Oklahoma Governor Announces $900 Million in Turnpike Expansions

"A new turnpike would link Interstate 40 east of Tinker Air Force Base to the Turner Turnpike near Luther as part of nearly $900 million in improvement plans unveiled by state officials Thursday," report Rick Green and Randy Ellis.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin touted the benefits of the "Driving Forward" plan as follows: "The 'Driving Forward' plan is about ensuring safe travel, relieving congestion to shorten commutes and sustaining economic development for years to come," according to a quote from the article.

Green and Ellis provide the funding break down for each of the Driving Forward plan's six projects. The six projects includes:

• $300 million for the Oklahoma County Loop: a new turnpike linking Interstate 40 east of Tinker Air Force Base to the Turner Turnpike near Luther. 
• $190 million for extending the "Kilpatrick Turnpike to connect southwest Oklahoma City and the metro area at-large with the urban core" and to provide another connection to Will Rogers World Airport. 

"Other projects are planned on the Muskogee Turnpike, the Gilcrease Expressway and the HE Bailey Turnpike," write Green and Ellis.