Noticed some large pipes in the parking lot of the old Ace location on Danforth and then another stack of the same pipes at the soccer fields, any clue what is going on? These look like large drainage pipes that would almost have to tear the road up to install.

A similar piping project is happening on Chowning just south of Danforth. I believe it was suppose to be done August 16, but it's now September 10 and well...it's still a cluster with the median causing weaving in and out.

Agreed - very much needed.
This project is finished and it really has helped.

To echo rt66man’s comments it really would have been nice if they expanded the turn lanes and added right turn lanes but oh well. The pavement south of this intersection on Kelly is in really bad shape. It would be nice to separate the tracks from the road while I’m playing sim city ;)

Does anyone know if they plan to add traffic lights to the on/off ramps at Covell / I-35? This area continues to get worse, especially at high traffic times or when Francis Tuttle classes let out. It will only get worse as more businesses open up at the interchange.
PS, this project starts in exactly one week on the 29th. Usually I don’t want more lights but this should help immensely with the backups:

“ On Wednesday, September 29th, construction will begin for off-ramp improvements at the intersection of I-35 and Covell Raod. This work is expected to last approximately 90 days with cooperative weather.

During this project, the off-ramps will be widened, traffic signals will be installed, and numerous pedestrian improvements will be made including sidewalk connections and road crossings. There will not be any lane closures during the project, but motorists should expect some slow-downs due to the construction activity in the area.

This contractor for the project is All Roads Paving. The total cost is $1,735,628.98 with the City of Edmond providing 100% of the funding.”

- https://www.edmondok.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=859

PS, this project starts in exactly one week on the 29th. Usually I don’t want more lights but this should help immensely with the backups:

“ On Wednesday, September 29th, construction will begin for off-ramp improvements at the intersection of I-35 and Covell Raod. This work is expected to last approximately 90 days with cooperative weather.

During this project, the off-ramps will be widened, traffic signals will be installed, and numerous pedestrian improvements will be made including sidewalk connections and road crossings. There will not be any lane closures during the project, but motorists should expect some slow-downs due to the construction activity in the area.

This contractor for the project is All Roads Paving. The total cost is $1,735,628.98 with the City of Edmond providing 100% of the funding.”

- https://www.edmondok.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=859

finally ..... they have been waiting for the lights to come it ..

finally ..... they have been waiting for the lights to come it ..
It will be nice. Especially widening the ramps as well. I just wish they’d hurry up with redesigning the danforth interchange.

It seems like this section has been closed forever.

Well, it (Western and Danforth) opened for a few months. ...and now it's closed again.

i wish they would do something about the south bound off ramp at 15th. You get off but cannot get on to the access road due to traffic and poor visibility.

^^ from what I've read, they will be alleviating this and other issues when they do the massive service road reconstruction project from Memorial up to 2nd, I believe is the stretch.

Well, it (Western and Danforth) opened for a few months. ...and now it's closed again.
Wtf why?

2nd and Bryant update:

“ Available traffic lanes shifting on Second & Bryant project
As work continues on the $4.5 million improvements project at the intersection of Second Street and Bryant Avenue, a shift in the traffic patterns and lanes available will take place beginning the morning of Feb. 11.

East-west traffic will be moved from the lanes currently available – those on the north side of Second Street that were in use while work was being done – to lanes that have been completed on the south side of Second Street and ready for public use. Work to re-stripe the lanes and adjustments to the traffic signal heads will begin the evening of Feb. 10 to accommodate the shifting of available lanes the following morning.

As part of this adjustment, beginning the morning of Feb. 11 there will be no left turn available from westbound Second Street onto southbound Bryant Avenue and no left turn available from northbound Bryant onto westbound Second Street.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes as necessary, but residents are still encouraged to support the businesses in the area.

During this project, the intersection will be widened to better accommodate regular traffic volumes in the area. After completion, each direction of two-lane traffic will be complemented with dual left-turn lanes and a right-turn lane.

This contractor for the project Crossland Heavy Contractors. The total cost is $7,478,800 with the City of Edmond providing 100% of the funding.”

https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=897

Citizens questionnaire traffic hotspots results released:

https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=898

Phase 3 of the ITS system will begin in Edmond:


Work is underway on updating stoplights along some of the busiest streets in Edmond.
City leaders say the multi-year project is designed to make it easier for us to move across the fast-growing city.

