By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Drivers in south Tulsa should prepare for major traffic changes beginning Monday as construction starts on a nearly $27 million bridge replacement and interchange improvement project at US-75 and 81st Street.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the project will replace the existing northbound and southbound US-75 bridges over 81st Street while also transforming the interchange into a diverging diamond design aimed at improving traffic flow and safety.
“This is a very busy corridor,” said ODOT spokesperson TJ Gerlach. “Traffic along Highway 75 is ever-growing, so we definitely need to plan for the future.”
According to ODOT, the area surrounding Tulsa Hills has seen rapid development in recent years, increasing traffic congestion and creating the need for long-term roadway improvements.
The new bridges will be built wide enough to eventually support six lanes of traffic, though US-75 will remain four lanes — two in each direction — once construction is complete.
Underneath the highway, 81st Street will also be widened as part of the project.
What Is a Diverging Diamond Interchange?
The project will convert the current interchange into a diverging diamond interchange, similar to the one installed near Memorial Drive and the Creek Turnpike several years ago.
In a diverging diamond design, drivers briefly move to the left side of the road while traveling underneath the highway. ODOT says the setup allows vehicles turning onto highway ramps to move more freely without crossing oncoming traffic.
“All of the lights are timed so that only basically one direction is moving at any given time,” Gerlach said. “The overall movement through the interchange is a lot smoother for everybody.”
ODOT says similar projects in the Tulsa area have already shown improvements in both traffic efficiency and safety.
What Drivers Can Expect
Construction officially begins Monday, with the first traffic changes impacting 81st Street underneath the highway.
The center turn lane will close, reducing traffic from three lanes to two in that area.
Later in the week, shoulder closures along US-75 approaching the bridges will begin as crews prepare to build temporary crossovers.
To minimize traffic disruptions, ODOT plans to use temporary bridges during construction to keep two lanes of traffic open in both directions along US-75 for as much of the project as possible.
“The principal reason is we definitely want to keep two lanes open as much as possible,” Gerlach said. “This is a very busy corridor through here.”
Drivers should also expect reduced speed limits through the construction zone, likely dropping to 55 miles per hour to match nearby work zones already active along the corridor.
Coordinating Multiple Work Zones
With additional highway projects already underway north and south of the interchange, ODOT says crews and contractors are coordinating closely to avoid confusing drivers and worsening congestion.
“We’re making sure the engineers overseeing the projects are talking to each other, and that the contractors are talking to each other,” Gerlach said.
ODOT is also urging drivers to remain alert in work zones.
“We do need drivers’ cooperation,” Gerlach said. “Slow down, pay attention to the speed limit, put away distractions and buckle up.”
Timeline and Cost
The project carries a price tag of approximately $26.8 million and is funded through a combination of federal and state transportation funding, including fuel taxes.
Construction is expected to continue through the end of 2027.
