Truck drivers using the westbound lanes of I-44/Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma will soon face reduced parking options. The Stroud service area at Exit 179 will temporarily halt truck parking until early 2026.
This closure is part of a modernization and reconstruction project led by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. The initiative includes a complete overhaul of the Stroud service plaza, with updates to the McDonald’s and Love’s Travel Stop facilities. While parking will be unavailable during construction, food, fuel, and restroom amenities will still be accessible on site.
Once renovations are complete, the service area will provide more than 150 truck parking spaces—a significant increase of 50 spaces. This improvement was detailed in a report from The Oklahoman.
For now, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority advises truck drivers to plan ahead and secure alternative parking solutions for long-haul stops.
Meanwhile, a separate $38.5 million project will realign westbound lanes of the Turner Turnpike. Expected to finish in early 2026, this construction aligns with the other ongoing road updates in the area.
Lane Reductions and Restrictions on I-24 Bridge
Truck and passenger vehicles traveling across the I-24 bridge spanning the Ohio River—between Paducah, Kentucky, and Metropolis, Illinois—should prepare for significant lane reductions beginning Monday, March 3.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has confirmed that the bridge will be limited to a single lane in each direction to accommodate infrastructure upgrades. Planned improvements include a new deck overlay, expansion joint replacements, and structural steel repairs. Temporary concrete barriers will also be installed along the centerline.
Further restrictions come into play for heavy and oversized vehicles. The bridge will have a 15-ton weight limit and will remain closed to truck traffic altogether. Height and width limits will also apply, barring vehicles wider than 8 feet or taller than 9 feet, 6 inches.
Motorists are encouraged to consider alternate state routes to avoid congestion, particularly during rush hours.
According to IDOT, these lane restrictions will remain in effect until mid-October 2025. Additional updates regarding further traffic limitations are expected to follow. Completion of the $38 million bridge enhancement project is anticipated by 2027.
Source: Land Line
