The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Board awarded more than $133 million in construction contracts on Aug. 4, 2026, for the Interstate 44/Turner Turnpike interchange reconstruction at Chandler on the I-44/Turner Turnpike, a new interchange on the Interstate 344/John Kilpatrick Turnpike near Oklahoma City and an I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike widening near Catoosa.
Chandler Interchange Rebuild
The board awarded a $29.9 million contract to Sherwood Construction to rebuild the interchange connecting the I-44/Turner Turnpike and State Highway 18 near Chandler in Lincoln County. The project widens the SH 18 bridge over the turnpike, adds new exit and entrance ramps with tolling equipment, and removes the current interchange infrastructure.
The bridge coming down has the lowest posted vertical clearance on the turnpike network and has been struck repeatedly by over-height vehicles, said Brad Manhalter of OTA's engineering division.
Executive Director Joe Echelle said the legal load height is 14 ft., and the bridge currently clears about 14.5 ft., leaving little margin. Raising bridges above 18 ft. vertical clearance keeps oversized loads on divided highways rather than rural two-lane roads,
$55.5M Interchange Contract
C3 Construction won a $55.5 million contract for a new interchange at the I-344/John Kilpatrick Turnpike and North County Line Road, spanning Canadian and Oklahoma counties.
The work includes seven bridge widenings, retaining walls, frontage and local road construction, and mainline widening between Northwest 122nd Street and North MacArthur Boulevard.
Manhalter said the interchange should relieve congestion along Rockwell Avenue, Council Road and Memorial Road, while adding access north toward Piedmont and the Deer Creek Public School District. Work is expected to begin in late fall 2026.
Will Rogers Turnpike Widening
Manhattan Road & Bridge won a $47.9 million contract to widen nearly 2 mi. of the Will Rogers Turnpike to three lanes in each direction near Catoosa and Verdigris in Rogers County.
