The irony.

My point remains valid. Say whatever you want but you people are incapable of sticking to topic.

Same sh!t different thread. Bunch of f;cking idiots who never miss a chance to bash anything that isn't urban.

Hey, Plu, congrats on your $15 minimum wage earnings... Now, back to topic ;-)

Hey, Plu, congrats on your $15 minimum wage earnings... Now, back to topic ;-)

Yes, time to let the thread die. No one cares about the construction of the blvd hence why no one is talking about it.

My point remains valid. Say whatever you want but you people are incapable of sticking to topic.

Same sh!t different thread. Bunch of f;cking idiots who never miss a chance to bash anything that isn't urban.

Well we all know I'm full of opinions here...but come on. There is no need to bring out that kind of language for a thread about a road. That kind of stuff gets you banned.

But even if this was created for construction updates, this is a forum where things are discussed and whether you like it or not, when an update is posted, people are going to post their opinions about it. The road is getting built whether anyone here likes it or lumps it...so we can build a bridge (pun....) and get over that one. But that does not mean that we wont have comments about construction.

I've complained about the poor planning on downtown access from day 1 of the new I-40 and it royally sucks. Western and Broadway are clogged like crazy and good luck getting out of downtown after a Thunder game now. Egress is 100 times worse than it was before. I'm hoping the Blvd helps to get rid of that problem. And until we have a working full-coverage light rail, we're going to use our cars to get in/out of downtown. So we will be using things like the BLVD for 50 years guys.

Now that's out of the way, I do HATE a lot of what they did though. There's so much elevated road now, that it almost seemed stupid to tear down the old I-40 since we seriously are just putting most of it right back in. I THOUGHT the idea was to close off some of the stupid little roads and make a at-grade express lane into downtown, with MINIMAL crossings. That's the kind of thing we discuss and comment on Plutonic. You will never find a thread here where people simply post their pictures of construction....that's called Instagram.

nvm

It sucks. End of story

I think the UPDATED CONSTRUCTION of this sucks. I really hope they add something to the west end of the boulevard before it connects with I-40. I found myself going 55 (speed limit is 45) to before I-40 and people were flying past me. I don’t think the west end was meant to be or anyone expected it to be a walkable area, but narrowing the lanes and adding some trees would help the aesthetics of it a lot. My only hope is the Western/Classen/Reno interchange doesn’t suck as much as the rest of the project, but I am not getting my hopes up…

I think the UPDATED CONSTRUCTION of this sucks. I really hope they add something to the west end of the boulevard before it connects with I-40. I found myself going 55 (speed limit is 45) to before I-40 and people were flying past me. I don’t think the west end was meant to be or anyone expected it to be a walkable area, but narrowing the lanes and adding some trees would help the aesthetics of it a lot. My only hope is the Western/Classen/Reno interchange doesn’t suck as much as the rest of the project, but I am not getting my hopes up…

Have been on it twice at night in past week or so and BOTH times police have had people pulled over there.

Same sh!t different thread. Bunch of f;cking idiots who never miss a chance to bash anything that isn't urban.

Ehh. If a person is an idiot for feeling strongly about a suburban highway cutting through the only urban portion of this city... then so be it. There's plenty of suburban highways and boulevards crisscrossing this city for geniuses like you to enjoy.

Ehh. If a person is an idiot for feeling strongly about a suburban highway cutting through the only urban portion of this city... then so be it. There's plenty of suburban highways and boulevards crisscrossing this city for geniuses like you to enjoy.

Where the BLVD accesses I-40 on the west end it has turned into a big cluster during rush hours. Someone is going to get killed if they dont do something to fix this. YOU go from driving 80mph on the superhighway part of I-40 down to a screetching halt around Agnew. It's like hitting a brick wall. Cars try to get all the way across to the south lane to access I-44 south. Then if you are going I-44 north you are looking at lanes vanishing and all funneled into 1 lane. It's a real cluster. Much worse than the old system and that was horrible.

I can't wait for 30 years from now (probably 20 given the generally poor quality of construction in OKC) when this thing is crumbling to the ground. Then we can demolish it and wonder how we were so stupid in the first place.

