In July, 1963, the State Highway Department moved to the Jim Thorpe Building, south of the State Capitol in Oklahoma City.
On July 1, 1911, Sidney Suggs began his term as the first Oklahoma highway commissioner. Asst. Commissioner Clark Hudson and Chief Engineer W.P Goit also began their terms that day.
On July 1, 1923, House Bill 503 went into effect, enacting a gasoline tax. At the time all funds collected went to counties governments to build and maintain roads.
On July 1, 1938, construction began on the US-64 bridge over the Arkansas River, north of Bixby. Still standing today, this bridge is used as a pedestrian bridge with a new highway bridge built beside it.
On July 2, 1929, Senate Bill 58 was approved giving the State Highway Commission the authority to construct and maintain roads and bridge on any highway or street on the state highway system.
On July 3, 1936, the first inventory of all roads in Pittsburg and Mayes Counties was completed. Preparation then began on the first county road maps.
On July 5, 1945, a contract was authorized to rebuild ODOT’s Division 2 headquarters in Antlers after a tornado destroyed it on April 12, 1945.
On July 6, 1964, the Highway Commission approved a project to pave 6 miles of I-40 east of SH-99 in Seminole County.
On July 7, 1988, the Transportation Commission approved the naming of I-235 in Oklahoma City as the Centennial Expressway to commemorate Oklahoma City’s 100th birthday.
On July 8, 1988, the new 6-lane, I-35 bridge over the Canadian River was dedicated south of Norman.
On July 9, 1956, Gov. Gary, legislators and the Highway Commission met to discuss if the Department had sufficient matching funds needed for the stepped up highway construction program outlined in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.
On July 9, 1956, work began to study a new interstate route from Oklahoma City to Wichita. This route, which would become I-35, was studied previously by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority as a possible turnpike route.
On July 10, 1956, the Highway Commission awarded contracts for a four-lane highway between Bethany and Yukon (now SH-66) including a new bridge over Lake Overholser at 39th St.
On July 11, 1916, the Federal Aid Highway Act was enacted as the first Federal highway funding legislation
On July 13, 1943, the “Defense Highway Act of 1941” was approved allowing the Federal government to help pay the costs of surveys, plans and specifications outlined in the Federal-Aid Highway Program.”
On July 14, 1958, as required in House Bill 821 of the 1957 Legislature, the Highway Commission authorized the Department to transfer $10,000 to the Editorial and Publications Board to defray expenses toward the publication of the magazine “Oklahoma Today”.
On July 14, 1958, the Highway Commission awarded the contract to build twin bridges on I-40 over the Canadian River in Canadian Co. Each bridge was 2519 feet long.
On July 14, 1981, The Transportation Department reached an agreement with the Rock Island Railroad Trustee for the acquisition of 59 miles of former Rock Island Mainline between Hydro and Elk City.
On July 15, 1964, the construction of I-40 from US-75 and extending east 7 miles in Okmulgee County was completed.
On July 18, 1961, a section of I-35 between Guthrie and Perry was dedicated by then Lt. Gov. George Nigh.
On July 18, 1980, on of Project SAP-47(30)Rdy.Part 1, in Major County, grade, drain and surface with 3 RCB’s. US 60 four-lane divided highway, beginning ˝ mile west of SH 58 at Ringwood and extending east 4.003 miles.
On July 19, 1940, the first inventory of all roads in Oklahoma County was completed. This inventory was used to prepare the first Oklahoma County Highway and Transportation Map
On July 20, 1936, the first inventory of all roads in Nowata and Pushmataha Counties was completed. These inventories were used to prepare the first county highway maps.
On July 21, 1955, Gov. Gary, Mr. Stanley Draper of the OKC Chamber of Commerce and OKC Mayor Street appeared before the Highway Commission to request the designation of Tinker Diagonal Road as an interstate route.
On July 21, 1959, the Highway Commission elected Lee Bird Washbourne as the 3rd Director of the Department of Highways.
On July 22, 1936, the first inventory of all roads in Haskell County was completed.
On July 23, 1965, the construction of I-40 from Western Ave. east to Shartel Ave. in Oklahoma city was completed.
On July 25, 1936, the first inventory of all roads in Adair County was completed and work began to prepare the first Adair County highway and transportation Map.
On July 26, 1944, the Highway Commission approved the designation of SH-89 from SH-32 north to Ringley.
On July 27, 1945, as authorized by the Senate Bill 149, the Division of Soil Conservation was established by the State Highway Commission.
On July 28, 1939, the Highway Commission increased the number of Highway Department field divisions from six to eight.
On July 29, 1936, the first U.S. Works Program highway project awarded in Oklahoma was completed. This project constructed US-66 (now US 69) between Afton and Narcissa in Ottawa County.
On July 29, 2002, the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River at Webbers Falls reopened after being knocked down by a barge on May 26.
On July 30, 1930, the Highway Commission approved the addition of a staff position to check all freight claims and look for billing inaccuracies.
On July 31, 1964, the surfacing of I-40 between US-64 near Roland in Sequoyah County and the Arkansas State Line was completed.
