Dec. 21—King Road remains shuttered at its intersection with State Highway 66, nearly five months after first closing July 29.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation had initially projected the closure to last two months.
In early November, Claremore’s resident ODOT engineer said all the surface work was complete, but crews had to widen the driveway to the Rogers County Warehouse. He said ODOT needed one more month to finish the work, though that timeline was subject to change.
T.J. Gerlach, a spokesperson for ODOT, said Wednesday the agency isn’t sure when King Road will reopen to traffic.
“We really don’t have an estimated date right now for reopening King Road,” Gerlach said. “The contractor has to schedule some asphalt work in order to complete the driveway in that area. … We don’t have a mechanism to push them to do that.”
ODOT has contracted with Tulsa-based Sherwood Construction for maintenance on King Road.
The agency is leaning on Sherwood for the State Highway 20 realignment project, which will shift the course of the highway south of Claremore to connect to State Highway 66 and the Will Rogers Turnpike.
Gerlach said ODOT tentatively plans for the realignment project to wrap in the early spring of 2025.
Sherwood is helping ODOT reconstruct the Interstate 44 and State Highway 66 interchange in Catoosa. The project, which seeks to straighten the curve of Interstate 44 and add lanes, began Dec. 2 and is scheduled to finish by summer 2026.
Since the closure, drivers haven’t been able to access King Road using Highway 66; they’ve had to detour via Southaven Road from the north or South 4120 Road from the south.
Brandon Broadbent, pastor at King Road Baptist Church, said that before the closure, two or three people would pop into the church weekly to inquire.
He said he hasn’t had any visitors since July 29.
“Most people don’t want to have to go all the way around … it’s easier to find a church that’s right there on the main road versus having to go all the way around to try to find this one,” Broadbent said. “Now, prayerfully, it’ll be open soon. It has definitely been on my thoughts and in my prayers a lot.”
Catalayah Elementary School sits on King Road. Assistant Principal Jennifer Basks said the closure has created traffic congestion during dropoff and pickup.
Principal Kellye Shuck said the closure hasn’t affected attendance, and though the elementary school had to retool its bus routes, bus drivers conducted practice runs before the school year started to minimize delays during the fall semester.
Bryan Frazier, superintendent of Claremore Public Schools, said the revamped King Road intersection would improve access to Catalayah.
“The construction project is a necessary step for the long-term benefit of the area,” Frazier said. “Once completed, it will provide everyone a wider, safer and more efficient access route. The school community has been incredibly supportive, and we are grateful for their understanding during this temporary inconvenience.”