Turnpike Expansion Has Homeowners Worried

A family just outside the metro says white "Xs" are popping up all over their neighborhood. The markings are being made by a survey team from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) as it looks for land for a new turnpike.

The plan is link I-40 to I-44 to ease congestion in that area. Until then, people living on Peebly Road worry if the new toll road will come through their neighborhood.

The Brzozowski family lives in their dream home. One they custom built and have only lived in for four months.

“We like the fact that it's seems very rural, but you're not too far from Wal-Mart or Target,” said Tavi Brzozowski.

But "Xs" continue to appear on Peebly Road not far from the family's neighborhood.

“I've been seeing "Xs" everywhere and just trying to think, ‘Well what does that mean?,’” said Brzozowski.

“These “Xs” are out there for survey crews to really get the lay of the land and see where a road could possibly go or can't go,” said Jack Damrill with the OTA.

The saying goes, “X marks the spot”, but Damrill says this time that's not the case.

“We're going to try to avoid as many houses as we can, that's our first number one criteria. So this road is not going to be a straight line north and south between I-40 and I-44. It is going to have a lot of curve to it,” said Damrill.

Even if the new Northeast OK County Loop avoids their neighborhood, Brzozowski says the new toll road and development that will follow will ruin their peaceful city escape.

“We moved out here for peace and quiet and that would totally disrupt that,” said Brzozowski

But already the family is making a worst case scenario plan to move out of their new home if the turnpike comes too close.

“We're kind of just waiting to see if they decide to bulldoze our neighborhood or if they are going to put it right next to us and potentially damage our property values,” she said.

It'll still be a few more months before OTA releases the potential route for the new 22-mile turnpike expansion.