Several accidents along I-35, I-44 ahead of weekend construction
'Even if you are familiar with it, there are a lot of changes happening regularly,' said Bryce Boyer, with ODOT.
LOCAL NEWS: Teen fined hundreds of dollars for doing donuts in Choctaw Creek Park
I-35 and I-44 is a sea of construction in Northeast Oklahoma City.
Boyer said local drivers are familiar with the traffic cones, construction crews, and narrow lanes.
'Narrowing lanes is part of any real project,' said Boyer.
In the past eight days, we've seen four major accidents. It's been a known trouble spot, while ODOT works on the project through the end of the year.
Unfortunately, Boyer said, those narrow lanes are necessary.
'The lanes do have to be more narrow than traditional lanes so that way we can continue to work off the road,' said Boyer. 'It is a tighter configuration than it will be.'
With this week's wet weather expected, paying extra attention in this area is vital.
Right now, no extra lighting is planned until the final phase of the project.
To add to this, construction is planned for this weekend. From 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday, southbound I-35 will close between Wilshire and NE 50th. Southbound traffic will be diverted to westbound I-44.
Also, the eastbound I-44 off-ramp to southbound I-35 will also be intermittently closed.
LOCAL NEWS: Federal funding cut from OKC nonprofit stopping gun violence
ODOT said this will help straighten out the curve and ponding issues.
'So when we do have some more spring storms and summer showers, it will help move that water off the roadway,' said Boyer.
If you're in that area, put away distractions. Remember, the reduced speed limit signs are only for clear conditions. Drive accordingly.
Drivers looking to avoid the work zone should consider finding an alternate route such as US-77/E. 2nd St. (mm 141) in Edmond and travel west to southbound I-235 to access southbound I-35 and westbound I-44 or locate an alternate route on the free Drive Oklahoma app.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
TRAFFIC ALERT: I-15 SB backed up for miles near Lehi
LEHI () — Traffic on I-15 SB was reportedly backed up for several miles, leading to significant traffic delays for afternoon commuters. All four lanes on I-15 Southbound were experiencing delays near milepost 277 between Lehi and Pleasant Grove. According to Lieutenant Cameron Roden, with Utah Highway Patrol, a minor crash occurred. According to the Utah Department of Transportation, traffic is estimated to fully clear up by 4:37 p.m. Latest headlines: Salt Lake City firefighters rescue several people in early morning abandoned building fire Safest Car Rankings for 2025 $1.2 million in fentanyl, heroin seized in San Juan County traffic stop Texas House committee advances GOP-friendly map Monroe Canyon Fire continues to grow amid high winds, community meeting scheduled Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
This Is What Toyota's Answer to the Ford Maverick Might Look Like
The world's largest carmaker is preparing to jump into the compact pickup market. The small lifestyle pickup will take on the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, with a potential launch window in 2026 or 2027. And unlike the Hilux, this one's not being built to pull tree stumps out of bogs - it's aimed squarely at young urbanites, daily drivers, and maybe even your neighbor who already owns three camping chairs and a roof box. Thanks to rendering artist, Theottle, we have some idea of what it might look like. The new model will most likely be based on either the RAV4's TNGA-K platform or the smaller Corolla-based TNGA-C, meaning this ute is more crossover than crawler. The size is expected to be slightly shorter than a RAV4, and powertrains will likely be hybrid-first, including a plug-in hybrid variant capable of over 60 miles (100 km) of EV-only only would this make it Toyota's most efficient pickup ever, but it comes at a time when the company is doubling down on reliability and sheer road presence. Toyota claims over 150 million of its cars are still on the road today - a handy fact when you're trying to win over budget-conscious buyers who don't want to own a disposable trucklet. Although Toyota still holds the overall U.S. sales crown, it's now under pressure from all angles. According to recent Q2 data, Ford is catching up fast. Ford's year-over-year gains are outpacing Toyota's, and with the Maverick continuing to be a runaway success, it's no wonder Toyota sees the need to respond. A hybrid ute that undercuts the Tacoma and gives buyers something between a crossover and a proper truck would fill a glaring gap in their lineup. It's not just the U.S. market Toyota is eyeing. There's also growing speculation - including recent comments from Chairman Akio Toyoda himself - that American-made Toyotas may soon be sold in Japan. This follows new trade agreements that make it easier to import U.S.-built vehicles to Japan by removing complex certification barriers. If Toyota does choose to build this pickup in North America, it could be among the first models to benefit. While Toyota hasn't confirmed specifics yet, early reports suggest the new ute will be based on either the RAV4's TNGA-K platform or the smaller Corolla-based TNGA-C. That means a car-like ride, excellent hybrid integration, and a front-wheel-drive layout with optional all-wheel drive. Powertrains are expected to include both a regular hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, with the latter capable of over 60 miles of electric-only driving. That figure would place it at the top of its class in terms of efficiency. If Toyota's internal timelines are accurate, the truck could launch in North America in late 2026 or early 2027, with other markets to follow. Expect it to slot below the Tacoma in price and size, aimed squarely at buyers who want the rugged look of a pickup without the fuel bills or size penalties. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Barely Costs More Than Last Year
The RAV4 is the world's best-selling car, as well as America's most popular Toyota, but in second place is the Grand Highlander, a spacious three-row SUV that will soon be joined by an all-electric Highlander little brother. In the meantime, Toyota is ensuring that the 2026 Grand Highlander will sell as strongly as its predecessor by applying a nominal price increase for the new model year. Most trims get a price bump of $500, with one excpetion now $580 pricier. With this, the Grand Highlander starts at $41,360 before the obligatory destination charge of $1,495. The entry-level trim is the LE, and as with the 2025 model, adding AWD to any trim (unless it's already equipped as standard) costs $1,600. The only change to the lineup is that the Hybrid Nightshade now gets a black badge overlay, and it seems that this alteration doesn't come free, as this is the only trim to get a slightly higher price increase of $580 to start at $53,190. As above, all pricing in the table below excludes the $1,495 destination charge for either model year. The standard engine on offer is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder generating 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, while the Hybrid gets a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor to produce 245 hp. At the top of the range is the Hybrid MAX powertrain, featuring a combination of the 2.4-liter turbo-four and rear-mounted electric motor that together produce a total of 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Related: The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Gets Facelifted to Finally Look Interesting While the price increases are nominal, as they should be for a carryover model that is produced within the borders of the United States, they do make the Grand Highlander slightly more expensive than its Chevrolet Traverse competition, which carries a base MSRP of $40,800 for 2026 (excluding $1,895 for destination and delivery). Moreover, base model for base model, the SUV with a bowtie badge is more powerful, offering 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque from its 2.5-liter turbo. Meanwhile, the 2025 Kia Telluride starts at $36,390, and the 2025 Mazda CX-90 costs $38,045. With price increases likely for the 2026 variants of both these SUVs, the gap to Toyota will surely close, and we expect the Grand Highlander to continue racking strong sales for Toyota before a more significantly refreshed model arrives in the next year or so. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
