OTA: Construction on East-West Connector turnpike to start in spring
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — Work on one of Oklahoma’s most controversial infrastructure projects is officially set to begin early next year, as strong opposition and lingering questions about its legality and feasibility show no signs of slowing down.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says it plans to break ground on the East-West Connector turnpike along Norman’s northern border in spring 2026.
Opponents like Kelly Wilson with Pike Off OTA say that the timeline is premature.
“I feel like that’s a little premature, considering we still haven’t seen any environmental studies, Wilson said. “We still haven’t seen any traffic justification studies. We haven’t seen the access justification report. It just feels like this is putting the cart before the horse.”
When fully built, the East-West Connector will stretch east from I-44 in Newcastle, cross over the Canadian River to I-35 in Norman, then extend northeast to I-40 near Newalla, connecting with the current terminus of the Kickapoo Turnpike.
OTA says construction will begin on the segment between I-44 and I-35 in Spring 2026, including what the agency says will be the longest bridge in Oklahoma.
Construction plans for that portion, published on OTA’s ‘Access Oklahoma’ website, are listed as 90 percent complete.
Wilson says the plans, which indicate some support piers for the bridge will be built within feet of the Canadian River’s main channel, are concerning.
“It shows that the pier is going to go nine feet, eight inches from the river channel,” Wilson said. “If the river migrates, will it wash out the piers? That’s a concern.”
OTA says it will also begin work by next fall on a portion of the East-West Connector heading east from I-35 to Air Depot Boulevard.
But that’s where certainty ends.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation forced OTA to redraw its plans for the next segment to the east, which would connect the turnpike from Air Depot Blvd. to I-40.
The Bureau said OTA’s original proposed route for that portion was too close to Lake Thunderbird.
Right now, OTA has no formal plans drawn or a start date in place for that stretch.
Without that stretch being built, the East-West connector would effectively dead-end at Air Depot Blvd., with no connection to I-40.
The fact that OTA is starting construction on certain portions of the east-west connector, while still having no plans in place for other portions of it, raises concerns for PikeOff OTA member Tassie Hirschfeld.
“Their trust agreement specifically says they are not supposed to do things this way,” Hirschfeld said. “You can’t do a little piece here and a little piece there. So they’re in total violation and no one’s enforcing it.”
But Friday, an OTA spokesperson assured News 4 the entire East-West Connector will be fully built by 2030, including uncertain the portion east of Air Depot.
Hirschfeld said she feels the Spring 2026 groundbreaking date for the portions west of I-35 is performative.
“I’m not entirely confident that this is a real start date or just more magical thinking on the part of the Turnpike Authority,” Hirschfeld said. “There have been lawsuits and challenges. No environmental studies and investigative audit. So my sense is they are desperate to demonstrate competence when in fact, there’s really not a lot of confidence there.”
She said she’ll wait to believe the turnpike is coming until she can see it.
“All kinds of things can happen to delay, cancel, postpone,” she said. “And I’m going to put my money on—if they start it, they probably won’t finish it.”
The Turnpike Authority told News 4 it plans to put construction contracts for the first portion of the project out to bid in November.
Pike Off OTA leaders say if construction crews do show up next spring, they’re urging supporters not to interfere with any equipment and instead continue challenging the project through legal means.