OKC Street Disrepair

[C_M_25]

I'm sure there is a thread somewhere on this, but I would like to start a new discussion on this topic.

I've been driving a lot of city streets as of late since our interstate system can jam up pretty bad during peak traffic hours. I just can't help but notice the horrible condition city roads are in. It seems like they are getting worse because of all the rains we have been getting lately. I drive a lot on May, NW 10th, Main St, and I have driven some up on Danforth with it being one of the worst. There is a pothole about 2 ft in diameter and 3 ft in depth that is going to ruin somebody's tire and wheel if they hit it dead on.

I've noticed a lot of fractures in the roads as they are subsiding in a rut fashion (think old dirt roads). These fractures inevitably turn in to holes. 74 highway is bad just north of Memorial where chunks of the road have pulled free from the substrate. I can go on and on about how bad the roads are but I'm sure you're all aware.

I've also noticed an inability to finish road construction projects. I've seen multiple projects make very good progress then they suddenly stop. One of the roads by my place has been sitting half finished for 2 months. I've been told it is because they ran out of money. Seriously?

I feel like we've fallen behind so far on maintaining our roads that I wonder if we'll even be able to get caught back up on it AND stay on top of new construction at the same time. It is really disappointing to see.

[BoulderSooner]

I'm sure there is a thread somewhere on this, but I would like to start a new discussion on this topic.

I've been driving a lot of city streets as of late since our interstate system can jam up pretty bad during peak traffic hours. I just can't help but notice the horrible condition city roads are in. It seems like they are getting worse because of all the rains we have been getting lately. I drive a lot on May, NW 10th, Main St, and I have driven some up on Danforth with it being one of the worst. There is a pothole about 2 ft in diameter and 3 ft in depth that is going to ruin somebody's tire and wheel if they hit it dead on.

I've noticed a lot of fractures in the roads as they are subsiding in a rut fashion (think old dirt roads). These fractures inevitably turn in to holes. 74 highway is bad just north of Memorial where chunks of the road have pulled free from the substrate. I can go on and on about how bad the roads are but I'm sure you're all aware.

I've also noticed an inability to finish road construction projects. I've seen multiple projects make very good progress then they suddenly stop. One of the roads by my place has been sitting half finished for 2 months. I've been told it is because they ran out of money. Seriously?

I feel like we've fallen behind so far on maintaining our roads that I wonder if we'll even be able to get caught back up on it AND stay on top of new construction at the same time. It is really disappointing to see.

we passed a massive bond issue in 2007 with 500 mil for roads ... most of those bonds have yet to be sold and that work is on going

[Plutonic Panda]

we passed a massive bond issue in 2007 with 500 mil for roads ... most of those bonds have yet to be sold and that work is on going

Do you have clue when we might see work from that bond and if it is for reconstructing the streets in cement along with sidewalks and landscaping or is it just for repaving?

[warreng88]

There are a lot of problems with OK roads and a lot of that has to do with us getting ice and messing them up. In 2007, there was an $835 million G.O. bond voted for infrastructure. $500 million of that is dedicated to resurfacing, restructuring and widening our roads. Here is a link to the website if you want more details:

The City of Oklahoma City - 2007 City Bond Election

Included in that bond issue was a lot of 10th street and may. This is ten year bond issue so it will take some time. I also remember an article a while back that said slow property growth was making the funds more stagnant. I am not sure if things have picked up a lot since then, but that might affect it as well.

[Plutonic Panda]

There are a lot of problems with OK roads and a lot of that has to do with us getting ice and messing them up. In 2007, there was an $835 million G.O. bond voted for infrastructure. $500 million of that is dedicated to resurfacing, restructuring and widening our roads. Here is a link to the website if you want more details:

The City of Oklahoma City - 2007 City Bond Election

Included in that bond issue was a lot of 10th street and may. This is ten year bond issue so it will take some time. I also remember an article a while back that said slow property growth was making the funds more stagnant. I am not sure if things have picked up a lot since then, but that might affect it as well.