The system running the lights dates back to the 1980's.

The city is currently in phase three of the Intelligent Transportation System, which is a series of more than 75 miles of various cables that will ultimately connect back to the city's Traffic Management Center.

This new system will make traffic lights more responsive in cases like rush hour and will make it more efficient for first responders to get around the city.

The city also plans to install nearly 200 upgraded crossing systems that will help the visually impaired.

"It improves things like ADA accessibility. We will have audible ADA signals at each of the crossings so that anyone who has visual impairments can hear when it is safe to cross," said Bill Begley from the City of Edmond.

Phase three will begin at I-35 and 15th street and the city will then work their way west towards Santa Fe.

Contractors will change out certain components on Sundays to minimize disruptions to traffic.

There will be no full-street closures with this project, only periodic lane closures that will change from day to day.

Once phase three is complete, the city says more than 70% of the project will be completed.

The project has five total phases and there is currently no end date set.

https://www.news9.com/story/627a5a5f834c0a07240ce191/work-begins-on-edmond-stoplight-upgrades-periodic-lane-closures-expected


Work on Phase III of Intelligent Transportation System begins May 9
Work on Phase III of the City of Edmond’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) begins May 9 and will result in periodic traffic lane closures while work is being completed.

The project includes modifying traffic signal light components at 22 intersections along the 15th Street corridor from Santa Fe Avenue to I-35. Other locations include the Kelly Avenue corridor from 33rd Street to Danforth Road and the Santa Fe Avenue corridor from 15th Street to Danforth Road.

Work consists of installing 14 miles of fiber optic cable, 51 miles of various size electrical cable, 22 traffic signal cabinets and controllers, 3 school zone cabinets and controllers, 54 flashing yellow left turn arrow heads, 172 pedestrian signal displays and push button system with ADA audible messaging for the visually impaired, CCTV cameras, infra-red vehicle detection system, bicycle detection system, emergency pre-emption system and 22 battery backup units.

Modifying these intersection signal lights will bring them into compliance with the National Transportation Communication for Intelligent Transportation System Protocol (NTCIP) standards. These intersections will connect to the Traffic Management Center via fiber optics and wireless communication network that was installed under phase I. After completion of the phase III project, 68 percent of the traffic signals in Edmond will be following the latest standards while the remaining 32 percent continue to run off older unsupported technology.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) awarded this 450-calendar day project to Traffic and Lighting System, LLC in the amount of $11,263,086.33. Edmond received $7,434,277 in federal money while the remaining $3,828,809.33 is from the 2000 Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund. ODOT has hired Freese and Nichols engineering firm to handle the daily inspections and project oversight. The City also will have a representative on site to ensure the contractor builds the project according to plan documents.

The contractor will begin with installation of conduits to house the fiber optic cable at I-35 and 15th Street and work their way west towards Santa Fe Avenue. The contractor will change out the signal cabinets on Sundays to minimize traffic disruptions.

https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=916

It's a shame they couldn't have completed this project before wasting millions on useless double left turn lanes that go nowhere. Simple sequencing of the signals would clear up a majority of the congestion at a few of the worst (not necessarily busiest) intersections.
Since I moved back here, I continue to be amazed while sitting through 4 minute signal cycles, with no traffic through the intersection for a good percentage of that, while traffic is stopped just down the street at feeder signals. I also shake my head every time I see someone come close to a head on collision making a left at 33rd and Broadway due to the poor design and lack of markings,
Ok <End Rant> and staying hopeful for progress...

Edmond city planning is horrible. Solutions existing like adding bridges over some of the intersections in areas where the highest traffic counts are, continuing to add more greenbelts and trails throughout to the city, converting Broadway into more of a freeway/express type road to 15th st., expanding bus service, removing the need for neighborhoods to drive across towns for businesses by building denser developments like the proposed but never built Spring Creek Center Expansion, adding commuter rail, oh and then there’s of course not taking 2 years to rebuild an intersection.

But other than that Edmond will continue have bad traffic flow but with some of those ideas it can be less sh!tty.

What double left turn lanes go nowhere? And even if some do exist, isn't that planning for future growth?

