Friends for a better boulevard is a dead thread. That ship has sailed. As you pointed out what's done is done, as far as ODOT is concerned. The City has an opportunity to enact some traffic-calming interventions when they get the keys, and I hope and expect that they will.

Speed and pedestrian safety are completely relevant to this topic. In fact they are of the utmost importance.

When discussing the OKC Boulevard, it is THE topic. Attempts to sweep the conversation under the rug won't work, the conversation WILL be held regarding the boulevard. Several times.

Homicide is the more appropriate term. If you are stuck on the idea that someone is saying a driver was INTENDING to kill, then no, and I don't think that is being discussed. But if someone is reckless in the operation of any device - a gun, an autombile, a boat, a forklift, a bow and arrow, heck, even pouring alcohol or serving someone tainted food, it rises above simple manslaughter. The idea is that they had it in their power to not put others at risk but instead they chose to irresponsibly use the power they held, and it resulted in the end of someone's life. That should (and does) hold consequences, both criminal and civil.I couldn’t agree more.

If I want to bitch about the soccer moms parking in my neighborhood and blocking the street, then the Oklahoma Drivers would be the appropriate threat.

How the design of the boulevard will influence the way people drive on the boulevard is an appropriate, and on-topic, discussion in the boulevard thread.

I got a question, maybe someone familiar can answer. I've thought it's a bit crazy that the boulevard goes to 25 mph so fast. 35mph seems like a more reasonable speed until maybe a bit further down, then it could go to 25mph, but I'm curious what is the speed of Reno is in this similar area? I thought it was 35mph, but I don't go down there enough to remember every speed limit. Seems like once I go East of Western I typically am driving slow in case of bikes or pedestrians, but in my mind that sort of the boundary of 35 to 25mph.

I got a question, maybe someone familiar can answer. I've thought it's a bit crazy that the boulevard goes to 25 mph so fast. 35mph seems like a more reasonable speed until maybe a bit further down, then it could go to 25mph, but I'm curious what is the speed of Reno is in this similar area? I thought it was 35mph, but I don't go down there enough to remember every speed limit. Seems like once I go East of Western I typically am driving slow in case of bikes or pedestrians, but in my mind that sort of the boundary of 35 to 25mph.

IIRC, it's 35 mph west of Western, and 30 mph between Western and Shields.

On the east end it goes:

Ramp speed to 35mph @ canal to 25mph @ Harkins.

But there is literally nothing there and feels like you are driving on the highway still. So slowing down to 25mph feels painfully slow considering it is 5 lanes of traffic with a large median and large grassy shoulders.

I got a question, maybe someone familiar can answer. I've thought it's a bit crazy that the boulevard goes to 25 mph so fast. 35mph seems like a more reasonable speed until maybe a bit further down, then it could go to 25mph,

It's not 25 MPH until just before you get to Oklahoma Avenue.... Once the Co-Op is completed there will be a lot more foot traffic there.

Having the boathouse district feed into the boulevard is part of the problem. That results in 4 westbound lanes as opposed to 3. Its silly we have a direct path to and from the Boulevard when we have Lincoln.

Also, you would think they could have gotten away with merging the ramp lanes together from I-40 and I-35 further east.

It's not 25 MPH until just before you get to Oklahoma Avenue.... Once the Co-Op is completed there will be a lot more foot traffic there.

Not if they're designing the COOP as poorly as it sounds like they are going to...

Friends for a better boulevard is a dead thread.

Pains my heart. However, we did a pretty awesome job f**king up ODOT's grand plans for I.M. Pei elevated skyways Version #2 and saving taxpayers millions of dollars. At least the city can fix their mess now that it is on the ground.

I took these yesterday.

Note that Klein now goes through (foreground of 1st photo) as a work around the Classen / Western closure. They just added this.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blvd040118c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blvd040118b.jpg

Ah, this explains things...I was kind of startled when getting onto the boulevard at Klein from Sheridan a couple of days ago to see cars coming from the opposite direction. Not used to that.

http://kfor.com/2018/04/24/oklahoma-city-council-members-expected-to-meet-over-ongoing-litigation-over-downtown-u-haul-parking-lot/

http://kfor.com/2018/04/24/oklahoma-city-council-members-expected-to-meet-over-ongoing-litigation-over-downtown-u-haul-parking-lot/

Can I file a petition to rename this the “Blvd. Broken Dreams”?

It will be very interesting to see what the independent commissions establish as a fair price to be paid U-Haul.

Klein only goes through SB from Sheridan to Reno or north from the Blvd to Sheridan. As of this last week, they had the north bound off Reno closed.

Klein only goes through SB from Sheridan to Reno or north from the Blvd to Sheridan. As of this last week, they had the north bound off Reno closed.

Yeah, they need to change that in order to provide relief from having both Classen and Western blocked.

It would be easy to do.

I see people do it

Yeah, they need to change that in order to provide relief from having both Classen and Western blocked.

It would be easy to do.

It would also be nice if they would take out the barriers that take it down to one lane when going east bound on blvd. now that you can go north or south.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blvd050618.jpg

I really like this picture, really starts to show everything coming together.

