State Rep. Mike Sanders (R-Kingfi sher) today commented on transportation projects in House District 59, which were approved by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission at its December meeting.

Commissioners approved a $21 million contract for reconstruction and widening of Highway 270 just northwest of Seiling, the last segment of the Northwest Passage in Woodward County. The remaining segments to be widened in Dewey and Blaine counties are all scheduled in ODOT’s Eight-year Construction Work Plan. This continues the ongoing effort to connect Woodward to the Oklahoma City metro area with a four-lane highway.

Also awarded was a $2.4 million bridge project on State Highway 8 over Salt Creek, 7.2 miles south of the State Highway 51 junction near Hitchcock, and a $708,000 bridge project on County Road EW-073 over a tributary of the Canadian River, 5 miles west of the U.S. Highway 281 junction near Oakwood.

Start dates for each project have yet to be determined.

“Continuing to ensure our roads and bridges are safe and effi cient for our local residents is of paramount importance to me,” Sanders said. “I’m thankful to see the Transportation Commission approving these needed projects for our area.”

During the meeting, Secretary of Transportation and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Tim Gatz highlighted an award recently presented to the agency for traffic safety efforts in Kingfisher and Blaine Counties. The Energize for Safety Coalition recognized ODOT as a partner on the State Highway 33 Safety Corridor between Watonga and Kingfi sher. The joint effort between state and local agencies and the energy industry includes increased traffi c enforcement and education to help reduce the number of serious crashes in the area.

Overall, commissioners voted to award 28 contracts totaling $94.5 million to improve highways, roads and bridges in 27 counties, including those in Blaine, Canadian, Dewey and Woodward counties. A list of all awarded contracts can be found by visiting www.odot.org/contracts,selecting the November 2019 AM letting, clicking Go, then Award.