What double left turn lanes go nowhere? And even if some do exist, isn't that planning for future growth?

Not the person you are replying to but there are some in front of Showbiz. You would hope it would be for future growth but all we have got in the last year is a McDonald’s.

Not the person you are replying to but there are some in front of Showbiz. You would hope it would be for future growth but all we have got in the last year is a McDonald’s.

Yeah, development there is on a long term plan, and the pandemic didn't really help out much. I think if things were different that whole area would already look quite a bit different.

Another issue of traffic design is the large amount of two lane, no shoulder roads with 4 way stops within city limits in northwest Edmond. Because the Edmond School district goes well beyond city limits, the new schools built out in this direction (Heartland, Frontier, etc) and the new home builds along Covell, Coffee Creek, Western all bottleneck daily at these intersections as this area continues to grow much faster than east Edmond. For a town edging to 100,000 people in the city limits, and well more than that in Zip Code and school district "Fictional Edmond" (Oklahoma City Limits), the road system is designed for traveling in a town about 10% of the current size.

Additionally, the lack of any center lanes on Danforth near Kelly or Santa Fe between Covell and 15th in west Edmond have caused a lot of accidents as new businesses have sprung up on these routes.

It looks like Edmond is going to be putting in a stop light at Covell and Coltrane to help with the traffic backup at that intersection each day. No word on timeline. Just ready for the road expansion through here to be finished since they only have 2 additional miles to go.

It looks like Edmond is going to be putting in a stop light at Covell and Coltrane to help with the traffic backup at that intersection each day. No word on timeline. Just ready for the road expansion through here to be finished since they only have 2 additional miles to go.

before the end of the year is the only timeline that we have heard ...

before the end of the year is the only timeline that we have heard ...
Have you heard anything about when they plan to widen Covell from Fairfax to Boulevard? I’ve heard the city plans on expanding that project to include widening Bryant where it narrows heading north by Rollingstone home addition.

I also saw Edmond didn’t get federal funding for Sooner and Danforth which is a bummer. I’m also curious since you seem to be in the know if you’ve heard any rumblings on when ODOT is looking at rebuilding the Danforth/I-35 interchange.

Have you heard anything about when they plan to widen Covell from Fairfax to Boulevard? I’ve heard the city plans on expanding that project to include widening Bryant where it narrows heading north by Rollingstone home addition.

I also saw Edmond didn’t get federal funding for Sooner and Danforth which is a bummer. I’m also curious since you seem to be in the know if you’ve heard any rumblings on when ODOT is looking at rebuilding the Danforth/I-35 interchange.

Covell from just east of Bryant to just east of Coltrane should start in 2023 it is already funded

Covell from just east of Bryant to just east of Blvd is not yet funded

Covell from just east of Bryant to just east of Coltrane should start in 2023 it is already funded

Covell from just east of Bryant to just east of Blvd is not yet funded
I didn't know it was already funded. Does that include the intersection at Bryant?

I didn't know it was already funded. Does that include the intersection at Bryant?

nope

nope

LOL.....You either laugh or cry.......Just moving the bottle neck currently at Coltrane & Covell a mile west.

LOL.....You either laugh or cry.......Just moving the bottle neck currently at Coltrane & Covell a mile west.

except that intersection already has a light .. and turn lanes so it will not be close to as bad ..

Coltrane/Covell intersection interim improvements begins August 29th:


Expansion of Covell-Coltrane intersection begins Aug. 29
Work to add dedicated turn lanes at the intersection of Covell and Coltrane roads begins Aug. 29 and will cause periodic lane and full closures to sections during the project. This interim improvement will alleviate congestion until the full intersection expansion is addressed with future projects.

Dedicated left turn lanes will be added to three of the sides of that busy intersection – the east, west, and north sides – beginning with work on the east side of the intersection on Aug. 29. When complete, the expansion will provide both a through lane and dedicated left turn lane to the three corners of the intersection.

Work will be done one side at a time to help mitigate the impact to traffic flow, but motorists are asked to be aware of the project and adjust their routes and schedules accordingly. Signs are in place and work to expand that portion of the intersection, add the dedicated turn lane, and ensure the integrity of the drainage and infrastructure is expected to take up to 10 days for each side, with cooperative weather.

