. E. 27th St. will be closed to thru traffic during the project.
There will be brief detours when crews swap lanes between construction phases, but at least one lane will stay open. Drivers should allow extra time and expect delays.
Tulsa Metro: I-244 closed between I-44 and US-75, narrow in West Tulsa.
Pavement restoration closes all westbound I-244 lanes between the US-75 split and I-44 in West Tulsa. You can detour on southbound US-75 and westbound I-44. The project narrows I-244 to two lanes in both directions between US-75 and the Arkansas River bridge.
Eastbound I-244 will be restricted to one lane near US-75 (NE corner IDL) until 2024 for bridge rehabilitation.
US-75 bridge work at 141st St. in Glenpool through summer 2025.
North and southbound US-75 drivers in Glenpool should be advised of narrower and shifted lanes and a lower speed limit at 141st St. through summer 2025 for bridge work.
US-412 narrows at 81st W. Ave. in Sand Springs until 2025.
A bridge restoration project narrows US-412 at 81st W. Ave. in Sand Springs to two lanes in each direction until February 2025.
Sand Springs’ SH-97 pavement restoration continues through spring 2025.
Sand Springs’ SH-97 pavement rehabilitation from S. Main St. to W. 2nd St. continues through spring 2025. Peak-hour traffic will have two lanes in both directions.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority changed I-44/Turner Turnpike lanes near Wellston, closing SH-66 for bridge enlargement.
Westbound and eastbound I-44/Turner Turnpike lanes at SH-66 Wellston (mm 158-157) are detoured through summer 2025 for bridge replacement. Ramps will stay open during lane shifts. Drivers should expect speed limitations and be careful in the work zone. Through summer 2025, eastbound and westbound SH-66 between the I-44/Turner Turnpike (mm 158) off-ramps in Wellston is closed. This Lincoln County closure is between SH-102 and US-177.
I-44/Turner Turnpike shoulder closures near Heyburn through fall
Work to extend the I-44/Turner Turnpike to six lanes near Heyburn in Creek County will close shoulders between mile 201-203 through September. The remaining 6-mile work zone approaching Bristow will have restricted lanes and lower speed limits. Through fall, SH-66 will be sporadically shortened at mm 202 for new interchange ramps at the I-44/Turner Turnpike. For bridge work, W. 211th St. is closed between S. 337th W. Ave. and N. 3730 Rd. until summer 2025.
Narrow I-44/Turner Turnpike lanes near SH-99, Stroud
For the Stroud Service Plaza redevelopment and Turner Turnpike realignment through 2025, West of Stroud lanes and shoulders will be narrowed. The turnpike in this section is open to all lanes, although construction will slow speeds and narrow lanes.
Noble Co. shortened US-412/Cimarron Turnpike at US-64.
US-412/Cimarron Turnpike narrows to one lane in both directions at US-64 (mm 22.5) for bridge renovation.
SH-375/Indian Nation Turnpike narrows at Blanco, Pittsburg Co.
Between mm 55 and mm 53 near Blanco (SH-63) for bridge reconstruction, northbound and southbound SH-375/Indian Nation Turnpike is one lane each way.
SH-375/Indian Nation Turnpike narrows near McAlester, Pittsburg Co.
SH-375/Indian Nation Turnpike is restricted to one lane northbound and southbound near km 63 as part of the cashless conversion project.
Oklahoma Transportation Statewide: I-35/SH-153 widening and interchange enhancement in Thackerville, Love Co.
All I-35 lanes will be open Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 1. Drivers should be cautious in work zones.
I-40 narrows near Airport Rd. in Weatherford, Custer (east and westbound). I-40 is one-lane each way near Airport Rd. in Weatherford for bridge replacement.
US-183 narrows over I-40 at Clinton, Custer Co. for east and westbound traffic. US-183 is restricted to one lane in each direction across I-40 in Clinton for bridge renovation.
