ODOT Plans For Rural Highway Projects If Federal Funding Request Is Approved

Oklahoma leaders are making a major federal funding request for rural highway projects.

After a request from Senator Jim Inhofe, rural roads like Highway 20 in Osage County just east of Hominy could become immediate priorities with $65 million in federal funding.

ODOT said they would use the funds to resurface and add paved shoulders to several narrow two-lane highways in rural areas. They said these improvements would make it safer for drivers.

ODOT said despite carrying far less traffic than bigger highways, rural highways account for almost 60 percent of all fatalities and serious injuries in Oklahoma. They said these narrow highways were built decades ago for slower speeds and lighter loads.

They said adding paved shoulders would give drivers more room to recover from mistakes on the road and would give them a place to pull over during emergencies.

There are eight highways on the list, and ODOT said they are all shovel ready and can be expedited once the funding is approved.