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Bigger, better Turner Turnpike Stroud Travel Plaza construction to begin later this year

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Bigger, better Turner Turnpike Stroud Travel Plaza construction to begin later this year

Reconstruction of the Stroud Travel Plaza along the Turner Turnpike is set to begin later this year with a reopening in 2026 with a McDonald’s and full-service Love’s truck stop. 

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Monday awarded a $38.5 million contract to Becco Contractors to rebuild the plaza to the north of the westbound lanes, replacing the current location that is between the eastbound and westbound lanes. 

The project also will include rebuilding the turnpike along a straighter alignment running through the current travel center and widening 1.5 miles of the eastbound and westbound lanes. 

Becco’s bid was 6.8% higher than the estimate of $36 million provided by engineers at Olsson. Duit Construction submitted a bid of $39.8 million and Koss Construction submitted a bid of $40 million. 

The contract includes an early completion incentive for the project of $20,000 per day for up to 30 days. If the contractor completes the work in 395 days, Becco will receive the maximum incentive of $600,000. 

The contract also includes an incentive and disincentive for seven days at $10,000 per day for the early completion of the through-lane south of the new service plaza.  

Becco will have up to 14 days to complete the through-lane, but if they do it in seven days, they will receive the full incentive. If it takes longer than the 14 days, Becco will be hit with a $10,000-a-day disincentive for up to seven days. 

More: Oklahoma turnpike bridge project will close a portion of Route 66 for about a year

‘This is a big moment for us at the turnpike authority’

Darian Butler, director of engineering at the turnpike authority, said the widening will begin at State Highway 9, continue west under the rebuilt Old Stroud Bridge and end west of the service plaza. 

“This is kind of a big moment for us at the turnpike authority to get this project let to construction,” Butler said. “This is part of our Turner Turnpike plaza modernization that we started years ago. The Chandler Service Plaza, we reopened a few years ago, services the eastbound Turner Turnpike.” 

Reconstruction of the travel plaza was put on hold in 2022 when the turnpike authority faced legal challenges and delays selling bonds to start its 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS Oklahoma toll road expansion program. 

The widening is not expected to result in any significant loss of services for westbound travelers. Butler said the turnpike authority will build the ramps and truck parking for the new travel plaza while McDonald’s and Love’s are to draw up their own plans to build the new truck stop and restaurant. 

The turnpike at Stroud carries an average 31,000 vehicles daily at Stroud. That figure is projected by the turnpike authority to jump to 42,790 by 2045. 

Until a few years ago, the Stroud Travel Plaza served both westbound and eastbound travelers, a feature that dated back to when the turnpike opened in 1953 with six Phillips 66 stations and five Howard Johnson’s restaurants. The Stroud services consisted of a Phillips 66 station on the westbound side of the turnpike and a Howard Johnson’s on the eastbound side linked together with an enclosed pedestrian bridge over the highway. 

The turnpike authority ended its agreement with Howard Johnson’s and Phillips 66 in 1985 and the travel plaza, best known as the Midway stop, was rebuilt between the eastbound and westbound lanes. 

Love’s purchased the last remaining eastbound travel stop from EZ Go last year soon after it was rebuilt.  

Lauren Daniels, Love’s spokeswoman, said the new travel plaza will be larger than the current location with services for truck drivers found at the chain’s full-service locations. 

“Crews will raze and rebuild the Love’s store and McDonald’s as one larger facility with bigger restrooms and a larger sales floor, similar to the Chandler store,” Daniels said. “The plan is to also add a Godfather’s pizza restaurant concept.” 

Daniels said the rebuilt plaza will have more than 150 truck parking spaces, at least 50 more than the current travel stop, and a Speedco truck maintenance shop. 

“Currently the closest Love’s Truck Care/Speedco locations are in Guthrie and Choctaw, so this is a very strategic location to expand Love’s over-the-road maintenance network, which is the largest in the nation,” Daniels said. “Love’s expects with a larger facility and more food options and truck services, there will be an increase in professional drivers and casual customers.” 

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