Newcastle Interchange Breaks Ground on Toby Keith Expressway
Construction began Thursday on the I-44/US-62/SH-37 interchange at Newcastle, the western end of the Toby Keith Expressway and the start of the final phase of the Oklahoma City outer loop, Oklahoma Energy Today reports.
Project Scope and Schedule
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is building the expressway, a 28-mile route it has pursued since 1989. About $1 billion in construction is now underway on the 6.5-mile section between I-44 and I-35. The Newcastle interchange is one of nine projects active on the corridor, and work on the western half of the expressway began earlier this year.
When construction is complete, the Newcastle site will be a four-level interchange built in three phases. Plans include ramps connecting I-44 to the expressway and a diverging diamond interchange tying I-44 to SH-37. Northeast of the interchange, the expressway crosses the South Canadian River floodplain on twin bridges about 7,000 feet long before continuing east to I-35.
OTA plans to open one side of the expressway first, in late 2027 or early 2028, with two-way traffic. The other side follows six to eight months later, making a four-lane divided road. Work on later phases continues afterward at the I-35 interchange. OTA says it will keep all I-44 lanes open during peak travel periods. Lane closures, including 10- to 15-minute full closures to set bridge beams, will happen overnight.
“It’s going to allow traffic to get around the Oklahoma City metro area if they’re just not destined for downtown,” OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said.
Project stage: The interchange is under construction, and the expressway’s I-35 interchange work comes later. The source does not name the prime contractor on the interchange or break out individual subcontract packages.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Call OTA this quarter for the prime’s name. Contact the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and ask who holds the Newcastle interchange contract. Then ask that prime’s estimating group to add you to its sub list before year-end.
- Ask for the list of all nine active corridor projects. Each likely has its own contractor or contractor team. The source confirms nine are underway, so request the project list and primes from OTA and send capability statements to each.
- Bridge and structural crews: The twin river bridges of roughly 7,000 feet, the interchange ramps and the diverging diamond all involve bridge work. Beam setting happens in overnight full closures of 10 to 15 minutes, so night-shift crane, rigging and traffic-control capacity matters.
- Paving, grading and utility trades: These scopes are likely on a multi-phase, four-level interchange, though the source does not list them. With the first side of the expressway targeted for late 2027 or early 2028, expect those packages to be let and staffed ahead of that date. Ask the prime which are still open.
- Traffic control and lane-closure vendors: OTA’s commitment to keep all I-44 lanes open at peak, with closures overnight only, puts night work and flagging capacity at a premium on I-44.
- Position for the I-35 interchange. Work there comes after the first opening. Build relationships with the corridor primes now so you are on their lists when those packages are priced.
