The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently announced plans to add another project to the growing work set to begin on U.S. 77 between Noble and Lexington sometime in 2010.

David Meuser, spokesman for ODOT, said the four-laning project will span nearly 10 miles and could cost about $30 million to complete. He said the first phase could start -- in the middle of the 10-mile stretch -- in early 2010.

"There is a curve there in Slaughterville, apparently with a higher accident history," he said. "So, ODOT felt like they would start there because of the safety issue."

The first phase will cost $8 million to $9 million, Meuser said, and will extend south for 2 1/2 miles starting near Slaughterville.

The next phase, not scheduled to begin until 2016, will cost more than $15 million. It'll run south from Maguire Road in Noble to Slaughterville -- a stretch of about 3 1/4 miles, Meuser said.

The widening project will conclude just north of Lexington, running north for about four miles to Slaughterville, he said.

Meuser said ODOT is working to secure property in the area of the final project, so no start date or projected cost was available at press time.

"That area is growing, so we're trying to go in now and purchase property for the right-of-way," he said. "We want to get in there before businesses get established and people start moving in."

Meuser said the traffic count along the 10-mile stretch ranges from 5,300 to 8,200, with the thicker traffic found in the northern section of the stretch.

"More and more people are moving out there, so there is definitely a need for a four-lane highway down there," he said.

Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com