Have been on it twice at night in past week or so and BOTH times police have had people pulled over there.

It should be a gold mine for Police and personal injury lawyers.

Took a tour of the Boulevard.


http://i.imgur.com/lJ0gUFm.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/JxRGmSd.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/YyS6iVZ.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/QCmyy33.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/ZF5xWuv.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/ZZCWLik.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/TE2TuAl.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/cAJa9MN.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/RHLhnSC.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/GdPeaow.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/jI5RajI.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/3xDjqYp.jpg





These last two photos are from on top of the Boulevard, looking east, then west.

http://i.imgur.com/4rCnDge.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/nKWyA4h.jpg

It is a bunch of ugly. I'm waiting to see how wide the "boulevard" part of it is.

Ew

It looks worse from a distance. Drive east on Reno, gaze at ODOT's Folly and you'll want to either cry or vomit.

That is pretty bad. Most state DOTs would at least do a decorative bridge. That's standard best practices with a downtown highway project these days. It's just truly amazing how bad OKDOT is.

That is pretty bad. Most state DOTs would at least do a decorative bridge. That's standard best practices with a downtown highway project these days. It's just truly amazing how bad OKDOT is.

I've noticed on other new bridges on I-40 out west that the side barriers all have decorations on them. I'd guess when these are done they'll have that too.

Well we will soon find out if downtown can even get a nice suburban highway.

The earthen berms that ODOT has always preferred downtown keep my expectations pretty low.

The only nice thing I can say about it is that at least it appears to have been built more structurally stable than the toothpick columns used in the old I-40. That's not saying much if that's all I can say though....

It's been awhile since I've been down there. It's really starting to come together.

It's been awhile since I've been down there. It's really starting to come together.

I know! It's just so beautiful! Our tax dollars at work! Wow!

The paving industry must be thrilled. The General Contractors Association has pics of this construction in their new TV spot advocating for more highway and bridge funding.

The paving industry must be thrilled. The General Contractors Association has pics of this construction in their new TV spot advocating for more highway and bridge funding.

Whenever we go by the east portion my husband always asks: "And whose uncle is in the concrete business?"

http://newsok.com/work-progresses-on-railway-bridge-over-boulevard-in-oklahoma-city/article/5507218

Can this thing just crumble to the ground already? Without anyone getting hurt, of course.

Construction on this project is too far along--past the point of no return.

My question; if some minor changes could be made without scrapping the whole project, what would you like to see?

It's hilarious this thing is taking 3 years to build. We've become so complacent with awful construction.

Construction on this project is too far along--past the point of no return.

My question; if some minor changes could be made without scrapping the whole project, what would you like to see?

Oklahoma Ave and Joe Carter Ave connected to the boulevard.

Man...this boulevard really could have been something special. It's not everyday that a city relocates a major urban interstate that could be replaced with a grand people-friendly, engaging, boulevard for all users. The economic re-development opportunity along the entirety of the boulevard would have been unbelievable, but now it's really constrained to just a few key parcels that aren't along the freeway portion of the "boulevard". The portion of the freeway near bass pro and the canal is really the most disappointing. It looks EXACTLY like the old I-40.

Transportation projects are a mechanism for economic development. ODOT (and the City as well) missed the enormous opportunity to create hundreds of millions of additional revenue by creating a non-freeway boulevard.

Man...this boulevard really could have been something special. It's not everyday that a city relocates a major urban interstate that could be replaced with a grand people-friendly, engaging, boulevard for all users. The economic re-development opportunity along the entirety of the boulevard would have been unbelievable, but now it's really constrained to just a few key parcels that aren't along the freeway portion of the "boulevard". The portion of the freeway near bass pro and the canal is really the most disappointing. It looks EXACTLY like the old I-40.

Transportation projects are a mechanism for economic development. ODOT (and the City as well) missed the enormous opportunity to create hundreds of millions of additional revenue by creating a non-freeway boulevard.

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/streetview?size=306x306&location=11476%20Harry%20Hines%20Blvd%2C%20Dallas% 2C%20TX%2075229&sensor=false&client=gme-scpropertysharksrl&signature=th-zz1lahUjYVT6RGK4dXGKuP2g
Something like Dallas' Harry Hines Boulevard?

