Oklahoma Transportation Commission approves 8‑year construction plan, engineering contracts and two settlements

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission on 2025-10-08 approved the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's 2026–2033 eight‑year construction work plan, authorized multiple engineering contracts and supplements, and approved settlements for two contractor claims, the commission's meeting record shows.

Why it matters: The approvals set project priorities and funding commitments across the state, including hundreds of bridge and pavement projects and targeted accessibility work, while the department reported potential near‑term disruptions from an interim federal DBE (disadvantaged business enterprise) rule and uncertainty in federal funding that could affect future lettings.

The commission approved the department's proposed 2026–2033 construction work plan, which the department said includes 460 bridges to be rehabilitated or replaced, 675 miles of improvements to two‑lane highways with deficient shoulders and 2,810 lane miles of pavement improvements. The staff presentation said the work plan comprises 1,266 individual projects and more than $7,080,000,000 in total investment; the commission voted to adopt the plan and move forward with project lettings and prioritization.

Commissioners also approved item 148, a statewide on‑demand wetland and stream mitigation engineering contract. Mr. Hernandez told the commission the department selected five firms — Blackbird Environmental, Freese and Nichols, HDR Engineering, Olson Incorporated and Switchgrass Consulting — under a combined contract value of $1,000,000.

The commission approved a group of engineering contract supplements (item 149) for projects in multiple districts. Presentations described the following supplements and purposes: - District 3, McClain County, I‑35: first supplement to CEC Corporation, $28,390, for survey and right‑of‑way staking and utility relocation work; construction phase included in the 8‑year work plan with a scheduled let date in federal fiscal 2027. (presenter: Mr. Hernandez) - District 3, Pottawatomie County, State Highway 102: first supplement to Smith Roberts Balchweiler, $84,000, to modify plans to include a shared‑use path connecting tribal facilities; construction phase scheduled in federal fiscal 2031. (presenter: Mr. Hernandez) - District 4, Logan County, State Highway 51: second supplement to Jacobs Engineering Group, $750,000, to provide full‑depth pavement replacement and modify curve geometry where applicable; corridor includes two projects with right‑of‑way and utilities work; programmed for federal fiscal 2028. (presenter: Mr. Hernandez) - District 8, Pawnee County, State Highway 18: first supplement to Smith Roberts Balchweiler, $465,707, to obtain right‑of‑way, increase side‑slope safety, move utilities and meet 3R criteria after planned development extended scope; construction phase scheduled federal fiscal 2029. (presenter: Mr. Hernandez)

The commission received two change‑order items: item 150 (change orders with cumulative totals of $150,000 or less), presented for information only, and item 151 (change orders with cumulative totals greater than $150,000), for which the commission gave approval.

The commission authorized two claims for additional payment (item 152). Mr. Davis told the commission: "The department recognizes the entitlement for this claim and it is recommended that the commission authorize a settlement in the amount of $22,478.19," referring to a standing‑bear trails enhancement contract in Ponca City originally awarded to Rudy Construction Company. For a roundabout project in Delaware County originally awarded to H & G Paving Contractors Inc., the department reported H & G defaulted, the surety selected a replacement contractor, new unit prices were established because of cost escalation, and a supplemental appropriation of $101,498 was required; the department recommended commission authorization of a $101,498 settlement to fund reclassified items for the remaining work.

Item 153, the asset preservation plan for 2026–2029, was presented for information. The department said that plan targets 95 individual bridges, 1,881 lane miles of pavement improvement and 33 projects to address accessibility deficiencies across approximately 286 individual projects. The presentation included a monetary total that was unclear in the transcript; the staff characterized the plan as a significant multiyear investment and presented it for information.

Item 155 addressed compliance with House Bill 2164. Miss Penn said the legislation amends criminal statutes and state procurement and ethics procedures, adds disclosure requirements during the state contracting process and requires certified written conflict‑of‑interest statements be submitted to the presiding officer and, where applicable, to the ethics commission and made public. The commission directed that any required certifications be placed in the meeting minutes.

In the awards item (item 157) staff informed the commission that an interim final federal rule affecting the DBE and airport concessions programs had been published in the Federal Register on Oct. 3. Director Gatz and staff told commissioners the interim rule currently prevents use of DBE goals on federally funded contracts until recertification of DBE firms is complete; as a result, several award recommendations will be resolicited or rebid without DBE goals and the department will issue addenda where necessary. The commission approved recommended awards for multiple call orders from September bid openings and rejected specific call orders as identified by staff.

During the director's report, Director Gatz briefed the commission about the interim DBE rule, the department's plan to re‑solicit affected contracts, the need for FHWA guidance and recertification work, and the potential near‑term influence of a federal government shutdown on projects with federal participation. He also noted that national heavy‑highway construction cost indices have risen sharply since 2020, described indicators that bid prices are beginning to level, and said the department will continue to monitor inflationary and funding trends.

The meeting concluded with a safety and traveler information update in advance of a major college football weekend on Interstate 35, including reminders to obey work‑zone speed limits, watch for pedestrians around Halloween and to buckle seat belts. The director highlighted the department's "Never Skip the Click" seat belt campaign and cited seat belt usage statistics from the department's surveys.

Votes at a glance (items and outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript): - Item 142 (approval of minutes, Transportation Commission meeting 12/08/2025): motion made by Commissioner Dyson; outcome: approved ("measure passes"). - Consent docket (items 143–147): motion made and approved; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 148 (engineering contracts — statewide on‑demand wetland and stream mitigation; five firms; combined value $1,000,000): moved and seconded; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 149 (engineering contract supplements for multiple districts; supplements as described above): moved by Commissioner Billy (recorded as "Motion, Billy"), seconded by Commissioner Dyson; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 150 (change orders ≤ $150,000, informational): presented for information; no commission action required. - Item 151 (change orders > $150,000): motion by Commissioner Dyson, seconded (recorded as "Second, Priyanka"); outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 152 (claims for additional payment — Rudy Construction settlement $22,478.19; H & G supplemental appropriation $101,498): motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Dyson; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 153 (asset preservation plan 2026–2029): informational; no vote required. - Item 154 (8‑year construction work plan 2026–2033): motion by Commissioner DeVille, seconded by Commissioner Boswell; outcome: approved ("motion carries"). - Item 156 (proposed bid openings — final Nov. 2025 and tentative Jan. 2026): motion and second recorded; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 157 (award recommendations from Sept. bid openings; multiple call orders awarded or rejected as identified): motion by Commissioner Dyson, seconded by Commissioner Billy; outcome: approved ("motion passes"). - Item 159 (adjournment): motion and second recorded; outcome: approved (meeting adjourned).

What the record does not specify: the transcript records several motions and indicates approval with phrases such as "motion passes" or "motion carries," but individual roll‑call vote tallies (yes/no/abstain) are not recorded in the transcript excerpts provided. When a specific vote count or individual vote for a commissioner is required by statute or minutes practice, the commission secretary indicated those certifications and any written conflict disclosures would be placed in the official minutes.

The commission's actions advance the department's prioritized project list and clear a series of procurement steps, while staff work through federal DBE recertification requirements and monitor federal funding availability.