{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases/oklahoma-awarded-100-million-competitive-highway-grants", "Oklahoma Awarded $100 Million in Competitive Highway Grants", "2021-06-30", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Stephanie I. Bice", "B000740", "bice.house.gov", "bice", "https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05) joined U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and U.S. Representatives Frank Lucas (OK-03), Tom Cole (OK-04), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02),and Kevin Hern (OK-01), applauding two announcements that the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program is awarding $100 million to go toward two highway projects in Oklahoma.\n\n\u201cI-40 is critical to Oklahoma\u2019s ability to serve as a corridor to commerce across the nation, which is why I\u2019m pleased to join with members of Oklahoma\u2019s delegation to announce the awarding of a $50 million INFRA grant for a lane addition and interchange improvement project at I-40 and Douglas Boulevard in the fifth district,\u201d Bice said. \u201cWhile Congress continues to discuss a nationwide infrastructure package, grants like these ensure that states can maintain interstate safety or expand infrastructure to meet the needs of Oklahoma businesses and residents.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is welcome news to see more than $100 million in INFRA grant funding come back to important infrastructure projects in Oklahoma,\u201d Inhofe said. \u201cThis funding will go towards reconstructing, widening and improving two extremely important highways in Oklahoma: I-40 and I-35, supporting jobs, driving economic growth, and increasing safety for the traveling public. As we continue to discuss a broad, national infrastructure package, regionally important projects like these that are real, tangible, Oklahoma infrastructure will continue to be my focus in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to join my colleagues in Oklahoma\u2019s Congressional Delegation in announcing the more than $100 million in INFRA funding for two significant infrastructure projects in Oklahoma,\u201d Lucas said. \u201cInvesting in hard infrastructure is critically important to the economic prosperity of Oklahoma\u2019s communities, allowing for increased commerce and economic development to spur growth not only along the corridors of I-40 and I-35 but towns across Oklahoma. I\u2019m proud to have joined Senator Inhofe in our efforts to secure this vital funding and help modernize Oklahoma\u2019s highways. As Congress continues to discuss the need for a national infrastructure package, core infrastructure for Oklahoma and rural America will remain my top priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected two critical infrastructure projects in Oklahoma\u2019s Fourth Congressional District to receive significant awards,\u201d Cole said. \u201cThe receipt of this tremendous funding will greatly improve and strengthen the ability to move both people and freight in vital commuter and trade corridors while increasing travel safety statewide. This is great news for Oklahoma, and I was delighted to personally advocate for bringing this essential funding to the district I represent within our state. In the years ahead, I look forward to seeing the incredible statewide benefits of DOT\u2019s generous $100 million investment in these key projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no secret Oklahoma\u2019s highways are in desperate need of repair so I am glad to see this INFRA funding come back to Oklahoma,\u201d Mullin said. \u201cInvesting in these two major highways will spur economic growth, increase public safety, and make Tinker Air Force Base more accessible. This is a big win for our state and I will continue to fight for federal investment in projects that improve the lives of Oklahomans.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019ve driven on I-40 lately, you know this is long overdue,\u201d Hern said. \u201cRoads are a critical piece of our society. These kinds of projects are what most Americans think of when you talk about \u2018infrastructure\u2019. These funds will be put to good use in Oklahoma.\u201d\n\nI-40 Highway Reconstruction and Widening\n\nThis $50 million grant to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be used for a lane addition and interchange improvement project on I-40 and the Douglas Boulevard Interchange. These upgrades will improve safety and efficiency for more than 50,000 vehicles per day, of which 15 percent are commercial trucks. These crucial grant funds will help advance this critical project\u2019s timetable by five years.\n\nOn March 15, 2021, Inhofe led a delegation letter to the Department of Transportation in support of this funding for the I-40 highway reconstruction and widening project.\n\nI-35 Red River Project\n\nThis $50 million grant will be used to improve approximately 7.4 miles of I-35 across the Texas and Oklahoma border. The Red River Bridge Project will have significant positive impacts in both Oklahoma and Texas, including within the Chickasaw Nation. The infrastructure that is currently in place was built in the 1960s and can no longer accommodate current traffic volumes of 50,000 vehicles per day.\n\nOn March 15, 2021, Inhofe and Cole sent a letter to the Department of Transportation in support of this funding for the I-35 Red River Project.\n\n\u201cThe additional federal investment in these two critical projects is welcome news,\u201d Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz said. \u201cThe two grants that will improve I-40 in Oklahoma City near Tinker Air Force Base and I-35 in south Oklahoma in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation are Oklahoma\u2019s primary interstate routes. Oklahoma serves as a crossroads for the efficient moving of goods and services across the nation. Modernizing these two key corridors takes true partnership at the federal and state levels and we are grateful for Sen. Inhofe\u2019s infrastructure leadership along with Congressman Tom Cole, Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and all of Oklahoma\u2019s congressional delegation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases/oklahoma-awarded-100-million-competitive-highway-grants"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.0312039889395237, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}