Gravel Trucks Overturn 2 Days In A Row On I-35 In Norman

Gravel trucks overturn two days in a row, shutting down I-35 in Norman.

I-35 highway construction in Norman is already a headache, but for the past two mornings drivers say it's been a nightmare.

1/21/2014 Related Story: Dump Truck Spills Gravel Along I-35 In Norman

The good news though, the project to widen I-35 around Main Street is ahead of schedule. But, for people who travel regularly through the area, the commute seems to be getting worse.

The project has been on-going for a little over a year.

"We are very tired of it," said Norman resident, Shawna Farmer. "It's becoming a pain."

"I just deal with it. You know, hopefully it's improved in the end and you just are patient," said commuter, Nicole Calvert.

But, added to the construction headache the past couple of mornings was gravel. According to Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a load of gravel was dumped onto I-35 in the midst of morning traffic two days in row.

Two different trailers flipped in what looks like the same spot along the interstate.

"It really blocked traffic," said store clerk, Nandini Asnani. "It was very inconvenient to a lot of people."

"I'm thinking, what's going to be next," said Farmer. "It's miserable when it comes to wrecks, when it comes to any part of that area right now. It's just horrible."

Traffic heading northbound on I-35 through the construction area came to a standstill. The highway was briefly shut down while crews cleaned up the mess.

"I'm not really sure what they were using that gravel for," said ODOT Spokesperson, Larry Clore. "As far as a project of this magnitude goes, it's actually gone pretty smoothly."

Clore says the $50-million project will widen I-35 to six lanes for a half mile north and south. That includes a wider bridge to allow more traffic on Main Street.

In the meantime though, drivers just hope the construction vehicles don't add to the already tense commute.

"I'm sure it made things even worse as far as traveling up and down the interstate went, but things like that happen sometimes," said Norman resident, John Hardeman.

The completion date for the I-35 widening project is set for June 5, 2014, but ODOT says it may be finished as early as this Spring.