Just wanted to create a general thread of really any road construction project going in or around the Tulsa metro area.

In this case, they are extending 5th St. in Downtown Tulsa


The city of Tulsa plans to move forward with the extension of Fifth Street through the Civic Center Plaza to the front of the Aloft Hotel, but it likely will take more money than the $4.8 million the city originally planned to spend, officials said Tuesday.

Paul Zachary, director of Engineering Services, said the exact amount the city will need to spend won’t be known until it is determined how much other parties can contribute.

“The best we can figure, we have a $6.7 million or $6.8 million gap,” Zachary said. “(Filling that gap) is what we’re going to be discussing with our partners in the project.”

The city originally budgeted approximately $4.8 million in surplus 2008 Fix Our Streets funds for the project.

Zachary said he now expects the project to come in close to $11.5 million.

“We need to be able, when the funds come in, to award the project,” he said.

The city has additional Fix Our Streets funds that could be used for the project, Zachary said.

The city unsealed three bids on the project last month that ranged from $7.9 million to $12.5 million.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/10363978_10202891494760917_5018913699512699903_n.j pg?oh=64c568f57e6f335a39d816f4a13584dd&oe=53EF17F8

- read more here: City plans for higher cost for Fifth Street project - Tulsa World: Government (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/government/city-plans-for-higher-cost-for-fifth-street-project/article_1510d9f6-e0b3-5fb2-bbc5-12e874fb96e5.html)

Just wanted to create a general thread of really any road construction project going in or around the Tulsa metro area.

In this case, they are extending 5th St. in Downtown Tulsa

The city of Tulsa alone has more than a billion dollars in road projects in the pipeline from the last couple of bond issues. That doesn't count state or county projects or any suburban projects.

Street improvement tracking website
Fixing Tulsa Streets (http://www.fixourstreetslive.com/Default.aspx)

And the new bond issue that was passed last November
Projects - Improve Our Tulsa (http://www.improveourtulsa.com/projects/)

Other major projects include the ongoing replacement of the eastbound I-244 bridge over the Arkansas River, the almost complete I-44 widening project at Lewis Ave and the ongoing I-44 widening in far east Tulsa. Upcoming projects include the complete rebuild of I-244 east of downtown and the complete rebuilding of the south and east legs of the IDL.

And yet, the 36th Street North and Mingo Road area is still like driving over a washboard. :mad:

The city of Tulsa alone has more than a billion dollars in road projects in the pipeline from the last couple of bond issues. That doesn't count state or county projects or any suburban projects.

Street improvement tracking website
Fixing Tulsa Streets (http://www.fixourstreetslive.com/Default.aspx)

And the new bond issue that was passed last November
Projects - Improve Our Tulsa (http://www.improveourtulsa.com/projects/)

Other major projects include the ongoing replacement of the eastbound I-244 bridge over the Arkansas River, the almost complete I-44 widening project at Lewis Ave and the ongoing I-44 widening in far east Tulsa. Upcoming projects include the complete rebuild of I-244 east of downtown and the complete rebuilding of the south and east legs of the IDL.Thanks for that man! Will check it out later.

Haikey Creek flood-mitigation project to affect traffic - Tulsa World: Bixby News (http://www.tulsaworld.com/communities/bixby/news/haikey-creek-flood-mitigation-project-to-affect-traffic/article_f78ed300-b255-505b-9261-b51ff1971440.html)

Drove up to grand lake this past weekend and noticed they are doing a bunch of construction on I44 up there. Looks like they are putting in sound barriers and whatnot.

Drove up to grand lake this past weekend and noticed they are doing a bunch of construction on I44 up there. Looks like they are putting in sound barriers and whatnot.

That construction has been going on for over two years now.

That construction has been going on for over two years now.

I haven't been in, around, or near Tulsa in 10+ years. Not really any need for me personally, just thought it was interesting and looked nice.

Yeah, it's been a nice project.

Tulsa mayor pushing for toll bridge to complete Gilcrease Expressway - Tulsa World: Local (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/tulsa-mayor-pushing-for-toll-bridge-to-complete-gilcrease-expressway/article_3b8399c4-4ee7-5516-a48c-79df630bdf25.html)

Tulsa mayor pushing for toll bridge to complete Gilcrease Expressway - Tulsa World: Local (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/tulsa-mayor-pushing-for-toll-bridge-to-complete-gilcrease-expressway/article_3b8399c4-4ee7-5516-a48c-79df630bdf25.html)

The main benefit of a project like this is to try to help direct the sprawl to help put Tulsa's downtown back in the center of their metro, however the way the development abruptly drops off about a mile away from downtown to the NW and there already being pretty decent highways to that area there was/is clearly other reasons that development went every way but NW. Any idea what those are or if they have done something to change those? Cause just having a road is not going to be enough to get developers and home owners to locate there.

The Northwest side of Tulsa never developed just like the Northeast side of OKC. Similar reasons too.
1. Lack of infrastructure (this highway should change that)
2. Racial issues, near mostly black neighborhoods
3. Hilly, forested terrain not as conducive to building residential sprawl
4. Tulsa Public Schools in this area are not good
5. In Osage County but still in Tulsa city limits

This land also for many years belonged to Thomas Gilcrease. He didn't sell it until much later when surrounding areas were already developed. It's a beautiful area though, rolling hills, good views of downtown and within 20 min of Lake Skiatook and Lake Keystone.

A new DDI coming to Memorial Dr and Creek Turnpike:

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/odot-planning-new-redesigned-interchange-at-major-tulsa-intersection-virtual-open-house-through-july-28/article_5e59e478-e00e-11eb-ad62-eb44c0d8255e.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2021/virtual-open-house-underway-for-proposed-us-169-us-64--memorial-.html

“ At their Monday, Feb. 7, meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a nearly $14 million contract for reconstruction of the US-169 bridges over 76th St. North in Owasso, pictured here. The replacement structures will be built to accommodate planned future widening of the corridor to six lanes.”

