An Oklahoma Department of Transportation assistant engineer said the anticipated completion date of the U.S. 81 improvement project south of Kingfisher has been pushed back to the end of July.

Motorists have been frustrated by weeks of apparent inactivity, even while traffic continues to be restricted to one lane and a reduced speed limit.

Trenton January, ODOT Division 4 assistant engineer, said the delay is “mostly related to the weather” and “some equipment trouble with stabilization.”

“The progress on the northbound lanes has been significantly impacted by a very wet winter, putting the schedule nearly two months past the original completion date,” January said. “The contractor has had difficulty with the soil due to when it gets wet it becomes very sticky and hard to work with.

“The wet winter also impacted the contractor’s ability to stabilize the soil because the additive has weather restrictions in order to be placed.”

January confirmed that the contractor, Duit Construction, also has other contracts with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and ODOT, but added “they manage their own work schedules.” The scope of the project involves removing, replacing and widening the northbound lanes, adding a center turn lane, rehabilitating the southbound lanes and widening the southbound shoulders.

So far, the southbound shoulder widening has been completed, but the northbound lanes have been stripped to dirt for weeks with little progress.

January said the contractor started stabilizing the subgrade last week.

“Next, they will begin placing base on the subgrade, which will be followed by concrete paving,” he said. “Once the paving is complete, they will begin to shoulder up the northbound lanes, place signage, stripe, sod the slopes and install a traffic signal before rehabilitating the southbound lanes.”

January said the center turn lane will be completed at the same time as the northbound lanes.

“ODOT appreciates motorists’ patience as these necessary improvements are made to this busy and growing corridor,” he said.