Roadwork won't sack game-day travel to Norman

By Josh Rabe and Tony Thornton

Published: August 26, 2007

Sooner fans heading to the season opener in Norman against North Texas on Saturday shouldn't have to worry too much about a familiar bright-orange nuisance — road construction signs.

Construction projects are ongoing on several state roads and city streets that could affect traffic, but highway officials don't expect any of those areas to interfere with traffic flow by the time game day rolls around.

Road closures

At a few locations, lanes are being closed at night only, and work won't be done in those areas on weekends with football home games, said David Meuser, spokesman for the state Transportation Department.

•Interstate 35 in McClain County: Periodic lane closures on weeknights only to install a cable barrier between State Highway 9 and State Highway 74.

•Interstate 40 at State Highway 102: An interchange overhaul and bridge replacement is in progress near the Dale/McLoud exit. All lanes are open but shifted.

•I-40 at NW 10 in Canadian County: All lanes are open but shifted for a bridge replacement project.

•I-40 in Pottawatomie County: A median barrier is being installed from the Oklahoma County line for 13 miles eastward. Lanes will not be closed during weekends.

•I-35 at State Highway 51 in Payne County: An interchange overhaul, including surface and bridge work is ongoing, but all lanes of I-35 south of the interchange should be open in time for Oklahoma State University's season opener Sept. 1.

•I-35 in Carter County: Lane closures may affect traffic coming from Texas, but the project should be complete before Sooner fans venture south of the Red River to meet Texas on Oct. 6. Currently, traffic is narrowed to one lane in both directions, and off-ramps are closed at Exit 24.

•I-40 in Oklahoma County: A median barrier is being installed between Air Depot to the Pottawatomie County line. Also, resurfacing work between Sooner Road and Douglas Boulevard. Weeknight lane closures only.

Norman traffic

Several road construction projects are ongoing in Norman, but fans shouldn't worry about those on game day, said Shawn O'Leary, Norman's public works director. Work on two trouble spots should be completed before the Sooners' season opener.

Flood Ave, which is a popular route for some fans coming from the north, is closed between Gray and Kansas Streets for road resurfacing, but the intersection will be open on game day, whether the project is complete or not, O'Leary said.

Since the Chickasaw Nation's Riverwind Casino opened a year ago, the highway interchange between I-35 and Highway 9 West has been extremely congested, Meuser said.

On Saturday, the casino and highway officials put up signs informing traffic which lane to use for casino or game travel, but the area is always backed up on game days, he said.

Parking

Your best bet is to pay to park in neighborhoods near the stadium, but you'll have to pay, and you may not be able to find a spot if you don't arrive early enough, said Jared Thompson, associate media relations director for OU's athletic department.

Spots typically go for about $10 and up to $20 or more for prime parking spots nearest to the stadium.

Free parking with shuttle service for $2 is available at the Lloyd Noble Center.

If you leave the stadium

Again this year, fans who leave the stadium for any reason other than a medical emergency will not be allowed back inside.

Pedestrian access

Pedestrians coming to the stadium from the north can walk south down Asp Avenue, then follow sidewalks to the east of Oklahoma Memorial Union. Fans can also go west on sidewalks south of the Union that run through an area between the Library and the College of Business to a sidewalk on the north end of Van Fleet Oval.

Sidewalks leading from Asp Avenue to the stadium that were closed for construction at Price Hall are now open.

Getting in the stadium

Gates 7 and 12 will open two hours before kickoff for OU students with a game ticket and valid OU ID. Other gates will open 90 minutes early.

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