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ODOT director outlines winter costs, Route 66 map and new Lawton pedestrian bridge
Summary
Director Gatz updated the Transportation Commission on winter-storm response costs and materials, the Route 66 centennial map print run, use of brine pretreatment statewide, and completion of a $2.5 million pedestrian bridge in Lawton.
Director Gatz told the Oklahoma Transportation Commission on March 2025 that the department spent several million dollars and tens of thousands of staff hours responding to a series of significant winter storms, and provided updates on several statewide initiatives including a Route 66 centennial map and a completed pedestrian bridge in Lawton.
Gatz reported that this winter ODOT used about 34,000 tons of salt‑and‑sand mix and approximately 824,000 gallons of brine, at an estimated materials cost of about $4,400,000. The department recorded roughly 89,000 man‑hours fighting winter weather and at times had as many as 80 trucks in for service because of wear on equipment. District 4 used about 10,000 tons of material and District 6 used about 400,000 gallons of brine, Gatz said.
“The storms we did have were very demanding,” Gatz said, noting that some parts of the state saw unusual snowfall and statewide icing events that were costly in both labor and material. He said ODOT is balancing maintenance and life‑cycle investments and reminded motorists to obey work‑zone limits and “buckle up.”
Gatz also announced the unveiling of a Route 66 centric state map produced in coordination with the Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and tourism partners. The map is a commemorative print tied to the Route 66 centennial in 2026; the department has printed in excess of one million copies and may reprint if demand warrants.
On completed projects, Gatz highlighted a pedestrian bridge on I‑44 at Gore Boulevard in Lawton funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program and a local partnership; he described the project as about $2.5 million, with construction starting July 2024 and completing in January 2025. The bridge separates pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicle traffic and includes crossing signals and additional sidewalks.
Commissioner Alexander praised the department’s expanded use of brine pretreatment, saying it has made a measurable difference on northwest roads and can often be seen by pretreated stripes prior to storms. Gatz credited local districts for piloting the practice and said it is now used statewide.
The director noted that proposed letting lists for April–June remain tentative because Congress has been operating under a continuing resolution; the department is monitoring federal appropriations and keeping the commission informed.
