The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s East-West Connector project is under legal scrutiny as a federal lawsuit seeks to halt construction, citing environmental review and permitting concerns. The proposed 30-mile connector would begin at I-44 and State Highway 37, crossing the South Canadian River east to I-35.

Project Details

OTA has already initiated early property acquisitions for landowners expected to be affected by the project. According to Lisa Shearer-Salim, OTA spokesperson, the authority is making progress in addressing landowner concerns. “We’re really excited to report that we’re making some great progress that’s even exceeding our expectations as far as how quickly we’ve been able to move and start giving these homeowners along the new corridor path some certainty,” Shearer-Salim said.

Despite the progress, opposition remains strong. Pike Off OTA, a group challenging the project, has filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the state should complete additional environmental reviews and permitting before moving forward. The group also advocates for improving existing highways as an alternative to constructing a new turnpike.

Environmental Concerns

OTA declined to comment on the pending litigation but emphasized its commitment to environmental protection. “We’re committed 100 percent to protecting the environment and doing everything we can to ensure that that waterway is untouched by our process,” Shearer-Salim said. The project remains in the design phase while the legal challenge progresses in court.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.