City leaders seek public input for NW OKC May Avenue bridge project

Oklahoma City leaders are asking residents to provide input on a proposed redesign project for a bridge in the northwest part of the city.

Why does Oklahoma City need to replace the bridge?

According to a presentation by the City of Oklahoma City, North May Avenue and the Northwest Expressway currently receive over 25,000 and 34,000 vehicles daily, respectively.

The city expects those numbers to increase to over 31,000 and 41,000 vehicles a day by 2045, underscoring the need to make significant improvements to enhance safety and traffic flow.

According to the city, the current May Avenue bridge, which spans Northwest Expressway, was built in 1952 and is now structurally obsolete.

The city says this is due to the bridge's 14-foot, 4-inch clearance, as well as two partial collapses caused by vehicles striking the low overhang.

What options does Oklahoma City have for replacement?

City officials say four design alternatives have been presented to replace the North May Avenue bridge that travels over Northwest Expressway:

1. Diverging Diamond Interchange
2. Cloverleaf Design
3. Conventional Diamond Interchange
4. Diamond Interchange with Roundabouts

Diverging Diamond Interchange

The Diverging Diamond Interchange offers a reduced number of traffic conflict points, which are intersecting points between different traffic movement paths.

Additionally, this option can accommodate a higher volume of left turns, as well as fewer and shorter traffic signal phases.

Cloverleaf Design

The Cloverleaf Design is of a similar layout to the bridge's current condition but would include adding another "leaf" to the bridge's southeastern quadrant, allowing for eastbound traffic on Northwest Expressway to exit onto northbound May Avenue.

However, city leaders say this design conflicts with plans to raise the bridge higher.

Conventional Diamond Interchange

The Conventional Diamond Interchange, similar to the layout of on and offramps for most interstates, would add two signals to May Avenue at the ramp intersections.

However, this plan would add to the number of traffic conflict points, which can increase the possible number of crashes.

Diamond Interchange with Roundabouts

The Diamond Interchange with Roundabouts would have a similar layout to the Conventional Diamond Interchange, however, the traditional intersection with signals would be replaced by a roundabout on the north and south ends of the bridge.

How can I provide input?

Residents have until April 25 to provide feedback on the project’s development.

Residents can provide input by visiting the city website detailing the project and leaving comments for city leaders.