U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) announced today that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation was awarded a $45 million grant to replace bridges on I-44 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This major infrastructure investment was part of the INFRA awards, which will be formally announced by the Department of Transportation on Friday. In February, Sen. Inhofe sent a letter to Secretary Chao in support of Oklahoma’s grant application.

“Investments in infrastructure benefit all Oklahomans,” Inhofe said. “Tulsans know that the stretch of I-44 from I-244 to the Arkansas River is some of our state’s oldest infrastructure, but also one of the most heavily-trafficked routes for trucks and interstate commerce. That’s why I’m pleased to announce a $45 million grant for the Tulsa area that will provide necessary upgrades and revitalize an important artery for our national freight system. This grant will help keep motorists safe by reducing congestion, replacing bridges and modernizing the highway design for efficient travel.”   

“This important federal infrastructure grant is great news for Tulsa and Oklahoma,” Lankford said. “This transportation route is congested and unsafe, and must be repaired soon in order to improve safety and better manage the quantity and complexity of modern day traffic. It is a problem area that has long been identified by ODOT as a critical need for the region; thankfully, this INFRA grant accelerates the construction of this project.”

“The INFRA grant for improvements on I-44 west of the Arkansas River is tremendous news for Tulsa, as it allows us to accelerate plans for this critically-needed work, ” Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Mike Patterson said. “This section was built before the creation of the interstate system itself, and traffic struggles with the narrow lanes, aging bridges and congestion. We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts by Sen. Inhofe and our congressional delegation to help us identify and secure funding solutions to help us bring this aging corridor up to today’s interstate standards.”

The Stillwater Regional Airport was also awarded a $1.5 million grant from the FAA to rehabilitate their runway and to reconstruct runway lighting.