Work will begin on the west and north sides of that four-way stop as soon as work on the east side of the intersection is complete. Each section is expected to take 10 days once work begins, with cooperative weather.

- https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=957

Coltrane/Covell intersection interim improvements begins August 29th:


- https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=957

This is good. Should've been a long time ago. I really don't understand why in the OKC metro cities like to expand roads, then stop right before an intersection and leave the intersection a complete cluster. In Broken Arrow it was the opposite, a 2 lane road with a 6 lane intersection. The other thing they love to do here is expand roads then add a crap ton of lights, so the net result is slower moving traffic.

^^^ long term transportation planning in central Oklahoma is horrible.

Edmond is easily one of the worst stoplight plagued cities I have ever experienced. Anytime I am in north Edmond, going the extra 2-3 miles out of the way just to make it to I-35 is almost always the best choice, even if just going to the south end of Edmond.

Edmond is easily one of the worst stoplight plagued cities I have ever experienced. Anytime I am in north Edmond, going the extra 2-3 miles out of the way just to make it to I-35 is almost always the best choice, even if just going to the south end of Edmond.

^^ This exactly my thoughts. It's not uncommon to hit every single red light either whenever you're trying to get somewhere. I mean, the system is conducive to red light running and road rage. It's a running joke in my family that when I drive I do hit every red light possible.

Not to mention it's conducive to accelerated wear and tear on brake pads and rotors and more consumption of fuel because you're constantly stopping then accelerating to speed again over and over.

At the very least bit, after maybe from 9PM to 6:30A they should make some of those non arterial lights flashing yellow for the main arterial roads. I can't tell you how many times after I've finally gotten up to speed after a red light that I hit another red light right as it changes (like for a grocery center or apartment complex) and there is nobody at said light waiting to go in the other direction. So I just sit there through a cycle while nobody at all drives across or turns. People also have a tendency to stop at a red light and just sit long enough to trip the light, and then turn right on green when they could have simply turned right on red. So you in turn hit a red light that they've tripped so they can turn the opposite direction when there weren't any cars headed that way anyway -- meanwhile you're sitting there through an entire cycle. I mean sure they have every right to do so as a motorist, but my gosh it's so annoying and just screws up the flow.

It is the worst.

Edmond is easily one of the worst stoplight plagued cities I have ever experienced. Anytime I am in north Edmond, going the extra 2-3 miles out of the way just to make it to I-35 is almost always the best choice, even if just going to the south end of Edmond.

Edmond has spent millions and continues to do so on the intelligent light system (ITS).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B1mRv-1qRM&t=1s

It looks like Edmond is going to be putting in a stop light at Covell and Coltrane to help with the traffic backup at that intersection each day. No word on timeline. Just ready for the road expansion through here to be finished since they only have 2 additional miles to go.

Close down that intersection like they did at Coltrane & Danforth (3 months construction instead of a year) when they expanded it. In a year when Crest # 10 opens at Covell & Sooner the Coltrane/Covell intersection is going to get much worse.

Edmond has spent millions and continues to do so on the intelligent light system (ITS).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B1mRv-1qRM&t=1s
It could just be me but I really can’t tell the difference. That’s pure anecdote however.

I’ve suggested multiple different ideas about what could be done but according to some(really just one particular poster) “Edmond doesn’t want that” so I guess the city just enjoys traffic. Really IMO after dealing with real traffic problems Edmonds traffic situation doesn’t seem to be that bad in comparison but from experience in similarly sized cities as Edmond, the city does a very poor job at moving cars efficiently. Which you’d think they’d be good at since every other mode of transit is a complete afterthought.

It could just be me but I really can’t tell the difference. That’s pure anecdote however.

I’ve suggested multiple different ideas about what could be done but according to some(really just one particular poster) “Edmond doesn’t want that” so I guess the city just enjoys traffic. Really IMO after dealing with real traffic problems Edmonds traffic situation doesn’t seem to be that bad in comparison but from experience in similarly sized cities as Edmond, the city does a very poor job at moving cars efficiently. Which you’d think they’d be good at since every other mode of transit is a complete afterthought.

