Construction is now officially underway on one of Oklahoma’s most anticipated—and long-delayed—transportation projects. On Monday, crews began work on the I-44 and U.S. 75 interchange in Tulsa, a notorious traffic bottleneck nicknamed “Tulsa’s Stonehenge” and “Traffic Henge” due to the towering, unfinished bridge piers that have stood idle for years.

The $252 million overhaul is now the most expensive single project ever undertaken by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). It combines three previously separate phases into one massive reconstruction effort. Tulsa-based Manhattan Road & Bridge has been contracted to carry out the work.

“This is one of the most outdated, unsafe, and congested areas along the I-44 corridor,” ODOT said in a statement. “Its modernization has been a top priority for years, and this milestone marks a significant step forward.”

A Long-Awaited Overhaul

The project has been years in the making. Phase 1, which cost $90 million and was completed in 2023, included building the bridge piers that gave rise to the site’s infamous nickname. At the time, those piers were constructed in advance to prepare for future flyover ramps and to minimize future traffic disruptions once full funding became available.

Now, with funding in place—including two major federal grants totaling $95 million—the remainder of the interchange will be reconfigured and modernized. That includes:

• Widening U.S. 75 between 71st Street and 41st Street.
• Replacing the U.S. 75 interchange at 61st Street.
• Building a new frontage road between 61st Street and Skelly Drive.
• Extending and connecting 51st Street under U.S. 75.
• Constructing a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks near 51st Street and Elwood Avenue.

The $95 million in federal funding comes from two sources under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: an $85 million Mega Grant, which supports large-scale, complex infrastructure projects, and a $10 million RAISE Grant, aimed at boosting regional transportation infrastructure.

From Meme to Milestone

The nickname “Tulsa’s Stonehenge” has become a lighthearted symbol of construction delays. One viral TikTok with the caption, “When a road construction project in Oklahoma takes so long it becomes publicly accepted as a landmark,” shows how the long-idle project has captured public imagination.

With the launch of full construction, the meme may soon become a memory—though not before traffic gets worse before it gets better.

Eyes on 2028

The entire project is slated for completion by summer 2028, weather permitting. Meanwhile, ODOT is planning additional improvements to the I-44 corridor, including a future project to widen the stretch between the I-44/I-244 Western Split and the Arkansas River.

“This is just one of 1,647 projects planned for the state over the next eight years,” ODOT said, referencing its 2025-2032 Eight-Year Construction Work Plan. That plan allocates $8.6 billion toward road and bridge improvements across Oklahoma.

While the construction promises years of disruption, officials and residents alike hope it will finally bring relief to a notoriously dangerous and congested corridor—and perhaps turn “Traffic Henge” into a symbol of progress, not delay.

Originally reported by Julie Strupp in Construction Dive.