The Norman City Council rejected a resolution supporting three Oklahoma Turnpike Authority interchanges along the South Extension Turnpike, voting 5-4 Aug. 25 in a meeting that stretched past 1:30 a.m. Aug. 26.

The resolution failed with Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman, Ward 2 Councilmember Jacy Deck, Ward 5 Councilmember Trey Kirby and Ward 7 Councilmember Kimberly Blodgett voting against, the OU Daily reported.

Resolution R-2627-31 would have expressed the city's support for OTA-funded interchanges at East Tecumseh Road, Alameda Street and Etowah Road, where city-maintained roads cross the planned turnpike corridor. The three interchanges carry an estimated $70 million price tag, funded through the OTA's ACCESS Oklahoma bond program.

Beyond endorsing the interchanges, the resolution asked the OTA to install sound barriers, provide enhanced landscaping and supply land, funding or equipment for a future fire station to serve the growing area.

City Manager Darrel Pyle had framed the resolution as a negotiating tool. "It's marching orders … It gives us parameters that we would take to the table as it relates to a resolution becoming a contract," Pyle told the council.

The rejection does not kill the turnpike itself. Colin O'Leary, the OTA's corridor manager for the South Extension, told the council the probability of the turnpike being built is "very high" regardless of the city's vote.

The South Extension Turnpike will connect Interstate 35 north of Purcell through east Norman and link to the Toby Keith Expressway. It is part of the OTA's ACCESS Oklahoma plan, a 15-year, $8.2 billion statewide program. The alignment is expected to affect an estimated 75 homes, according to ACCESS Oklahoma chief engineer Trenton January, who briefed the council Aug. 11.

East Norman residents pushed back at that Aug. 11 conference meeting, where the council first directed staff to draft the resolution. Pike-Off OTA president Amy Cerato told the council then that the interchanges would "cause complete light pollution, additional pollution, additional vibration and additional disruption to the citizens."

After the vote, Holman acknowledged the long night. "I know it's difficult for folks to keep coming down here to city hall and sharing those stories and expressing their feelings about this, but I do appreciate it as mayor," he said. He added that the council would continue the conversation as long as the OTA proposal exists in Norman.

What happens next remains unclear. The OTA has signaled it will proceed with the turnpike regardless, but specific next steps for either the authority or the city have not been detailed publicly.

The council's next scheduled meeting is a study session Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. Residents can monitor agendas at the city's MuniCode meetings page.