It’s hard to believe, but it’s been over two years since the Norman Anti-Turnpike NIMBYs—better known as “Pike Off OTA”—embarked on their noble fight against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and its plan to carve a fancy new toll road through the heart of their city's pristine fringes and backwoods.
Although the NIMBYs scored some early legal victories and successfully delayed the start of the project, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ultimately gave the green light last summer:
"An Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling Tuesday approved the state Department of Transportation’s $5 billion, 15-year turnpike expansion plan, allowing the ACCESS Oklahoma project to proceed."
ACCESS Oklahoma includes three new turnpike routes: the South Extension, the East-West Connector—both of which greatly affect Norman—and the Tri-City Connector.