Crashes and holiday traffic creates closures on area roads

People are filing onto area roadways trying to get a jump on the long holiday weekend.

KRMG listeners are texting their frustrations to 95920 because of so much traffic.

Highway 51 westbound was completely shut down between Kenosha and Elm shortly after 3:00 Wednesday afternoon due to a crash.

An accident on Highway 169 southbound, between 21st and 31^st, caused added headaches Wednesday morning.

There was also a big backup earlier on the Broken Arrow Expressway at the I-44 exit.

According to AAA, the number of people traveling out of town is down this year.

Part of that is attributed to the holiday weekend being one day shorter than 2012 when the holiday fell on a Wednesday.

Most people will travel by car, 84 percent, while another 8 percent will fly.

Travelers can avoid backups on the roads and at the airport by avoiding the two busiest days,
which are July 3rd and July 7^th.

This year’s trip will cost more than in 2012.

Median spending is expected to be $747.

You might notice an uptick in your hotel bill too over last year.

AAA reports a 4 percent increase in rates over the 2012 holiday at hotels that meet its 3-diamond level.

You'll also see a much bigger increase if you're renting a car.

Rates will average $58 a day, up 29 percent from last year.

Gas prices have dipped recently, but are still slightly higher than they were last year nationwide.

From the Oklahoma Department of Transportation:

The following construction projects will impact travel on major highways through Sunday, July 7 for the July Fourth holiday. For turnpike information call the Turnpike Authority at 405-425-3600 or pikepass.com.

SH-74 work zone near Crescent, Logan Co.
Be alert to reduced speeds on SH-74 near Crescent.

US-64 closed near US-77 in Perry, Noble Co.
US-64 is closed near the US-77 junction in Perry; follow detour signs through downtown.

US-177 narrows near SH-33, Payne Co.
US-177 is narrowed from near the SH-33 junction to the Payne/Lincoln Co. line.

SH-33 closed near SH-47, Custer Co.
SH-33 is closed between Custer City and SH-47; use US-183 and SH-47 as a detour.

US-60/US-59 interchange narrowed near Afton, Ottawa Co.
US-60 and US-59 are narrowed to one lane at the interchange north of Afton.

US-169/US-60 narrow in Nowata, Nowata Co.
US-169 and US-60 are narrowed at the junction in Nowata during daylight hours daily.

SH-56 narrowed near Okmulgee, Okmulgee Co.
SH-56 is narrowed to one lane west of Okmulgee at Deep Fork Creek; temporary signals are in place.

US-77 narrows near Marietta, Love. Co.
US-77 narrows to one lane south of Marietta during daylight hours on Friday; use I-35 between Thackerville and Marietta.

SH-48 narrows near SH-31 junction, Coal Co.
SH-48 is narrowed near the SH-31 junction; be alert to temporary signals and flagging operations.

US-70 narrows near US-259, McCurtain Co.
US-70 is narrowed approximately nine miles north of the US-259 junction near Broken Bow.

SH-3 narrows near Atoka, Atoka Co.
SH-3 is narrowed approximately three miles east of Atoka.

US-69 narrowed near SH-113 junction, Pittsburg Co.
US-69 is narrowed near the SH-113 junction north of McAlester.

Oklahoma City Metro

Use caution - I-35 Moore and SH-66 El Reno
While all lanes are open on I-35 in Moore and SH-66 in El Reno, be alert and do not cause unnecessary congestion in these areas as tornado relief work continues.

I-35 narrowed south of Norman
I-35 is narrowed to two lanes at the South Canadian River bridge, south of SH-9 East in Norman; expect congestion and use US-77 as an alternate route.

All I-35 ramps at Main St. in Norman closed
All ramps at the I-35/Main St. interchange in Norman are closed; exit I-35 at Robinson St. when coming from the north or at Lindsey St. from the south or avoid the area if possible.

Southbound I-235 ramp to N.W. 50^th St. closed
The southbound I-235 ramp to N.W. 50^th St. is permanently closed. Drivers on southbound I-235 wanting to access N.W. 50^th St. are advised to exit I-235 at N.W. 36^th St. or eastbound I-44 at Western Ave. to bypass the closure.

I-40 narrows near Yukon nightly
I-40 narrows between Morgan Rd. and Garth Brooks Blvd. nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through Friday and from 8 p.m. to noon on weekends.

I-40 narrowed in western Oklahoma County
I-40 is narrowed at the N. Canadian River, between Council Rd. and Morgan Road.

Tulsa Metro

US-169, US-64/SH-51 (Broken Arrow Expressway) – lanes narrow, ramps close daily
The following closures are scheduled from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday; expect significant delays in these corridors and locate an alternate route if possible.
·        Various lane closures on north and southbound US-169 at the US-64/SH-51 junction.
·        The two left lanes of east and westbound US-64/SH-51 at the US-169 junction.
·        The westbound US-64/SH-51 off-ramp to southbound US-169.

I-244/Arkansas River bridge - lane and ramp closures
Expect delays and plan ahead for extra travel time on the Inner Dispersal Loop.
Closures include:
·        Westbound I-244 is narrowed to two lanes between 2^nd St. to near 21^st St. South.
·        The southbound US-75/westbound US-64/SH-51 off-ramp to westbound I-244/southbound US-75 (south leg IDL to Arkansas River) is closed; detour to the east/north and west legs of the IDL to access westbound I-244/southbound US-75.
·        The southbound US-75/westbound US-64/SH-51 on-ramp from Denver Ave. is closed.
·        The westbound I-244 off-ramp to eastbound US-64/SH-51 (west leg to south leg IDL) is closed; detour to the north and east legs of the IDL to access eastbound US-64/SH-51.

I-44/Lewis Ave. widening project
All lanes of Lewis Ave. are closed at the I-44 junction; be alert to reduced speeds in this corridor.

I-244 ramps closed at Memorial Dr.
All ramps at the I-244/Memorial Dr. interchange are closed; use Sheridan Rd. or Mingo Rd. as a detour.

US-75/116^th St. North overpass project
All lanes of 116th St. North are closed at the US-75 junction. Be alert to reduced speeds in this corridor.

I-244 narrows near US-75 junction (western split) daily
The left lane of eastbound I-244 will be closed between the US-75 junction and the I-44 junction (western split) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays for cable barrier installation.

US-75 narrows at 131^st St. South daily
Drivers can expect various lane closures on north and southbound US-75 between 131^st St. South and 81^st St. South from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays for cable barrier installation.