Highway 59 Expansion Project to Widen Road in Northeast Oklahoma

7-mile stretch between Grove and Jay to expand from 2 to 5 lanes, funded in part by Cherokee Nation grant

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, colorful image with blurred streaks of motion representing the busy traffic on a highway, conceptually illustrating the need for the Highway 59 expansion project.The Highway 59 expansion project will transform a congested two-lane road into a modern five-lane corridor to better serve the growing Grand Lake region.Jay Today

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will begin a major highway expansion project in June to widen a 7-mile stretch of Highway 59 between the towns of Grove and Jay from two lanes to five lanes. The $X million project, funded in part by a federal grant secured by the Cherokee Nation, aims to address growing traffic congestion in the popular Grand Lake recreation area of northeast Oklahoma.

Why it matters

The highway expansion reflects the ongoing development and population growth in the Grand Lake region, which has led to increased traffic volumes and safety concerns on the existing two-lane road. The project will improve traffic flow and safety for both local residents and the many tourists visiting the area.

The details

Construction crews will maintain two lanes of traffic open throughout most of the project timeline, though drivers may encounter some delays during limited periods when single-lane traffic with flagging operations is required. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation plans to provide regular updates to motorists about construction progress and traffic impacts.

  • Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026 after bids were awarded in February.
  • The project is expected to take approximately X months to complete.

The players

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for overseeing the Highway 59 expansion project.

Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

The Native American tribal government that secured a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fund the highway expansion project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With the Grand Lake area and that section of northeast Oklahoma, we've just seen a whole lot of growth there in the past several years. The highway in that area is just basically at capacity, and we need to add some more lanes to it to help traffic move through there more safely and more efficiently.”

— Oklahoma Department of Transportation Representative

“Since this is such a long project, that whole seven miles, we were fortunate enough that the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma was able to help us or was able to acquire a grant, a federal grant from the US Department of Transportation. That helps offset a lot of the cost for us on this project.”

— Oklahoma Department of Transportation Representative

What’s next

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will begin notifying motorists about construction delays and traffic impacts approximately two weeks before work begins in June.

The takeaway

This highway expansion project is a critical infrastructure investment to support the continued growth and development of the popular Grand Lake region in northeast Oklahoma. By increasing capacity from two lanes to five lanes, the project will enhance traffic flow, improve safety, and better accommodate the area's growing population and tourism.