I wholeheartedly agree that the millions spent on ITS seems to have had little to no improvement on traffic flow. There have been times when I've been at an intersection waiting, waiting, waiting at a red light while there is ZERO traffic for the green light portion of the street. How is it 'smart' lighting feature when the light remains green while zero traffic is present???

I wholeheartedly agree that the millions spent on ITS seems to have had little to no improvement on traffic flow. There have been times when I've been at an intersection waiting, waiting, waiting at a red light while there is ZERO traffic for the green light portion of the street. How is it 'smart' lighting feature when the light remains green while zero traffic is present???
I suppose it’ll be nice to have footage in the event of a traffic accident to determine who’s at fault and what not but yeah I’ve had the same experience sitting at a red light with no cross traffic.

I wholeheartedly agree that the millions spent on ITS seems to have had little to no improvement on traffic flow. There have been times when I've been at an intersection waiting, waiting, waiting at a red light while there is ZERO traffic for the green light portion of the street. How is it 'smart' lighting feature when the light remains green while zero traffic is present???

I agree with the others in that I have seen little to no improvement with the current implementation of ITS.

The only thought I have, maybe under its current design, it is really isn't meant to move traffic efficiently through the city, but the exact opposite, forcing you to slow down and stop often to prevent higher speed accidents or incidents? Realistically, since Edmond is designed nearly exclusively on a sub-division and 1x1 main road system, the key intersections need to all look like 33rd and Broadway to move traffic efficiently. Multiple turn lanes in all directions and dedicated thru and right turn lanes. Additionally, all main roads should be at least 4 lanes in all directions from Memorial to Waterloo and I-35 to Portland, also, a center turn lane and right turn cut-outs would do wonders in traffic flow.

Yesterday I had to take two lawnmowers into the shop. The area west of downtown Edmond is torn up incuding the street, curbs, sidewalks, I feel bad for people living in that area. With the rain, it was a muddy mess. I would not have tried to get to the lawn mower shop in a car. No other way but through the mud and rough. All the streets near it are torn up.

We moved from north Edmond to north OKC because of the traffic. I was an Edmondite for close to 40 years and love so much about Edmond. Never regretted the move for a moment.

I wholeheartedly agree that the millions spent on ITS seems to have had little to no improvement on traffic flow. There have been times when I've been at an intersection waiting, waiting, waiting at a red light while there is ZERO traffic for the green light portion of the street. How is it 'smart' lighting feature when the light remains green while zero traffic is present???

I've wondered if because the entire system is in place we're not seeing a benefit? Because I agree, I sure don't feel like there's been a benefit for the money spent, although, considering the rate Edmond's been growing, maybe we've seen the benefits but they've largely been absorbed by new traffic, making it just as frustrating as ever?

But yeah, why do the so called intelligent lights sit there on green for empty streets?

I've wondered if because the entire system is in place we're not seeing a benefit? Because I agree, I sure don't feel like there's been a benefit for the money spent, although, considering the rate Edmond's been growing, maybe we've seen the benefits but they've largely been absorbed by new traffic, making it just as frustrating as ever?

But yeah, why do the so called intelligent lights sit there on green for empty streets?

They became too intelligent, gained self-awareness, and started to hate motorists.

They became too intelligent, gained self-awareness, and started to hate motorists.

I was told actually the opposite by a City of Edmond employee. He mentioned that the system gets "overwhelmed" at times at key intersections.

For example, traffic going north and south on a street like Kelly intersects with Edmond Road/2nd Street with cars going east/west. The system can't prioritize who to give green light preference to, since all directions are equally congested.

As it has been mentioned on this board, the City needs to address "West Edmond" and its infrastructure and road issues before just reinforcing a mile by mile grid system in "East Edmond" The city really needs to look at some form of a highway, expressway loop.

I was told actually the opposite by a City of Edmond employee. He mentioned that the system gets "overwhelmed" at times at key intersections.

For example, traffic going north and south on a street like Kelly intersects with Edmond Road/2nd Street with cars going east/west. The system can't prioritize who to give green light preference to, since all directions are equally congested.

