Work on one of Oklahoma’s most debated infrastructure projects is officially moving forward, despite vocal opposition, environmental concerns, and questions about whether it complies with legal requirements.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) confirmed it will break ground on the East-West Connector turnpike, which will run along Norman’s northern border, starting in spring 2026. When completed, the new toll road will create a direct east-west route from I-44 in Newcastle across the Canadian River to I-35 in Norman, then northeast to I-40 near Newalla, where it will link with the existing Kickapoo Turnpike.

However, community members and activists remain skeptical about the project’s readiness and transparency. Opponents, including Kelly Wilson with Pike Off OTA, argue that the project is moving too fast without critical due diligence. “I feel like that’s a little premature, considering we still haven’t seen any environmental studies,” Wilson said. “We still haven’t seen any traffic justification studies. We haven’t seen the access justification report. It just feels like this is putting the cart before the horse.”

Despite those concerns, OTA insists that the design is nearly complete for the first segment of the turnpike — the portion stretching from I-44 to I-35, which will include what the agency says will be the longest bridge in Oklahoma. Detailed construction documents for that stretch, shared on OTA’s ‘Access Oklahoma’ portal, show plans that are 90% finished.

Yet those same plans have raised red flags among some local residents and conservation advocates. Wilson noted that some support piers for the planned bridge would be built within just a few feet of the Canadian River’s main channel. “It shows that the pier is going to go nine feet, eight inches from the river channel,” Wilson said. “If the river migrates, will it wash out the piers? That’s a concern.”

Additional work on the East-West Connector is slated to start by next fall, extending the road east from I-35 to Air Depot Boulevard. But after that segment, the project hits a roadblock. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently forced OTA to redraw the alignment for the next leg — the portion connecting Air Depot Blvd. to I-40 — due to concerns about the proximity of the planned route to Lake Thunderbird, a critical water source for the region.

So far, OTA has no finalized plans or timeline for that stretch. Without it, the turnpike would effectively dead-end at Air Depot Boulevard, raising more doubts about whether the project can truly deliver the connectivity it promises.

Pike Off OTA member Tassie Hirschfeld points out that the OTA’s incremental approach appears to violate its own trust agreement. “Their trust agreement specifically says they are not supposed to do things this way,” Hirschfeld said. “You can’t do a little piece here and a little piece there. So they’re in total violation and no one’s enforcing it.”

Still, OTA maintains that the entire East-West Connector will be fully built by 2030 and insists that any remaining gaps will be resolved. An agency spokesperson told News 4 that the final stretch will be completed as planned, although exact details remain unclear.

Hirschfeld said she doubts the timeline and views the announced Spring 2026 start as mostly symbolic. “I’m not entirely confident that this is a real start date or just more magical thinking on the part of the Turnpike Authority,” she said. “There have been lawsuits and challenges. No environmental studies and investigative audit. So my sense is they are desperate to demonstrate competence when in fact, there’s really not a lot of confidence there.”

Hirschfeld remains convinced that delays are inevitable. “All kinds of things can happen to delay, cancel, postpone,” she said. “And I’m going to put my money on—if they start it, they probably won’t finish it.”

For now, OTA plans to put construction contracts for the initial portion of the project out to bid in November. Meanwhile, Pike Off OTA leaders are urging supporters to continue challenging the project through the courts instead of interfering with construction equipment or workers if ground is broken next spring.

The East-West Connector is part of the broader ‘Access Oklahoma’ plan, a multi-billion-dollar initiative aimed at expanding the state’s turnpike network to meet growth and relieve congestion. But if this project’s rocky path is any indication, building it may prove far more complicated than the maps suggest.

Originally reported by Spencer Humphrev in KFOR.