Quick question, in front of the Chesapeake Arena between it and the boulevard, is anything going there? Curious if it will be just grass or they are going to do some decent landscaping there.

^

It will be surface parking in the short term.

On longer-term plans it's shown as shallow retail buildings.

I would rather that be a highly programmed plaza with good landscaping. That would be the ideal place to move pregame Thunder activities.

Moving fast on the east section.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052018.jpg

no reason to not finish and open the BLVD at least to Hudson in the in the next 6 months

Glad to see them getting this done. Downtown will be so much nicer once all this road construction is done.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052218a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052218b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052218c.jpg

Even though Western will end at a couldesac north of the new highway will pedestrians be able to pass under the bridge or will we have to walk to Classen?

Edit: Great pics by the way! I love the aerials you've been taking.

As always I like your drone pics.

Have you thought about doing a thread dedicated to dumping all drone pics in? Reason I ask is I love seeing all of them, but yet I know there are one's I haven't seen because they are in a thread that may not be of huge interest to me other than the pictures.

Just a thought. Maybe a "Pete's Pics" thread.

I'd rather he just dumped them in a Google Photos or Flickr album or something like that if he was going that direction.

As always I like your drone pics.

Have you thought about doing a thread dedicated to dumping all drone pics in? Reason I ask is I love seeing all of them, but yet I know there are one's I haven't seen because they are in a thread that may not be of huge interest to me other than the pictures.

Just a thought. Maybe a "Pete's Pics" thread.

Um, can we do something like Pete's Awesome Photography. Clicking on a link called Pete's Pics sounds like something that would get me in trouble with my wife.... :D

Glad to see them getting this done. Downtown will be so much nicer once all this road construction is done.

lmao you said road construction and done in the same sentence :)

Even though Western will end at a couldesac north of the new highway will pedestrians be able to pass under the bridge or will we have to walk to Classen?

Edit: Great pics by the way! I love the aerials you've been taking.

I know there is nothing stopping pedestrians from cutting across the McDonald's parking to go under the bridge. The better question is: Will they tie any kind of sidewalk along western to the sidewalks along Classen?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052718a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard052718b.jpg

Weird crosswalk/switchboard/streetcar intersection. Would be a cool spot for some public artwork on the stainless steel equipment or something.

https://i.imgur.com/22XCsve.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/zgSUmqv.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/etoJdJv.jpg

Weird crosswalk/switchboard/streetcar intersection. Would be a cool spot for some public artwork on the stainless steel equipment or something.

Oh, don't worry. It'll be there before the streetcar is running.

My favorite thing (not) is when we spend all this money for beautiful new paving/colored concrete/pavers/stamped concrete and then the utility markers come along and spray paint all over it. So classy looking.

My favorite thing (not) is when we spend all this money for beautiful new paving/colored concrete/pavers/stamped concrete and then the utility markers come along and spray paint all over it. So classy looking.

I can’t help but see “lol” out of the symbols they mark.

I see tie fighters

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard063218.jpg

What's that building under construction in the lower left of the photo?

What's that building under construction in the lower left of the photo?

Fairfield Inn (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=38017)

What's that building under construction in the lower left of the photo?

the Fairfield inn.... I believe

What are the plans for the small strip between the Blvd and the Peake? I assume it could be another "Thunder Alley" or pedestrian plaza?

What are the plans for the small strip between the Blvd and the Peake? I assume it could be another "Thunder Alley" or pedestrian plaza?

In the near term, it will be parking.

Longer term plans show retail.

In the near term, it will be parking.

Longer term plans show retail.

of course it will be

In the near term, it will be parking.

Longer term plans show retail.I think it's about right for an extension of the canal. :)

I think it's about right for an extension of the canal. :)

There should be a sky bridge linking the area to Tulsa there.

In the near term, it will be parking.

Longer term plans show retail.

How sad. The Thunder Alley suggestion or just about any other pedestrian-friendly option would be better than parking at that location.

I like Thunder Alley where it is. With Reno closed during games, we'll need another large thoroughfare open on game day! I like the idea of a mix-use project with retail and a couple of stories of housing. Possibly low income. Parking could be used across the boulevard at the new garage...

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard070818a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard070818b.jpg

I... just don't understand

I... just don't understand

what's not to understand? have they destroyed Crosstown I-40 bridge that was basically a barrier between downtown and the river, they had to come up with something to replace that barrier! otherwise the new construction south and Downtown would be comprehensively walkable and bike and pedestrian friendly...

Never have people who exclusively build highways build a road that you don't want to be a highway.

never have people who exclusively build highways build a road that you don't want to be a highway.
This right here!

So so sad. We will need Vegas-style pedestrian bridges over this monstrosity "boulevard".

So so sad. We will need Vegas-style pedestrian bridges over this monstrosity "boulevard".
Champs Elysees is 10 lanes of busy traffic and Parisians cross it all the time. I think it depends more on what is built on the other side and if people want to go there.

So so sad. We will need Vegas-style pedestrian bridges over this monstrosity "boulevard".

I guess we will need them over Sheridan, Robinson, Reno, et. al. as this is the same width.

Let’s all worry early and get it out of the way. Smh