City, state, OTA break ground on Toby Keith Expressway I-44 Interchange
It was a day for looking back and looking forward as the governor and state transportation officials visited 275 Snow Drive in Newcastle for the groundbreaking of the Toby Keith Expressway I-44 Interchange. The roads will connect the city to I-44 and to the turnpike system.
It will provide an east-to-west road to travel from Newcastle to Moore, Norman and to U.S. Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City.
Snow Drive, which was a thriving industrial district with several businesses, is now ground zero for operations to provide concrete and anything needed to build the interchange.
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Tim Gatz headed up the groundbreaking ceremonies by summing up what the day was about and then introducing speakers.
Gatz said the turnpike and in- INTERCHANGE on page 8
Related photos on page 9 terchange is an absolute necessity for Newcastle and the Oklahoma City area. He said the project is all about strengthening connections, and modifying, adapting and providing opportunity.
INTERCHANGE: Will change how area connects
Governor Kevin Stitt said the southern loop of the turnpike system around Oklahoma City is very important to the state. He described roads infastructure as one of the top four needs of the state.
Senator James Lankford talked about the old bridge across U.S. Highway 44. He said that bridge put Newcastle on the map.
The senator said Thursday’s event was a celebration of the next connection which will provide new people and new advancements for the area, creating new growth.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Executive Director Joe Echelle said the interchange will change how the area connects to the state, and how the rest of the state connects with Newcastle.
Echelle said when built, the special aesthetics planned for the interchange will help to highlight Newcastle and the corridor.
Newcastle Mayor Karl Nail said it was an exciting day for area residents as the project will provide something “we’ve wanted generationally” — a connection to the other side of the river.
Nail said this project is a $1 billion dollar project, and Newcastle is also undergoing a second $1 billion dollar project with phase 1 of the Chickasaw Nation Newcastle Medical Center.
“This is transformational for the community. There will be up to 6,000 employees there at buildout,” Nail said.
He said the city has been working for years in planning for the turnpike and the hospital, and is investing in infrastructure to accommodate the expected growth.
Nail was pleased with the announcement about the interchange design, and said the city had been working with the OTA on the aesthetics which are in the honor of Newcastle.
Echelle said the completed interchange will be four layers and four levels. It will connect travelers from Newcastle, Tuttle, and I-44.
He said the interchange will be built in three phases. It will remain open but with a divided roadway in the first phase, and the buildout timeline is about a year-and-a-half.