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/streetview?size=306x306&location=11476%20Harry%20Hines%20Blvd%2C%20Dallas% 2C%20TX%2075229&sensor=false&client=gme-scpropertysharksrl&signature=th-zz1lahUjYVT6RGK4dXGKuP2g
Something like Dallas' Harry Hines Boulevard?

So shift Valleybrook's business model to the Crosstown?

So shift Valleybrook's business model to the Crosstown?

Doesn't sound like you're familiar with Harry Hines Boulevard. Seriously, jerrywall, how does that compare with Valleybrook's business model; you are referring to Valleybrook inside OKC between Bryant & Eastern Avenues @ S. E. 59th Street?

Doesn't sound like you're familiar with Harry Hines Boulevard. Seriously, jerrywall, how does that compare with Valleybrook's business model; you are referring to Valleybrook inside OKC between Bryant & Eastern Avenues @ S. E. 59th Street?

Yes I am (spent a lot of time down there at Strokers) and yes I am. There are sections of Harry Hines that make Valleybrook look family friendly.

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/streetview?size=306x306&location=11476%20Harry%20Hines%20Blvd%2C%20Dallas% 2C%20TX%2075229&sensor=false&client=gme-scpropertysharksrl&signature=th-zz1lahUjYVT6RGK4dXGKuP2g
Something like Dallas' Harry Hines Boulevard?

No, more along the lines of Lancaster Avenue in Downtown Fort Worth, which used to be the I-30 alignment until the interstate was shifted south. Now an at-grade boulevard is in its place and in return a pretty pedestrian friendly environment with multiple developments underway.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article9167735.html

http://fortworthtexas.gov/uploadedFiles/Lancaster_Corridor/Lancaster%20Steering%20Committee%20Update%20-%201-16-07.pdf

This picture was right after the project was finished. There are several developments along the corridor that are under construction right now.
12750

Here's a report from ITE on the project as well that includes greater detail: http://library.ite.org/pub/e1cfead8-2354-d714-5168-ca47b8cb643d

Good point, Geographer

I lived in Fort Worth (Green Oaks area, near Ridgemar Mall) in the late 90s. Definitely remember the talk about moving the expressway 4 blocks south as we have recently done here in Oklahoma City.

Really liked how Fort Worth cemented its western & cowboy culture brand; Cowtown is so historic. The old Cowtown Coliseum is as historic as it gets.
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/6ede09a0f7fc49b09a437fdba756c49a/rodeo-stadium-stockyards-fort-worth-texas-usa-c5th4k.jpg
http://www.art-photography-nature.com/Admin/Database/Photos/130__TH2Ft.%20Worth,%20TX%20Court%20House.jpg
The old historic Fort Worth Courthouse, featured on many of the Walker, Texas Ranger episodes along with the magnificent churches in the area highlights Fort Worth.

Picture update from OKC Streetcar page

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13921071_737727946370119_797121410547393465_n.jpg? oh=c028f3544794f6ba275fa7fbad5523df&oe=581EE768

https://www.facebook.com/okcstreetcar/photos/a.203752873100965.51616.203749819767937/737727946370119/?type=3&permPage=1

No one's posted it yet, but they're completed punched through the rail line now, anyone know the timeframe for completion of this section?

No one's posted it yet, but they're completed punched through the rail line now


https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7475/29070866094_f0c5704e92.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LhTMFd)IMG_2398 (https://flic.kr/p/LhTMFd) by rte66man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rte66man/), on Flickr

They do still have one more rail bridge to place on the west side before the rail viaduct portion of this project is complete, but it's rather amazing to me to see a hole through there where there was none previously. Wow. We're nearing the home stretch on this section of the Boulevard.

Drove by today and they've finished the intersection of the Boulevard and Oklahoma, even have the stoplights up.

This seemed odd though because Steve's article in the paper the other day seemed to imply that the U-Haul people hadn't yet agreed to allow Oklahoma to cut through what is currently their parking lot and loading dock. Wasn't the plan at one point to have the Boulevard intersect with Compress? Will they be able to get that land from U-Haul so that Oklahoma is continuous? Because if not that intersection could be a complete nightmare.

