NORMAN, Okla. — A packed and at times tense public meeting unfolded Tuesday evening in Norman as hundreds of residents voiced their opposition to a proposed Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) extension planned through Cleveland County.
The OTA convened the gathering to solicit input on potential alignments for the new Turnpike segment, especially after being instructed to shift the route further west to protect Lake Thunderbird. Despite the stated goal of collaboration, the meeting quickly became a platform for residents to express deep frustration and resistance.
David Strep, President and CEO of POE and Associates, a firm working with the OTA, opened the meeting emphasizing a willingness to “help make this a good Turnpike.” However, his remarks were frequently interrupted by vocal attendees who opposed any Turnpike development in their neighborhoods.
“We want the alignment to move west,” Strep said, referencing efforts to minimize environmental impact, especially near Lake Thunderbird. “The Turnpike Authority is committed to doing everything possible to improve the water quality coming into the lake.”
Still, many in attendance remained skeptical. Opponents raised concerns about the potential destruction of hundreds of homes and doubted the authority’s promises. “There is no way we can build these Turnpikes without impacting homes,” Strep admitted.
Residents like Dave Moore and Randy Carter criticized previous public meetings, describing them as one-sided presentations rather than genuine opportunities for public input. Carter remarked, “They just showed people where the Turnpike was proposed to go, and they didn’t ask us if we wanted it.”
The meeting’s intensity increased as outbursts erupted, resulting in one woman being escorted out for disruptive behavior. Amid the unrest, a man from the audience urged calm: “Will you all please be quiet! I came here for some public information. I’m a member of this community, and I’m tired of hearing all the hysteria about this.”
After the presentation, OTA officials set up tables to collect public feedback as the community continued to wrestle with the proposed project’s implications.