To facilitate bridge rehabilitation, I-40 is restricted to one lane in each direction at mm 100 west of US-281 in Hinton in Caddo County.
Due to reconstruction, US-54 in Guymon, Texas County is reduced to one lane in both directions from 5th St. to Hurliman Rd. Temporary traffic signals exist.
Near Hodgen, LeFlore Co., US-59 was one-lane.
Traffic lights limit US-59 to one lane west of US-259 near Hodgen.
In Dewey County, US-60 narrowed at Seiling.
Between Seiling and Vici, bridge reconstruction narrows US-60 in both directions.
In Enid, Garfield County, US-60/US-81 is reduced to one lane in each directions between US-412 and SH-45.
US-62/Rogers Lane in Lawton, Comanche Co. is now one lane in each way between 52nd St. and 38th St. for safety upgrades.
Muskogee Co. restricted US-62 to one lane between Ft. Gibson and Muskogee.
US-62 is one-lane each way from SH-165 in Muskogee to Georgetown Rd. near Ft. Gibson for bridge maintenance.
US-281 closed north of Hinton, Caddo.
USA-281 is closed between Business US-281 and I-40 north of Hinton for bridge reconstruction. Drivers can detour on I-40.
In Cheyenne, Roger Mills County, US-283 is reduced to one lane with traffic signals for pavement and bridge repair.
Garvin and Pontotoc counties restricted SH-19 to one lane east of Stratford.
Bridge renovation limits SH-19 to one lane with traffic lights between Magnolia Ave. and Gaar Corner Rd.
Bryan Co. temporarily closed SH-78 southbound. SH-78 will close intermittently in Bryan County for surface maintenance.
Northbound SH-78 narrows south of US-70 in Bryan Co. SH-78 narrows south of US-70 at Caney Creek for bridge repair.
Between Tenkiller Lake and Blackgum, Cherokee and Sequoyah counties, SH-82 changes.
SH-82 swaps lanes intermittently between SH-100 East near Cookson and SH-110 West near Blackgum for road and bridge construction.
SH-145 closed over I-35 in Paoli, Garvin Co.
SH-145 over I-35 in Paoli is closed for bridge work. Traffic is diverted around the work-zone via SH-77 to SH-59 or SH-19.
First Undersea Rock Placement Vessel Constructed by US Shipbuilder Challenged in Court
Original Source: US shipbuilder faces legal challenge over construction of the states’ first subsea rock installation vessel
In July 2023, GLDD cut the first steel for the vessel ordered in 2021. The U.S. company says Acadia, the only Jones Act-compliant rock placement vessel in the commercial fleet, is essential to developing offshore wind projects the U.S. has planned and allowed.
The Ulstein-designed ship is 140.5 meters long, 34.1 meters wide, and accommodates 45 people. It can deposit up to 20,000 tonnes of rock on the seafloor for offshore wind project monopile foundations.
On November 22, Philly Shipyard ASA informed that GLDD has filed a lawsuit and motion against its subsidiary Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI) seeking injunctive relief regarding certain project execution plan actions for the SRIV construction.
The business also said that its sole operating subsidiary PSI maintains production on the SRIV, NSMVs 3, 4 and 5, and CV 1, and that Hanwha’s purchase of PSI is slated to close in Q4 2024.
Philly Shipyard is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and majority-owned by Aker Capital AS, entirely controlled by Aker ASA.
Summary of today’s construction news
In summary, holiday travel on interstates, major highways, and turnpikes will be impacted by the projects from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, November 29. If you are planning a trip, you may want to think about how the projects may impact your itinerary.
Meanwhile, the business also stated that PSI, its sole operating subsidiary, is still producing on the SRIV, NSMVs 3, 4, and 5, as well as CV 1. It is still anticipated that the deal with Hanwha to acquire PSI would be finalized in Q4 2024. Aker Capital AS, which is fully owned by Aker ASA, is the majority owner of Philly Shipyard, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