On another note, what is the plan for the landscaping around the road? Maintaining a sense of connectivity will be crucial to the success of the Maps 3 park and surrounding development, as well as the Producer's Co-Op, but right now (obviously its nowhere near a finished product) the road looks awfully big and uninviting to pedestrians. Hopefully the lanes are narrow or those cars flying off the highway will have no reason to adhere to the (rightfully) artificially low speed limit.

I noticed over the weekend driving SB I235 that the offramp to the new OK Boulevard has a speed limit of 35MPH. So once the ramp is open you'll have traffic at 60+MPH and before the ramp curves to the west there are 35MPH signs. I just thought that was interesting.

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think that's legal, either - I seem to recall that reductions in speed like this must be reduced in 10mph increments (or less) and there's a minimum distance allowed between the signs. Maybe the new boulevard is signed the way it is because it's a different road? I dunno, but it seems foolhardy to slam the speed limit down that low right on the off-ramp.

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think that's legal, either - I seem to recall that reductions in speed like this must be reduced in 10mph increments (or less) and there's a minimum distance allowed between the signs. Maybe the new boulevard is signed the way it is because it's a different road? I dunno, but it seems foolhardy to slam the speed limit down that low right on the off-ramp.

That's what I thought, too. Now of course I was going 60ish when I noticed the 35MPH signs and don't recall seeing any gradual incremental drop-off signs, so there could be some there. But I just remember driving by and seeing those and was like, what a sham to be 35MPH and be such a large new road...and coming right off an interstate! lol :) Oh well.

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think that's legal, either - I seem to recall that reductions in speed like this must be reduced in 10mph increments (or less) and there's a minimum distance allowed between the signs. Maybe the new boulevard is signed the way it is because it's a different road? I dunno, but it seems foolhardy to slam the speed limit down that low right on the off-ramp.

The speed limit on 44 is 60-65, depending on where you are. The signs in the middle of the off ramps show an exit sign at 40mph. I know this is not the same thing, but one could probably get pulled over for driving 60 on the off ramp if a cop was so inclined. So, I would think since this is an exit onto a city street from a highway, they could effectively drop the speed limit immediately.

You see a similar concern traveling north on I-44 to the N.W. 10th Street exit ramp that takes you west. The speed drops to 30 mph right at the bend of the curve as you incline onto N.W. 10th Street.

You see a similar concern traveling north on I-44 to the N.W. 10th Street exit ramp that takes you west. The speed drops to 30 mph right at the bend of the curve as you incline onto N.W. 10th Street.

That's probably a better example as each exit does not have a light that you hit quickly after you exit like 23rd.

That's what I thought, too. Now of course I was going 60ish when I noticed the 35MPH signs and don't recall seeing any gradual incremental drop-off signs, so there could be some there. But I just remember driving by and seeing those and was like, what a sham to be 35MPH and be such a large new road...and coming right off an interstate! lol :) Oh well.

You're singing the song of Plutonic Panda's people :eek:

The new boulevard absolutely should have a slower speed limit, but it just seems weird to have it right at 35mph right on the off ramp. Doesn't seem like they're going to give motorists much room to slow down, and since there's no dedicated exit lane on 235, I could see that causing some serious problems. Seems to me like a more sensible solution would be to have a gradual reduction in speed, to where the 35mph zone would begin at or near the Oklahoma Ave intersection.

The new boulevard absolutely should have a slower speed limit, but it just seems weird to have it right at 35mph right on the off ramp. Doesn't seem like they're going to give motorists much room to slow down, and since there's no dedicated exit lane on 235, I could see that causing some serious problems. Seems to me like a more sensible solution would be to have a gradual reduction in speed, to where the 35mph zone would begin at or near the Oklahoma Ave intersection.

I am curious if they have to do it because it is going from a highway to a city street. That would be my thought, but I don't know much about it.

I saw this discussion earlier but didn't want to add this until I verified. Taking the Northbound 235 exit from Eastbound 40 the exit is 25MPH and is pretty much a hard right turn directly from 40. The 25MPH sign is actually on 40 just before the exit.

