Tell me they're at least going to have good lighting, beautification, and wide sidewalks under this overpass?

:LolLolLol :LolLolLol :LolLolLol

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bouelvard012419a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bouelvard012419b.jpg

Are the retaining wall surfaces such that murals can be painted on them? There could be some really cool sweeping designs to bring life to it. Seems like a perfect setting for wagon train murals.

Cover the overpass with a 20 story oil rig with an observation platform (think Okie Eiffel Tower - Continental Tower).

Take its biggest negative and turn it into a positive.

This will be nice once it’s all completed. This area has been really empty since they tore down the old elevated freeway. This BLVD will add some life to the area. I suspect those buildings will become a cool spot soon.

It makes me angry every time I look at it. What a colossal waste of money in a reviving neighborhood that doesn't need that kind of barrier stuck through the middle..

It makes me angry every time I look at it. What a colossal waste of money in a reviving neighborhood that doesn't need that kind of barrier stuck through the middle..
+1

I feel bad for Taste of Korea. A wonderful restaurant that got it's street dead-ended.

I feel bad for Taste of Korea. A wonderful restaurant that got it's street dead-ended.

Does anyone know how feasible it would be for them to build a second entryway onto Sheridan? Even moving their sign closer to the SW corner of that Sheridan and Western intersection would seem to help with visibility somewhat, though I'm not sure if they own the property all the way to the road. But I agree, it's certainly not ideal in any circumstance, especially with Sheridan being a one-way street west of Western.

Also, I have a feeling that the Reno/Boulevard intersection is going to be a mess.

It makes me angry every time I look at it. What a colossal waste of money in a reviving neighborhood that doesn't need that kind of barrier stuck through the middle..

I look at it a different way. Getting to that area is a gigantic pain in the butt. This makes it infinitely easier. It is a catch 22. West Village and Film Row are growing, but logistically, it sucks to try to get there. This will help a bit. Not saying it is perfect, by any stretch, but it is not as bad as people on here make it seem (to me).

It makes me angry every time I look at it. What a colossal waste of money in a reviving neighborhood that doesn't need that kind of barrier stuck through the middle..

You are assuming the west development is IN SPITE of the boulevard. The commitment to development there was made with full knowledge of it, so maybe it is because of the boulevard and enhanced access.

Well for one I am talking about the Farmer's Market area down Exchange just as much as the West development and the potential links between the two areas. Also, how could this be seen as enhanced access at all given that it's literally an overpass with no good connection to Classen or Western? You'd have to take the Boulevard in—driving over the major roads that would be actually be convenient—and then get off at probably Reno and wind your way through the street grid exactly like you do now just from a different starting point.

There is no doubt that the Farmer's Market area has stalled.

Nothing new happening for quite a while now, and still loads of vacant and under-utilized land and structures.

IMO the closing of Exchange because of the Boulevard is a growth-stunter as well...

Well for one I am talking about the Farmer's Market area down Exchange just as much as the West development and the potential links between the two areas. Also, how could this be seen as enhanced access at all given that it's literally an overpass with no good connection to Classen or Western? You'd have to take the Boulevard in—driving over the major roads that would be actually be convenient—and then get off at probably Reno and wind your way through the street grid exactly like you do now just from a different starting point.

Knowing some backstage info on the area, I don't think the boulevard is the reason we haven't seen huge money dumped into developing the farmer's market and surrounding. There are interested parties but lots of reasons for inaction.

It makes me angry every time I look at it. What a colossal waste of money in a reviving neighborhood that doesn't need that kind of barrier stuck through the middle..

100% agreed. I guess an oversized traffic circle was just too complex for the city to engineer.

100% agreed. I guess an oversized traffic circle was just too complex for the city to engineer.

Freaking Borger, TX has a traffic circle like this with six different roads feeding into it. It's just...ugh.

I would love to have more roundabouts in the city. Unfortunately, having watched people try to navigate the one at 10th and Walker, I maybe understand the reluctance to add more... ;)

I would love to have more roundabouts in the city. Unfortunately, having watched people try to navigate the one at 10th and Walker, I maybe understand the reluctance to add more... ;)

You mean all the ones that stop when there isn't anyone in the circle? Big pet peeve of mine,

TBF, if we're going to have roundabouts, we need to have enough of them that people hit them regularly. It took me a couple of times to get confident with one, but I work close enough to, and am in mid town enough, that I hit them pretty regularly. There are a lot of folks who hit them who've never driven through one before. It's sort of like the one roundabout in Edmond. What's the point? I'd love to see them much more widely implemented, or not at all.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtThcKvBBoI/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7840/46025564275_dbbda7cc32_o.png

IMO the closing of Exchange because of the Boulevard is a growth-stunter as well...

Are you talking temporary closure of Exchange or will Exchange no longer connect to Western/Reno intersection now?

I was under the impression Exchange will no longer connect, but would love to be wrong, someone please correct me.

I was under the impression Exchange will no longer connect, but would love to be wrong, someone please correct me.

I believe it would be utilized as more of a drive way then a road that goes through.

https://www.ok.gov/odot/images/Boulevard-2_construction%20graphic_web.jpg

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r620-c9411445afd04de067f3b14f8bbdb162.jpg

I read that as Exchange dead ending/not connecting any longer.

I read that as Exchange dead ending/not connecting any longer.

I believe it will stay open and work the way it did before this new construction, although that intersection is getting totally re-built along with that stretch of Reno.

