Improvements to Oklahoma’s rural highways could become immediate priorities with $65 million in additional federal funding.
State leaders and Sen. Jim Inhofe requested the federal funding to help improve safety and travel times along Oklahoma's rural highways.
“Transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our rural communities, which is why we must accelerate improvements to these two-lane highways from the Panhandle to southeastern Oklahoma,” Inhofe said.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will use the funds to resurface and add paved shoulders to several narrow two-lane, rural highways, according to a news release.
Despite carrying far less daily traffic than interstates and urban roads, rural highways account for nearly 60% of all fatalities and serious injuries in crashes in Oklahoma.
The rural highway projects being considered for funding are:
- Atoka Co: SH-3 from Lane to Farris, $16 million
- Caddo Co: US-277 from Cement to I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike, $10 million
- Jackson Co: US-283 just north of the Red River near Elmer, $6 million
- Osage Co: SH-20 east of Hominy, $8 million
- Texas Co: SH-136 south of US-412 in Guymon, $8 million
- Washita Co: SH-152 near Dill City, $4.6 million
- Woods Co: US-64 east of SH-14 near Alva (Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation only), $4 million
- Woods Co: US-281 east of Waynoka, $8 million
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