I saw this discussion earlier but didn't want to add this until I verified. Taking the Northbound 235 exit from Eastbound 40 the exit is 25MPH and is pretty much a hard right turn directly from 40. The 25MPH sign is actually on 40 just before the exit.

Yeah, but it has it's own lane, so I am curious if that is why they can do that. Although I have seen many almost wrecks because of people not slowing down enough for that turn.

Those speed limit signs have a yellow background and are advisory only.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf
p334

Those speed limit signs have a yellow background and are advisory only.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf
p334

Thank you! I meant to post that yesterday but wanted to fact-check to be sure.

Yeah, but it has it's own lane, so I am curious if that is why they can do that. Although I have seen many almost wrecks because of people not slowing down enough for that turn.
I used to count the days between them replacing the exit marker sign and when it would be flattened again. I think they've given up and aren't going to put it back this time. They put yellow/black arrows instead.

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think that's legal, either - I seem to recall that reductions in speed like this must be reduced in 10mph increments (or less) and there's a minimum distance allowed between the signs. Maybe the new boulevard is signed the way it is because it's a different road? I dunno, but it seems foolhardy to slam the speed limit down that low right on the off-ramp.

Two things—
The gradual speed limit reductions are an Oklahoma-only thing. I don't know if it's a state law or OkDOT policy, but in other states they can and do drop speed limits by more than 10 mph at a time.

Also, as mentioned above, the color of the sign matters. A speed limit on a yellow sign (like most ramp limits) is an advisory speed, calculated by a formula to help the motorist judge how fast to take the ramp. It is not enforceable by police. You can only get tickets for speed limits on white signs.

Two things—
The gradual speed limit reductions are an Oklahoma-only thing.

The Legislature passed a law back in the mid 90's to that effect. Their reasoning was to greatly reduce the speed traps set up in so many small towns on major highways (Stringtown, Rush Springs, et al) where the speed limit would drop from 70 to 45 in the space of 50 yards.

The Legislature passed a law back in the mid 90's to that effect. Their reasoning was to greatly reduce the speed traps set up in so many small towns on major highways (Stringtown, Rush Springs, et al) where the speed limit would drop from 70 to 45 in the space of 50 yards.

Scroll down to subsection E for the relevant part:
§47-11-803. When local authorities may and shall alter maximum limits.

A. Whenever local authorities in their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that the maximum speed permitted under this article is greater or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon a highway or part of a highway, the local authority may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which:

1. Decreases the limit at intersections; or

2. Increases the limit within an urban district, but not to more than sixty-five (65) miles per hour; or

3. Decreases the limit outside an urban district, but not to less than thirty (30) miles per hour.

B. Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum speed for all arterial streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which may be greater or less than the maximum speed permitted under Section 1-101 et seq. of this title for an urban district.

C. Any altered limit established as hereinabove authorized shall be effective at all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be determined when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon such street or highway.

D. As to streets and highways within the corporate limits which have been constructed or reconstructed with state or federal funds, local authorities shall have joint authority with the Transportation Commission to establish or alter speed limits; provided, however, the speed limit on an interstate highway within such corporate limits shall not be decreased to less than sixty (60) miles per hour; and provided further, that no local authority shall impose speed limits on any such street or highway substantially lower than those justified by the highway design, capacity, and traffic volume as determined by engineering studies.

E. Not more than six such alterations as hereinabove authorized shall be made per mile along a street or highway except in the case of reduced limits at intersections, and the difference between adjacent limits shall not be more than ten (10) miles per hour.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 385, § 11-803, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 98, § 5, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1996, c. 324, § 2.

Those speed limit signs have a yellow background and are advisory only.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf
p334

I am surprised more people on this board did not already know that.

White is the law.
Yellow is a suggestion.
Red is a warning.

I am surprised more people on this board did not already know that.

White is the law.
Yellow is a suggestion.
Red is a warning.

I don't know if there is any legal basis to this, but I always assumed that if you get in an accident while going faster than the suggested speed you could end up with an "operating a vehicle in a manner unreasonable and improper" ticket.