I definitely hope so, just looks like it's not included to me

I definitely hope so, just looks like it's not included to me

That intersection is all destroyed right now, so we'll have to wait and see but I'm pretty confident Exchange will still go through.

For some reason I had thought they were changing exchange there to where it was 2 way even. Maybe I'm just making that up, but I thought that was part of some recent change and the reason why Exchange is tore up more than usual.

They installed the bridge beams over Classen this past week.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard021019a.jpg


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard021019c.jpg

Well, at least there are sidewalks.

Agreed but for a new build they could have been wider with more separation between pedestrians and cars instead of that "we could barely fit them in" look.

That Sonic and Taco Bell have got to go. I know it's unlikely but damn this area would be way better off without 2 fast food restaurants as the "gateway for visitors entering the West Village from the Western exit on I-40.

So McDonalds gets a pass?

Doubtful those ever come down, they will be bankrolling even more with all the soon-to-be residents being able to walk over.

So McDonalds gets a pass?

Doubtful those ever come down, they will be bankrolling even more with all the soon-to-be residents being able to walk over.

Haha. No, Mickey D's doesn't get a pass, but it's on the west side of western. When cars entering Film Row/West Village arrive they'll be turning right onto Sheridan and it would be nice if everything after that right turn looked upscale. I think Film Row has done a great job of filling out and will continue to do so.

If TBell and Sonic were in McDonald's place I wouldn't have said anything. I view the intersection of Classen and Sheridan as the end of Film Row/West Village.

I wouldn't be surprised if that Taco Bell and Sonic are ultimately acquired by Hall Capital.

I believe they have been trying for quite a while.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blvd021719.jpg

I'm sure this is somewhere in the thread, but what is the most recent estimated completion date? Any incentives in the contract to hit said completion date?

I'm sure this is somewhere in the thread, but what is the most recent estimated completion date? Any incentives in the contract to hit said completion date?

They are supposed to finish this year but I haven't heard an exact date.

They are taking their sweet time, especially considering they have just closed everything off. This project isn't that complicated.

OkDOT website says fall.

Landscape project starts on new OKC Boulevard (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=589-Landscape-project-starts-on-new-OKC-Boulevard)

A $2 million landscaping project has commenced on the western section of the new Oklahoma City Boulevard.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard030319aa.jpg


Construction of the center of the divided thoroughfare is proceeding towards a finish of later this year.

But both the western and eastern portions have been open to traffic for some time and now a massive landscaping project has begun on the section between Pennsylvania and Western,


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard030319.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard030319b.jpg


Hundreds of trees will be planted along with flowering plants, hardscape and irrigation.

Steel has recently been installed spanning the bridge over Classen/Western very near Film Row, Jones Assembly and the massive West Village mixed-use project.

The first landscaping phase involves the far western section of the roadway and will soon start between I-235 and Shields.

Design and planting plan is by CLS & Associates of OKC.


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard030319i.jpg

this will be a massive improvement


also i hope the city very quickly makes Klein a 4 way intersection

and it'd be great if the city adopted similar plantings at other boulevards and near freeways throughout the city!!!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard031719a.jpg


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard031719c.jpg

I can't wait to drive on this when they finish it in 2072.

They do seem to be moving very slowly considering that roadway is completely closed to traffic.

They need to hustle up and complete this thing.

still looks like a freeway to me. ....

still looks like a freeway to me. ....

The fact that they (re)built the thing this way and are going to have a 25 mph speed limit for a significant portion of the route is hilarious to me. People consistently drive 5-10 mph over the speed limit on the 25 mph portion of NW 23rd, and that stretch of road isn't even particularly conducive to speeding, so lord knows what's going to happen here.

The fact that they (re)built the thing this way and are going to have a 25 mph speed limit for a significant portion of the route is hilarious to me. People consistently drive 5-10 mph over the speed limit on the 25 mph portion of NW 23rd, and that stretch of road isn't even particularly conducive to speeding, so lord knows what's going to happen here.

west of klien i think it is 45 mph speed limit

After significant landscaping with just a little maturity this should create a significantly more aesthetically pleasing entry into west downtown than has existed for decades.

After significant landscaping with just a little maturity this should create a significantly more aesthetically pleasing entry into west downtown than has existed for decades.
All this work to make it appealing, but this morning I noticed the homeless camp has become very visible coming from the city. Tents, blankets hanging, trash etc.
{I don't know what the solution is, just pointing this out}

All this work to make it appealing, but this morning I noticed the homeless camp has become very visible coming from the city. Tents, blankets hanging, trash etc.
{I don't know what the solution is, just pointing this out}

There are literally hundreds of homeless camped out on the north side of the boulevard and west of Western.

I believe this is all ODOT land that they don't maintain or monitor in any way, which is why people have settled there.

There are literally hundreds of homeless camped out on the north side of the boulevard and west of Western.

I believe this is all ODOT land that they don't maintain or monitor in any way, which is why people have settled there.

I own land down there and it is a constant battle. The city says their hands are tied (ie issuing code violations) because some of that is owned by the state. When they do get run off they just move across the street until that person moves them then its back to where they were before. Just a cycle.

I own land down there and it is a constant battle. The city says their hands are tied (ie issuing code violations) because some of that is owned by the state. When they do get run off they just move across the street until that person moves them then its back to where they were before. Just a cycle.

Yeah, the city does go through there every couple of months and cleans everything up and runs them off. They just come back. The Jesus house is across the street. That's why they choose that spot. The city rescue mission is also near there.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boulevard033119a.jpg

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