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/february-commission-meeting-wrap-up--oklahoma-transportation-s-r.html

The main benefit of a project like this is to try to help direct the sprawl to help put Tulsa's downtown back in the center of their metro, however the way the development abruptly drops off about a mile away from downtown to the NW and there already being pretty decent highways to that area there was/is clearly other reasons that development went every way but NW. Any idea what those are or if they have done something to change those? Cause just having a road is not going to be enough to get developers and home owners to locate there.

Curious if any development that someone wanted to put in Osage County is subject to it being a sort-of Reservation and if that is one reason Tulsa never expanded that direction?

Curious if any development that someone wanted to put in Osage County is subject to it being a sort-of Reservation and if that is one reason Tulsa never expanded that direction?

Osage County is a tribal nation just like most of eastern Oklahoma. Not really any different than Tulsa County being part of the Creek and Cherokee nations.

“ At their Monday, Feb. 7, meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a nearly $14 million contract for reconstruction of the US-169 bridges over 76th St. North in Owasso, pictured here. The replacement structures will be built to accommodate planned future widening of the corridor to six lanes.”

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2022/february-commission-meeting-wrap-up--oklahoma-transportation-s-r.html
Tulsa World article on this: https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/odot-to-begin-14m-bridge-expansion-along-u-s-169-in-owasso-this-spring/article_9cb69efe-8acd-11ec-88f4-1ba700500888.html

Tulsa area governments looking at a new toll bridge around 131st in Jenks to tie into an extended Riverside Drive:

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/area-governments-to-take-another-look-at-possible-south-tulsa-toll-bridge-over-arkansas-river/article_0f78bd92-90d1-11ec-99af-f7ebec13045b.html

Tulsa area governments looking at a new toll bridge around 131st in Jenks to tie into an extended Riverside Drive:

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/area-governments-to-take-another-look-at-possible-south-tulsa-toll-bridge-over-arkansas-river/article_0f78bd92-90d1-11ec-99af-f7ebec13045b.html

Again?? They wanted one 20+ years ago when the Kimberly-Clark plant was being built.

Raise Grants for Tulsa:


U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits Tulsa to plug federal funding of local project

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Tulsa on Tuesday to highlight $10 million in federal funding recently awarded to a project to reconnect West 51st Street under U.S. 75.

- https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/u-s-department-of-transportation-secretary-pete-buttigieg-visits-tulsa-to-plug-federal-funding-of/article_43998344-2227-11ed-9a76-874e555e88a3.html

Here’s another (older) article about several RAISE Grants the Tulsa area received:


Tulsa, Jenks transportation projects get federal infrastructure grants

OKLAHOMA CITY — Officials on Thursday announced the receipt of federal grants totaling millions of dollars for transportation projects in Tulsa and Jenks, including one that will reconnect 51st Street under U.S. 75.

The projects are among six totaling $48.7 million for Oklahoma from the federal government’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity funds. Total allocations so far this year have totaled $2.2 billion.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation received $10 million in federal RAISE funds to reconstruct one mile of West 51st Street by reconnecting two ends of the street under U.S. 75.

The project will include a sidewalk along the entire length, a new pedestrian bridge over a railroad and a new connection to the Arkansas River trail system.

The project includes the construction of new bridges on U.S. 75 over 51st Street, as well as bridges on the southbound to westbound and westbound to northbound ramps in the Interstate 44-U.S. 75 interchange, the grant application says.

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The project is expected to reconnect neighborhoods that were severed with the construction of U.S. 75 more than 60 years ago, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said in its grant application.

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Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz said the project will have a bicycle and pedestrian component to tie into the trails on the river.

The I-44 and U.S. 75 interchange in the same area is currently under construction, he noted, adding that that the $250 million interchange is being built in phases.

“This 51st Street connection is a phase of that project that was pretty important,” Gatz said. “It ties everything back together as we continue with construction.”

In addition, the Indian Nations Council of Governments will receive $16.2 million to provide a multimodal trail system in connection with the south Tulsa and Jenks dam project that will separate bicyclists and pedestrians from motorized traffic along the east and west banks of the Arkansas River.

The project also includes several sustainable projects, such as low-impact development to protect water resources, electric-vehicle charging stations and a land buffer along the river to reduce erosion.

The funds will allow officials to build a trail system connecting Jenks, Tulsa and Muscogee Nation communities, said Jenks Mayor Cory Box.

The west bank connection will connect Jenks with trails on the west side of the river to Tulsa and the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness.

It is also another step closer to making the south Tulsa and Jenks low-water dam a reality, Box said.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said this moves the area “one step closer to realizing a dream Tulsans have had for over 50 years and is yet another reminder of the better city we can build when we work together.”

In 2016, both Jenks and Tulsa residents passed Vision Tulsa ballot measures to invest in the Arkansas River by building a low-water dam between the river’s south Tulsa and Jenks banks. The dam is expected to have a major economic impact along that stretch of the river.

With the multimodal trail system funded, officials said they are close to closing the loop on funding the dam project.

“For 50 years, city leaders have envisioned developing two lakes in our river,” said Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin. “This project will give us unlimited opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, exercise and gather as a community.”

- https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/tulsa-jenks-transportation-projects-get-federal-infrastructure-grants/article_7eff8ee8-1998-11ed-92b9-bbf9a4f3df9c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

This is a big step forward for the river trail system. One of the last missing pieces of the river trail from Turkey Mountain/71st to Jenks will finally be built. That will enable someone running or biking to do a complete 18 mile loop along both sides of the river from 11th to 96th.