(a) The construction and maintenance of the State Highway System, and all work incidental thereto, shall be under the general supervision and control of the Transportation Commission.

(b) The Commission shall have power to make all final decisions affecting the work provided for herein, and all reasonable rules and regulations it may deem necessary, not inconsistent with this code, for the proper management and conduct of such work, and for carrying out the provisions of this article, in such manner as shall be to the best interest and advantage of the people of this state.

(c) The Commission shall have power and authority to contract for and purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any tools, machinery, supplies, material or labor needed or to be needed for such work, having the deliveries of such articles made as actually needed, and to pay for engineering, preparation of plans and specifications, costs of advertising, engineering supervision and inspection and all expenses and contingencies in connection with the construction and maintenance of the State Highway System. When quality and prices are equal, preference shall be given materials produced within the State of Oklahoma and highway construction companies domiciled, having and maintaining offices in and being citizen taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma.

(d) The Commission shall have authority to make all contracts and do all things necessary to cooperate with the United States Government in matters relating to the cooperative construction, improvement and maintenance of the State Highway System, or any road or street of any political or governmental subdivision or any municipal or public corporation of this state, for which federal funds or aid are secured. Such contracts or acts shall be carried out in the manner required by the provisions of the Acts of Congress and rules and regulations made by an agency of the United States in pursuance of such acts.

(e) Any political or governmental subdivision or any public or municipal corporation of this state shall have the authority to enter into contracts through or with the Commission to enable them to participate in all the benefits to be secured from federal aid funds, or funds made available from the federal government to be used on roads and streets. The Commission may negotiate and enter into contracts with the federal government, or any of its constituted agencies, and take all steps and proceedings necessary in order to secure such benefits for such political or governmental subdivisions or public or municipal corporations.

(f) The Commission, on behalf of the state, and any political or governmental subdivision or public or municipal corporation of this state shall have the authority to enter into agreements with each other respecting the planning, designating, financing, establishing, constructing, improving, maintaining, using, altering, relocating, regulating or vacating of highways, roads, streets or connecting links.

(g) The Commission shall have authority to act in an advisory capacity, upon request, to any political or governmental subdivision or public or municipal corporation of this state in matters pertaining to the planning, locating, constructing and maintaining of roads, highways and streets and other related matters. The Commission, in such instances, may provide services and may cooperate with such subdivisions and corporations on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon.

(h) The Commission may purchase out of the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund such commercial vehicles and passenger automobiles as may be necessary for the use of the Department and its employees in the construction and maintenance of the State Highway System and all work incidental thereto, and in carrying out the duties now or hereafter imposed upon the Department by the laws of this state.

(i) The Commission may enter into written agreements with private citizens to allow such citizens to mow state highway rights-of-way and keep the clippings from such mowing as the sole compensation therefor.

Added by Laws 1968, c. 415, § 304, operative July 1, 1968. Amended by Laws 1971, c. 60, § 1, emerg. eff. April 6, 1971; Laws 1975, c. 326, § 10, emerg. eff. June 12, 1975; Laws 1976, c. 245, § 10, emerg. eff. June 17, 1976; Laws 1978, c. 69, § 1.