As it has been mentioned on this board, the City needs to address "West Edmond" and its infrastructure and road issues before just reinforcing a mile by mile grid system in "East Edmond" The city really needs to look at some form of a highway, expressway loop.
I guess they need to look at longer distance travel trends and where the most commuters are coming from and where they’re going. Use that to determine which signal phasing should get the priority. My guess would be Second St. but Kelly is pretty damn important for N-S traffic.

Like I said before, Edmond is going to have to start embracing things like overpasses, six lane arterial roads, alternative transit, and more commercial/dense development in areas of the city where ironically it is protested the most. More traffic congestion is coming. You aren’t stopping that. But it can be better managed/moved and driving across the city can be less a necessity with things like more mixed use developments across the entire city and alternative transportation.

^^ This exactly my thoughts. It's not uncommon to hit every single red light either whenever you're trying to get somewhere. I mean, the system is conducive to red light running and road rage. It's a running joke in my family that when I drive I do hit every red light possible.

Not to mention it's conducive to accelerated wear and tear on brake pads and rotors and more consumption of fuel because you're constantly stopping then accelerating to speed again over and over.

At the very least bit, after maybe from 9PM to 6:30A they should make some of those non arterial lights flashing yellow for the main arterial roads. I can't tell you how many times after I've finally gotten up to speed after a red light that I hit another red light right as it changes (like for a grocery center or apartment complex) and there is nobody at said light waiting to go in the other direction. So I just sit there through a cycle while nobody at all drives across or turns. People also have a tendency to stop at a red light and just sit long enough to trip the light, and then turn right on green when they could have simply turned right on red. So you in turn hit a red light that they've tripped so they can turn the opposite direction when there weren't any cars headed that way anyway -- meanwhile you're sitting there through an entire cycle. I mean sure they have every right to do so as a motorist, but my gosh it's so annoying and just screws up the flow.

It is the worst.

This is one thing I loved about Cincinnati Metro. The lights were traffic based, if there was light side street traffic the lights flashed. I had a light going into my office complex, during rush hours it would be a real light, but even in the middle of the work day it would flash yellow most of the time. No idea why that concept hasn't caught on other places.

Edmond has spent millions and continues to do so on the intelligent light system (ITS).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B1mRv-1qRM&t=1s

They should stop spending money adding traffic lights where they make no sense and aren't needed. New one going up on Covell between Kelly and Santa Fa. It might be needed for 10 minutes a day when school lets out, maybe. Every time they expand Covell they add multiple lights per mile. It went from 0 lights between Coltrane and I-35 to 5 over the last few years.

They should stop spending money adding traffic lights where they make no sense and aren't needed. New one going up on Covell between Kelly and Santa Fa. It might be needed for 10 minutes a day when school lets out, maybe. Every time they expand Covell they add multiple lights per mile. It went from 0 lights between Coltrane and I-35 to 5 over the last few years.

covell needs a bunch more lights .... the 4 way stops all back up very very far

covell needs a bunch more lights .... the 4 way stops all back up very very far
No what it needs are overpasses

No what it needs are overpasses

or big traffic circles

or big traffic circles

Circles would be the most efficient when considering a cost/benefit ratio. Moves traffic, much less maintenance.

No what it needs are overpasses

on Covell NO .. it is not a highway ..

This is one thing I loved about Cincinnati Metro. The lights were traffic based, if there was light side street traffic the lights flashed. I had a light going into my office complex, during rush hours it would be a real light, but even in the middle of the work day it would flash yellow most of the time. No idea why that concept hasn't caught on other places.

Hasn't caught on in OKC, because our traffic engineers are still stuck in decades past with their mindset.

This is one thing I loved about Cincinnati Metro. The lights were traffic based, if there was light side street traffic the lights flashed. I had a light going into my office complex, during rush hours it would be a real light, but even in the middle of the work day it would flash yellow most of the time. No idea why that concept hasn't caught on other places.

I'm familiar with a few places where the lights switch from regular light to a flashing light, and one problem I've seen is that folks get used to it being a flashing light and ignore it (or miss it) when it's functioning as a full stop or a regular light. Plus, ever see Oklahoma drivers handle an intersection with the power out (it's like they've never encountered a 4 way stop before). I don't trust most Oklahoma drivers to handle anything this complicated.

