Weather delays Crosstown work

Construction and lane closures along Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City are expected to begin Wednesday morning after frigid temperatures caused a one-day delay.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said freezing temperatures pushed back the start date of major roadwork that will last through most of January, weather permitting. Work crews are expected to begin narrowing lanes of eastbound I-40 Wednesday at 9 a.m. between Western Avenue and the I-35/I-235 junction.

I-40 eastbound will be narrowed to just one lane along that stretch of highway for about 21 hours.

After that, the eastbound interstate will have two operational lanes while construction crews contracted by OG&E repair the crosstown route.

Westbound traffic will be narrowed to a single lane from Thursday morning until Friday morning, and only from the I-35/I-235 junction to Western Avenue. An additional lane will open Friday.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is warning drivers to prepare for delays and plan alternate routes using I-44, I-35 or I-240.

Construction will also affect exit and entry ramps.

The exit from I-235 to I-40 westbound will be closed for about three weeks, along with the I-40 off-ramp to Robinson Avenue.

The northbound I-235 off-ramp to westbound I-40 will be narrowed to one lane during the construction phase.

An earlier project underneath the Interstate last fall caused damage and led to bumps and uneven pavement, state transportation officials said.

OG&E has contracted with Sherwood Construction to make the repairs.