The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is moving forward with plans for a major improvement project along US-75 in Okmulgee, a heavily traveled corridor that officials say has reached the end of its service life and no longer meets modern safety and accessibility standards.

A public involvement event was held recently to outline the proposed work and gather feedback from residents, business owners, and daily commuters who rely on the stretch of highway between US-62 and State Highway 56. SH-56 is also known locally as 6th Street, which serves as a key westbound route out of Okmulgee.

“We have a project coming up in a couple years [that] we’re having a public involvement process for right now, and it’s on Highway 75 between Highway 62 and Highway 56 in Okmulgee,” said TJ Gerlach with ODOT. “Highway 56 is 6th Street heading west out of Okmulgee.”

A heavily used corridor nearing the end of its lifespan According to ODOT, US-75 in this section currently carries approximately 27,500 vehicles per day, a number projected to climb to nearly 39,300 vehicles daily by the year 2048. With traffic volumes steadily increasing, officials say the aging roadway and outdated pedestrian infrastructure pose growing concerns for safety, drivability and accessibility.

ODOT representatives explained that the pavement is deteriorating and has surpassed its intended lifespan, while existing sidewalks do not meet accessibility standards for all users.

“Basically, what the project is intended to do is just resurface and repave the highway itself,” Gerlach said. “It’s just deteriorating [and] it’s past its service life, so we want to make sure we rehabilitate the actual driving lanes themselves.”

— Planned improvements focus on safety, pedestrian access The proposed project includes a comprehensive set of upgrades aimed at improving both vehicle traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Under the current design plans, ODOT is proposing to:

• Reconstruct the driving lanes and shoulders along US-75

• Add sidewalks to improve pedestrian accessibility

• Create a safe pedestrian crossing beneath the railroad

• Install a signalized pedestrian crossing at 13th Street Officials emphasized that pedestrian access is a key component of the project, particularly in an area where residents, workers, and visitors often need to cross or travel alongside a busy highway.

The improvements are designed not only to address current safety concerns but also to prepare the corridor for future growth as traffic volumes continue to rise over the next two decades.

— Construction Timeline & Traffic Impacts While the project remains in the design and public involvement phase, ODOT provided a general timeline for when construction could begin.

“The project, since we’re just in the public involvement right now still finishing up the design, we’re looking at going into construction probably in 2028 and projects about this scale usually last approximately [one] year,” Gerlach said.

During construction, drivers should expect delays, longer commute times, and periods of congestion. However, ODOT stated that US-75 will remain open throughout the project, with at least one lane of traffic maintained in each direction at all times.

Access to homes and businesses along US-75 will also remain available during construction, a point ODOT officials stressed as a priority in planning the work.

Due to the size and complexity of the project, some inconvenience is unavoidable, but officials said every effort will be made to minimize disruptions and keep traffic moving as safely and efficiently as possible.

— Community Input Encouraged The recent public involvement event marked an important step in the planning process, allowing community members to learn more about the proposed improvements and share concerns or suggestions before final design decisions are made.

ODOT and FHWA officials noted that feedback gathered during this phase will help shape the final design and construction approach for the project, ensuring it meets the needs of both local residents and the thousands of drivers who travel through Okmulgee each day.

Construction is currently estimated to begin in 2028, though final dates have not yet been set. Additional updates will be provided as the project advances through the design and approval process.

For Okmulgee, the US-75 improvements represent a long-term investment in safety, accessibility and infrastructure reliability – one that aims to support continued growth while addressing longstanding roadway and pedestrian concerns along one of the city’s most vital transportation corridors.