Weekend Construction On I-235 Expected To Snarl Traffic

Oklahoma highway officials will close a portion of Interstate 235 north of downtown Oklahoma City this weekend so crews can remove a bridge that is in the way of a construction project.

All lanes of I-235 just south of I-44 will be closed around N.W. 50th Street beginning Saturday night at 9pm. Those lanes will remain closed until 5:00 a.m. Monday.

The work is expected to snarl traffic for football fans traveling after Saturday's game between Oklahoma and West Virginia. The stretch of road involved carries about 100,000 vehicles daily.

Transportation officials are widening I-235 at its intersection with I-44. An overpass that links I-235's southbound lanes with 50th Street is in the way of the new planned roadway.

The highway department suggests taking I-35, I-44, or the Lake Hefner Parkway between Saturday night and Monday.

Southbound traffic will not be able to reach I-235 from the Broadway Extension or I-44; northbound traffic will be diverted at 36th Street.