I hope they reconstruct them in concrete and not asphalt (with the exception of residential areas).

[OKCisOK4me]

621 square miles is a lot of roads. The city needs to deannex some property but still keep contracts on roads that are already in planning to be fixed. That way any future GOBs can actually cover "city" streets and not suburban streets

[Snowman]

621 square miles is a lot of roads. The city needs to deannex some property but still keep contracts on roads that are already in planning to be fixed. That way any future GOBs can actually cover "city" streets and not suburban streets

Once your more than a mile or two out of downtown, depending on direction, it is pretty much all suburban environment. It is just an older suburban style the nearer the core you are.

[OKCisOK4me]

Once your more than a mile or two out of downtown, depending on direction, it is pretty much all suburban environment. It is just an older suburban style the nearer the core you are.

Yes, it was before my time, but kinda hard to imagine the old fashioned Grand Boulevard circling the old edges of the city.

[rezman]

I've mentioned in another thread that I live out in far NE Okc. One of the main roads I must travel daily is NE 164th, east of Hiwassee. This road needs major help. The problem is that Okc has the eastbound lane and Edmond has the westbound side. Both of those city's street crews do come out once or twice a year and throw down some patching materials, but that's the extent of it. Those patches usually work loose in a matter of months. In the meantime, the Okla County road crews have been doing a lot on the roads surrounding this area, and doing a nice job at that. In fact, I contacted my county commisioners office about this matter, and was told that they were well aware of how bad 164th was and that they could not take on that project because it is in an incorporated area. They were however, ready to partner up with Okc and Edmond to share the cost to repave the road. The problem was getting the other two parties to come together on it.

[richosh]

Streets in Bricktown are in great shape.

[Plutonic Panda]

Streets in Bricktown are in great shape.

What percentage of Bricktown makes up OKC? lol... :P

[zookeeper]

richosh


Streets in Bricktown are in great shape.

What percentage of Bricktown makes up OKC? lol... :P

I think you missed his point. I am guessing that was gushing with sarcasm.

[Plutonic Panda]

i think you missed his point. I am guessing that was gushing with sarcasm.

;p

[LandRunOkie]

The railroad crossings south of the Hill are still abysmal. I thought they were bad in a car, I almost had to get off and walk over them on a bike.

[LordGerald]

The railroad crossings south of the Hill are still abysmal. I thought they were bad in a car, I almost had to get off and walk over them on a bike.

Totally. I alternate driving between an Xterra and a CR-V. The CR-V, which I call my "Mommy-car," gets engulfed in those tracks. I have to drive slowly in the middle of the street to cross the tracks. Can't imagine what an even smaller car has to endure.

But when it comes to bad roads. N.W. 23rd between Portland and MacArthur is the single worst stretch of road in the city. The city should grate it and return it to dirt, because it would be better than the patchwork quilt they have going. It's been like this for almost two decades now.

[OKCisOK4me]

But when it comes to bad roads. N.W. 23rd between Portland and MacArthur is the single worst stretch of road in the city. The city should grate it and return it to dirt, because it would be better than the patchwork quilt they have going. It's been like this for almost two decades now.

As stated before, there are plans to totally redo this stretch of 23rd. All the merchants along this route have an organization and have held meetings in the past about what we're all to do when construction starts but I can't tell you when the last meeting was, so in all honesty, there's really no telling if something is going to happen.

[LordGerald]

As stated before, there are plans to totally redo this stretch of 23rd. All the merchants along this route have an organization and have held meetings in the past about what we're all to do when construction starts but I can't tell you when the last meeting was, so in all honesty, there's really no telling if something is going to happen.

I just watched this week's council meeting and Larry McAtee reported that there will be a public meeting April 2 (time, place TBA) on the "Windsor Hills Streetscape." I am very pleased about this and thank you for reminding me. Look forward to seeing the designs and attending this meeting.

[UnclePete]

The railroad crossings south of the Hill are still abysmal. I thought they were bad in a car, I almost had to get off and walk over them on a bike.

