The Toby Keith Expressway is under construction, according to Newcastle Mayor Karl Nail.
The mayor recently toured parts of the construction areas which will eventually connect Newcastle going east to Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City, from U.S. Interstate 44 to U.S. Interstate 35.
Nail said the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority expects the north bridge to be complete and open to two-way traffic by September 2027.
“This is progress,” Nail said. “Coming and going from Newcastle will be much easier.” He also noted that construction for the interchange at Newcastle will impact traffic for a few years before it is completed.
Nail said the south bridge is planned for completion by September 2028 and at that time, traffic will be one way traveling west on the north bridge, and one way traveling east on the south bridge. Nail said OTA anticipates 12,000 cars per day driving the turnpike when it opens, and then they anticipate in excess of 35,000 by the year 2050.
The mayor said there’s enough room between the bridges to build an additional two lanes and OTA anticipates the expansion to six lanes “sooner rather than later.” Nail said the cost to make the drive from I-44 to I-35 should be just less than $1.
