Drivers in Tulsa will get an early Christmas present this year.

Starting Wednesday night, crews will begin moving westbound I-244 traffic off the detour route and onto the new multi-modal bridge over the Arkansas River south of downtown Tulsa.

ODOT sent this message with the good news as well as other good information for drivers who use the area on a daily basis.

Drivers can expect various lane closures on east and westbound I-244 in this corridor from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday.

After 6 a.m. Thursday, westbound I-244 is expected to have three open lanes and eastbound I-244 will continue to have two open lanes until further notice.

Drivers are urged to use extreme caution as traffic adjusts to these changes.

To listen as Kenna Mitchell from ODOT explains, click here.

The following ramp closures will remain in place until further notice:

• Westbound US-64/SH-51 off-ramp to eastbound I-244/westbound US-64/SH-51 (south to west leg IDL)
• Southbound US-75/westbound US-64/SH-51 ramp to westbound I-244/southbound US-75
• Eastbound I-244 on-ramp from 17th St., and various lane closures on 17th St.
• Westbound I-244 on-ramp from 7th St.
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Even though traffic is shifted to this new bridge, it is important to remember the overall westbound I-244 project is not yet complete.

Drivers should remain alert to crews, equipment and reduced speeds on both the east and westbound bridges in this corridor. 

Work will continue through mid-2013 on the westbound bridge which includes two dedicated future rail lines and an area for bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the lower level.

The total bid on this project was $78 million, nearly $50 million of which came from a federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant.

The I-244 multi-modal bridge was considered one of the top projects in the country to receive this funding in 2010.

The existing eastbound bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2013.

You can always find the latest traffic reports, accidents and road closures on our traffic page at KRMG.com.

Lane and ramp closures are posted daily in the Traffic Advisories section of www.okladot.state.ok.us.