Streetcar Suspension and Major Downtown Lane Closures Begin Today
Streetcar Service Interruption and Downtown Shuttles
Commuters in downtown Oklahoma City should prepare for significant changes to public transit starting today, Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The OKC Streetcar service is officially suspended on the Downtown Loop through Sunday, February 22. This temporary closure is required for crews to perform critical electrical work related to the construction of the new OKC Arena.
To assist riders, EMBARK has deployed bus shuttles that will run approximately every 25 minutes along the Downtown Loop during regular operating hours. These shuttles will service all 22 streetcar platforms. Note that the Bricktown Loop will not be operational during this period, and real-time tracking for the shuttles is currently unavailable. Riders are encouraged to allow for at least 15 to 20 minutes of extra travel time.
Major Downtown Roadworks and Lane Closures
Several arterial streets in the downtown core are seeing new restrictions today as part of the arena construction and ongoing utility projects:
- Sheridan Avenue: Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane are closed between Ron Norick Boulevard and South E.K. Gaylord Boulevard. Detour signs are in place to help route traffic around the demolition site of the former convention center.
- Reno Avenue: One westbound lane is closed from South E.K. Gaylord Boulevard to Robinson Avenue.
- North Broadway Avenue: Remains closed between West Sheridan Avenue and West Main Street for OG&E utility work, a closure expected to persist through the beginning of March.
Overnight Highway Alerts: I-40 and I-44
Drivers using the major interstates tonight should be aware of scheduled maintenance starting this evening:
- Eastbound I-40: Beginning at 7:00 p.m. tonight, lanes will narrow to a single lane between Hudiburg Drive and Air Depot Boulevard in Midwest City for bridge repairs. This restriction will remain in place until 6:00 a.m. Thursday.
- I-44 & I-235: Starting at 8:00 p.m., the eastbound I-44 off-ramps to North Classen Boulevard and North Western Avenue will be intermittently closed for striping. Additionally, southbound I-235 will see narrowing at N.E. 4th Street.
Commuter Safety Advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Oklahoma City metro today due to unseasonably warm temperatures and gusty south winds reaching up to 33 mph. Drivers of high-profile vehicles should exercise extra caution on elevated interchanges, particularly the I-40/I-235 junction and the I-44 corridor, where crosswinds may impact stability. Maintain a safe following distance and stay alert for construction crews working near active lanes.