TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker Air Force Base held a town hall June 16 at the Tinker Event Center on upcoming road construction both on and off base, as well as the plans to minimize the impacts drivers’ commute.
The event was live-streamed on the Tinker Facebook page (link valid until June 17, 2026).
ODOT/MWC Road Project: SE 29th Street (Air Depot to Midwest Blvd.)
A 240-day road project on SE 29th Street, from Air Depot to Midwest Boulevard, is scheduled to begin June 22, 2026. The three phases of work include full-depth concrete intersection reconstruction, asphalt resurfacing, new ADA sidewalks and driveways, and waterline replacement.
One lane of traffic will be always maintained in each direction.
The first phase beginning June 22, 2026, at the Air Depot intersection is expected to last approximately one month. During this period, traffic will be restricted to straight-through only, with no turns permitted at the SE 29th St & Air Depot Blvd. intersection. This is expected to cause severe bottlenecks and delays at Tinker Gate. To mitigate this, personnel are strongly advised to use alternate gates such as Eaker, Vance, Hruskocy, and Lancer. Eaker Gate's hours will be temporarily extended to 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to accommodate the increased traffic.
The second phase will involve nightly lane closures on SE 29th Street from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to minimize daytime disruption. A "Winter-Time Suspension" is also being considered to pause work during the peak holiday shopping season.
Further upgrades to the SE 29th Street and Douglas Boulevard intersection including widening and improving the intersection to flow with the newly constructed I-40 and South Douglas interchange and full-depth concrete replacement and dedicated right-turn lanes are planned for late 2026 or early 2027 but will not overlap with the current project.
OKC Waterline Project: Douglas Blvd & SE 44th Street
A project to reroute a 60-inch waterline from Douglas Boulevard to Post Road between 44th and 74th Streets will be rerouted at Douglas and 44th and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2026, with all road work finished by July 31, 2026. Impacts to Liberator Gate are expected to subside by August 2026. At the conclusion of this project, the Marauder Gate will be permanently closed once the Douglas & 44th intersection reopens.
I-40 EB Off-Ramp at Hruskocy Gate
In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a dedicated right-turn lane was added for the eastbound I-40 off-ramp at Hruskocy Gate in May 2026. The upgrade adds a second turn lane for traffic coming into the installation, reducing morning traffic backups onto the interstate.
Personnel are encouraged to avoid stopping on the interstate and utilize both lanes on this upgraded route to access the installation during peak morning hours.
Tinker Air Force Base Civil Engineering is also undertaking several on-base projects.
B3001 Parking Lot Reconstruction
In Summer 2027, through funding from the United States Air Force, the main parking lot north of the Bradley Drive, 3001 Flag Pole, will undergo a full-depth asphalt replacement and restriping. This will eliminate severe potholes and safety hazards. While the redesign will improve pedestrian circulation and visibility, it will also result in a reduction of 444 parking spots to meet code compliance for stall and drive lane sizes.
North Loop Running Trails
Starting in Summer 2026, the North Loop running trails will be repaired, replaced, and widened through a community partnership using Oklahoma County funds and manpower. Sections of the trail will be closed during construction but will result in a safer, wider path for pedestrians and runners.
Perimeter Rd & Industrial Blvd Repaving
Scheduled for early Summer 2027, this United States Air Force funded project involves a full-depth asphalt replacement with gutter, grading, drainage improvements and restriping of Perimeter Road and Industrial Boulevard. The roadway will be converted from four lanes to a two-lane road with a continuous center passing lane specifically designed to safely accommodate slower-moving industrial traffic.
Tinker Air Force Base encourages all personnel to stay informed through official channels, Team Tinker social media pages and the Team Tinker App for the latest updates on gate hours and traffic impacts.