As it is, there are two regular lights outside my neighborhood that folks run regularly. At least two bikers have been killed there, and my wife had one car totaled thanks to idiots that don't notice the red light.

on Covell NO .. it is not a highway ..
It doesn’t need to be a highway. There are tons of examples of cities that have overpasses on city roads that aren’t highways to help traffic flow better.

There’s literally posts left and right on this thread about how poorly Edmond moves traffic and your solution is to keep doing what the city has done in the past?

or big traffic circles
Yeah roundabouts would be great too. I wish they’d place one at Danforth and Faircloud Dr.

It doesn’t need to be a highway. There are tons of examples of cities that have overpasses on city roads that aren’t highways to help traffic flow better.

There’s literally posts left and right on this thread about how poorly Edmond moves traffic and your solution is to keep doing what the city has done in the past?

i also live in the area .. and overpasses on Covell is a terrible idea... . the Covell Blvd. plan is great they are building it as the funding is available .. do i wish it would go faster? sure but it is a very good plan and is appropriate for Covell

do i think that there should be an east west turnpike just north of waterloo? ? also yes .....

i also live in the area .. and overpasses on Covell is a terrible idea... . the Covell Blvd. plan is great they are building it as the funding is available .. do i wish it would go faster? sure but it is a very good plan and is appropriate for Covell

do i think that there should be an east west turnpike just north of waterloo? ? also yes .....
Well Boulder the good news for you is my proposal has about a 0.01 chance of happening and that’s being very liberal so I wouldn’t worry. There’s probably tons of others like you who live in the immediate area that think the same thing and would cry up a storm if something like a bridge were proposed but I’m sure they’ll also be the first to complain about traffic and cuss at the lights when they’re sitting at them. I really don’t know what else to say about it.

And the turnpike will be great but won’t really address Edmond traffic unless it’s to get in or out of the city as well as helping metro/regional traffic move better. It’ll also allow the metropolitan area to grow and sprawl out further so more homes can be developed. All good things but doesn’t really do much for inner city Edmond traffic.

From an ROI perspective overpasses don't make sense. Most of the intersections along Covell don't lend themselves to an overpass and so some extremely expensive and complicated work would be required to make these overpasses. Additionally, you'd end up have lots of intersections not at grade, which will ruin any business developments at those intersection which would benefit the local residents. I'd also be especially nervous about creating new flooding issues, since the overpasses would require some roads to be built below grade most likely.

IMO, the efforts to widen Covell, add turn lanes, make the intelligent traffic lights actually... intelligent, being a little more selective on where to add new lights (every single neighborhood with rich residents and connections to the council doesn't need its own light at the neighborhood entrance), and some design refinements along the road itself would do MUCH more to improve traffic flow and quality of life in this area.

At the end of the day Covell is primarily a residential artery. We shouldn't be implementing design choices to encourage high speed traffic through this route. The design for the road should be to encourage 35 MPH traffic for most of the road (45 in some areas) with as few stoppages as possible. Add in bike lanes and sidewalks, and Covel really becomes the center BLVD of the true middle of Edmond.

Jerry, I agree with you here. Overpasses on Covell would be overkill but there are a few places in Edmond especially on Broadway where I think they could make sense. There’s also other ways to control traffic and have safe access to arterial streets without needing a traffic light every 1,000ft.

Case in point is the new traffic signal at Covell and Cheyenne Dr(or whatever that road is called). If you look at aerial imagery there are three intersections within about 500 feet of each other. One is currently signalized and the other two aren’t(for now). By simply allow better connections between subdivisions, realigning smaller feeder roads like the ones serving the middle school, YMCA, and the commercial development around Uptown Grocery, you could have one traffic signal that could serve all of that.

It could still be done in theory of course. It would be more expensive than simply adding a traffic signal and would require 2-3 homes to be purchased and torn down for a road connecting the two neighborhoods which of course would cause uproar in the local neighborhoods. No one wants that either. So no bridges and no other solutions than traffic signals as a result of poor city planning.

That the thing. This could all have been avoided if Edmond would plan better and stop allowing curb cuts every 500 feet but they don’t. There’s these “master plans” the city loves to talk up but in the end it’s just cookie cutter strip mall or subdivision on every lot with zero planning other than just connect it to an arterial street via curb cut. Even the feeder roads that cut through commercial developments are comical. They can’t even do those right. There’s an intersection near Lowes that has a four way movement and only one stop sign. You just make this stuff up.