WHERE IS "THE hILL"?

[Roger S]

WHERE IS "THE hILL"?

There are hills all over OKC. You should be able to look out your window and see one somewhere.

More specifically I believe they are referencing this area of Bricktown/Deep Deuce.

[Anonymous.]

One reason the potholes and roads are so torn up right now is because the plows were scraping down the streets and interstates the last 3 weeks removing all of the water on the roads.

Each crack that the blade gets caught under shoots a massive chunk of road up. I-235 @ the Santa Fe bend is like driving through a minefield since the winter weather. I have to swerve back and forth like a drunk to dodge each one. I drive a car with low profile tires and those holes are wheel-ending.

[OKCisOK4me]

I couldn't find a particular thread for this segment of NW 23rd so Im placing my statement here.

Construction is to start this July between Tulsa Avenue and Ann Arbor Avenue on 23rd. Be prepared for one lane traffic!

[soonerguru]

I couldn't find a particular thread for this segment of NW 23rd so Im placing my statement here.

Construction is to start this July between Tulsa Avenue and Ann Arbor Avenue on 23rd. Be prepared for one lane traffic!

More than happy to put up with the inconvenience for the end result. That corridor is Baghdad like right now. Our military Humvees would struggle to navigate that pitiful, pockmarked stretch of asphalt.

[Plutonic Panda]

Any knowledge to whether they're going to rebuild/add lanes with cement or they going to do asphalt.

[soonerguru]

Any knowledge to whether they're going to rebuild/add lanes with cement or they going to do asphalt.

I attended the public meeting. They will have concrete at the intersections extending out up to 50 feet; the rest will be asphalt. They are building sidewalks on BOTH sides of 23rd Street. They are integrating "towers" that will signify the area, which they have somewhat unceremoniously dubbed the "Windsor District." The towers will be designed to fit the Midcentury orientation of the bordering neighborhoods and will be backlit at night. Sounds kind of spiffy but they stressed these were only "initial" designs, meaning they could scrap stuff to cheap out if they want to.

The 23rd and Meridian intersection will include a medallion design and landscaping. There will be ornamental lighting along the pedestrian corridors. It will take up to a year to 14 months to complete.

This is going to be a great improvement to the area.

I'm also encouraged that there is a Windsor Area Business District that has formed and is actively engaging business owners to improve their properties, hoping the streetscape will spawn other improvements, such as have happened in Plaza District, Paseo, etc. It is all very encouraging to see. The other thing I was highly encouraged by was how well attended the public meeting was by area residents. It was SRO in a middle school cafeteria.

The only major miss is that they are going to do nothing from I-44 to Tulsa for several years. I'm not sure why they chose to put that segment last. Seems like a bad idea to me, but I'm grateful they are doing what they are doing.

[catch22]

I attended the public meeting. They will have concrete at the intersections extending out up to 50 feet; the rest will be asphalt. They are building sidewalks on BOTH sides of 23rd Street. They are integrating "towers" that will signify the area, which they have somewhat unceremoniously dubbed the "Windsor District." The towers will be designed to fit the Midcentury orientation of the bordering neighborhoods and will be backlit at night. Sounds kind of spiffy but they stressed these were only "initial" designs, meaning they could scrap stuff to cheap out if they want to.

The 23rd and Meridian intersection will include a medallion design and landscaping. There will be ornamental lighting along the pedestrian corridors. It will take up to a year to 14 months to complete.

This is going to be a great improvement to the area.

I'm also encouraged that there is a Windsor Area Business District that has formed and is actively engaging business owners to improve their properties, hoping the streetscape will spawn other improvements, such as have happened in Plaza District, Paseo, etc. It is all very encouraging to see. The other thing I was highly encouraged by was how well attended the public meeting was by area residents. It was SRO in a middle school cafeteria.

The only major miss is that they are going to do nothing from I-44 to Tulsa for several years. I'm not sure why they chose to put that segment last. Seems like a bad idea to me, but I'm grateful they are doing what they are doing.

Thanks for the info.