State Rep. Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) commented on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s announcement of a project to resurface State Highway 3/U.S. 81/Northwest Expressway between Okarche and Oklahoma City in Canadian County.

The project was awarded at the department’s April 6 meeting, which was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So many of our residents travel this route on a regular basis, and this will make for much smoother driving in the long run,” Sanders said.

The project begins at Gregory Road and extends 3.3 miles in both directions. Construction should begin in early summer and the contractor is allowed 90 days to complete it.

The $3.8 million project was awarded to Atlas Paving and is an extension of the last resurfacing project that started at State Highway 4. That portion was completed last summer.

This project is a 5-inch mill and overlay job that also addressed the traverse cracks with a similar treatment used on the previous project.

“Transportation has always been a top priority since I was elected in 2008,” Sanders said. “Since then, the residents of House District 59 have seen tremendous improvements and enhancements on both roads and bridge construction in our district. This particular project has long been a priority, and I am glad to have this completed before I leave office in November.”

ODOT also began a recent project on the southbound lanes of U.S. 81 on the south end of Kingfisher.

Shoulder repairs and surface work are being conducted from Will Rogers Drive south to County Road E0840.

Repairs are expected to last through the end of April and the southbound lanes will be intermittently narrowed to one lane during this time.