Drive down to DFW and you’ll see just how much better and easier it is to move around despite the city being 10x larger. It should be like that. I just can’t understand why Edmond or OKC for that matter doesn’t know they can take notes for visiting other cities that know how to properly plan. For as car oriented as OKC is I find it mind boggling how horrible they are at moving cars efficiently other than the incredible freeway network we have, which I do admire.

Also, Covell is not a residentially artery and the speed limit should actually be closer to 50-55 than the current 45MPH limit. The lanes are as wide as something you’d expect on a 75MPH super highway with way too much lighting placed too close together except for under the RR bridge where it’s needed the most. Covell is a major arterial street serving commercial purposes, cross city traffic, and residents who are likely traveling 10+ mile commutes. This isn’t some small neighborhood street.

Jerry, I agree with you here. Overpasses on Covell would be overkill but there are a few places in Edmond especially on Broadway where I think they could make sense. There’s also other ways to control traffic and have safe access to arterial streets without needing a traffic light every 1,000ft.

Case in point is the new traffic signal at Covell and Cheyenne Dr(or whatever that road is called). If you look at aerial imagery there are three intersections within about 500 feet of each other. One is currently signalized and the other two aren’t(for now). By simply allow better connections between subdivisions, realigning smaller feeder roads like the ones serving the middle school, YMCA, and the commercial development around Uptown Grocery, you could have one traffic signal that could serve all of that.

It could still be done in theory of course. It would be more expensive than simply adding a traffic signal and would require 2-3 homes to be purchased and torn down for a road connecting the two neighborhoods which of course would cause uproar in the local neighborhoods. No one wants that either. So no bridges and no other solutions than traffic signals as a result of poor city planning.

That the thing. This could all have been avoided if Edmond would plan better and stop allowing curb cuts every 500 feet but they don’t. There’s these “master plans” the city loves to talk up but in the end it’s just cookie cutter strip mall or subdivision on every lot with zero planning other than just connect it to an arterial street via curb cut. Even the feeder roads that cut through commercial developments are comical. They can’t even do those right. There’s an intersection near Lowes that has a four way movement and only one stop sign. You just make this stuff up.

Drive down to DFW and you’ll see just how much better and easier it is to move around despite the city being 10x larger. It should be like that. I just can’t understand why Edmond or OKC for that matter doesn’t know they can take notes for visiting other cities that know how to properly plan. For as car oriented as OKC is I find it mind boggling how horrible they are at moving cars efficiently other than the incredible freeway network we have, which I do admire.

Also, Covell is not a residentially artery and the speed limit should actually be closer to 50-55 than the current 45MPH limit. The lanes are as wide as something you’d expect on a 75MPH super highway with way too much lighting placed too close together except for under the RR bridge where it’s needed the most. Covell is a major arterial street serving commercial purposes, cross city traffic, and residents who are likely traveling 10+ mile commutes. This isn’t some small neighborhood street.

I don't compliment Edmond traffic engineering much, in fact I usually complain, but they did get Covell right there between Santa Fe and Broadway. For two miles, there are only 3 lights. Also limited the left turns out of the businesses along there, but you can't turn left at every one of those cuts. For example, if you are coming out of uptown, there is only one left turn you can make, otherwise you turn east and go to a breakthrough and bust a U-Turn. The median and it's cuts are the same on the east side of Kelly, granted that SE corner is not developed so anything can happen there.

I don't compliment Edmond traffic engineering much, in fact I usually complain, but they did get Covell right there between Santa Fe and Broadway. For two miles, there are only 3 lights. Also limited the left turns out of the businesses along there, but you can't turn left at every one of those cuts. For example, if you are coming out of uptown, there is only one left turn you can make, otherwise you turn east and go to a breakthrough and bust a U-Turn. The median and it's cuts are the same on the east side of Kelly, granted that SE corner is not developed so anything can happen there.

Hate to be the Debby Downer, but they have plans to add more lights on Covell, including at Uptown Grocery. But I'll agree, all east/west streets would flow much better if they were designed like that small section of Covell with wide lanes, turn inlets, and divided turn lanes.