Canal to River Connection

[ljbab728]

This makes me really wish I had ridden one of those dinky Devon Cruiser things, because now I am extremely curious what it's like to change locks on one of those, and whether that would work here. I think that they actually change locks 2 or 3 times actually..

I've done that, Spartan, and while it's interesting, it's kinda like watching paint dry. I've also done the Panama Canal with the same thoughts. Once you've done it once there's not much reason to do it again other than to get from one point to another. It's just like being on an open air elevator. While I'm sure it would be possible at that connection point I just don't think it's worth the expense envolved.

[Spartan]

Interesting, ljbab. I almost think that "cruising" the Oklahoma River/drainage ditch would be like watching paint dry in its entirety, and not just switching locks. I almost had the idea that it would be the opposite, and perhaps the lock changes would be the only interesting point.

Before 10 trolls all attack me at once, I just wish the ugly gravel was removed (while practical initially, it's just a bad idea and aesthetically don't even know where to begin), and that actual trees were planted. In fact, it's almost like somebody was opposed to planting trees and instead wanted the gravel. Only in Oklahoma...

[RodH]

Interesting, ljbab. I almost think that "cruising" the Oklahoma River/drainage ditch would be like watching paint dry in its entirety, and not just switching locks. I almost had the idea that it would be the opposite, and perhaps the lock changes would be the only interesting point.

Before 10 trolls all attack me at once, I just wish the ugly gravel was removed (while practical initially, it's just a bad idea and aesthetically don't even know where to begin), and that actual trees were planted. In fact, it's almost like somebody was opposed to planting trees and instead wanted the gravel. Only in Oklahoma...

I have taken the river cruise. I thought the locks were interesting but I like the different views of the city from the river more. I was surprised by how well you can see the Health Center from the river. There are actually a suprising number of trees. The mile of river from Portland to Meridian has the natural river bank. There are no rocks and the trail is only on the south bank.

[Steve]

My understanding is the locks would be prohibitively expensive on this connection.

[Pete]

The river cruise will be much more interesting down the road as more development and improvements take place.

It's nice that the boats are there, it was probably just a bit premature to get them started.


The potential of the river is just in it's infancy... It's actually amazing how much has taken place rather organically and as I've posted elsewhere, I'd like to see a lot of the area really developed into recreation venues, as there is plenty of room for it and everyone knows this is an area where OKC really lacks. Then, private development and more improvements are bound to follow.

[ourulz2000]

Found some old photos I took of Bricktown in early 1999. Amazing what's happened in 12 years. Sorry for the quality:

[Celebrator]

Interesting, ljbab. I almost think that "cruising" the Oklahoma River/drainage ditch would be like watching paint dry in its entirety, and not just switching locks. I almost had the idea that it would be the opposite, and perhaps the lock changes would be the only interesting point.

Before 10 trolls all attack me at once, I just wish the ugly gravel was removed (while practical initially, it's just a bad idea and aesthetically don't even know where to begin), and that actual trees were planted. In fact, it's almost like somebody was opposed to planting trees and instead wanted the gravel. Only in Oklahoma...

Easy, easy...all in due time. This project is still young. I'm sure that eventually more trees and other foliage will be planted, but all of that is expensive to install and maintain, and therefore probably won't really proliferate until development along the banks flourishes. It will look more natural someday we all just have to be patient.
Does anyone know if the gravel/rocks can be removed at some point as the plant/tree life develops along the banks and helps with erosion, which I am guessing was the original purpose of the gravel/rocks?

[Snowman]

Interesting, ljbab. I almost think that "cruising" the Oklahoma River/drainage ditch would be like watching paint dry in its entirety, and not just switching locks. I almost had the idea that it would be the opposite, and perhaps the lock changes would be the only interesting point.

Before 10 trolls all attack me at once, I just wish the ugly gravel was removed (while practical initially, it's just a bad idea and aesthetically don't even know where to begin), and that actual trees were planted. In fact, it's almost like somebody was opposed to planting trees and instead wanted the gravel. Only in Oklahoma...

A significant portion of the rocks are from when the 'river' was originally channelized, with a refresh a few years ago. With it being as steep a pitch it was made, they will probably need to completely regrade it to allow anything more natural keep soil back or do like near the boathouse waterfront and keep the gravel up to the water line then change what it does in the area above that.

[KellyD]

Here are two quick photoshops I did of the River Extension towards the Canal. Thought you all might like to see.




https://picasaweb.google.com/1096020...37989633032930

https://picasaweb.google.com/1096020...38004434154146

[Pete]

Here are KellyD's images:

[BoulderSooner]

very nice thank you

[Pete]

Somewhat related to these improvements is a substantial renovation to the Chickasaw Nation Plaza, which is right where the canal takes a 90-degree turn before heading under the old I-40.

Looks like they are going to spend about $700K to install new pavers, landscaping, lighting and other hardscape.

This area will be a lot more visible when the new boulevard replaces the old I-40:

[Ginkasa]

Here are two quick photoshops I did of the River Extension towards the Canal. Thought you all might like to see.




https://picasaweb.google.com/1096020...37989633032930

https://picasaweb.google.com/1096020...38004434154146

That really helps to visualize it. Thanks.

[shawnw]

Somewhat related to these improvements is a substantial renovation to the Chickasaw Nation Plaza, which is right where the canal takes a 90-degree turn before heading under the old I-40.

Looks like they are going to spend about $700K to install new pavers, landscaping, lighting and other hardscape.

This area will be a lot more visible when the new boulevard replaces the old I-40:

Probably this has been answered elsewhere on this forum (and this probably isn't the exact right place to ask, but in a quick search I couldn't find a clear, dedicated thread for "Oklahoma City Boulevard"). The above made me wonder about where the new boulevard starts and ends. I just assumed it would begin/end somewhere in the neighborhood of Bricktown (would it go all the way to Lincoln? [speaking of which does Lincoln stay disjointed forever or does it get re-aligned after the current 235-to-40 ramp goes away?], would we want it to? seems like a bad idea to have a 4-6 lane wide boulevard bridge over the canal if so... I know there's the I-40 bridge now, but it's very elevated and I thought the boulevard would remain at-grade, which seems problematic at the canal as the canal bridge currently there for parking lot access has always seemed awkward to me; or maybe the boulevard elevates to get over the canal and train tracks and curves into SE 5th?) and end/begin where it merges onto the new I-40. I haven't had the expectation that it would be a street like Reno that goes on seemingly forever in either direction. Is there a rendering or has someone already done some photoshop magic to help visualize this?

Oh, sorry for all the nested parenthetical statements, it's late...

[wschnitt]

It would be my suggestion that as developers want to develop along the river, we build walls along the frontage. Either that or create an improvement district for the river and encourage development and use taxes to create a nice urban wall. Bottom line, you are right. The whole river needs revenue to help justify the costs of reworking the banks to make the whole river more urban.

I am assuming you are talking about a seawall. That would be TERRIBLE for rowing because the wakes from boats would bounce off of the wall and go on for ever. Boats are only inches above the waterline making them hard to row in flat water, let alone the never ending wakes that would result from your seawall.

[Snowman]

Probably this has been answered elsewhere on this forum (and this probably isn't the exact right place to ask, but in a quick search I couldn't find a clear, dedicated thread for "Oklahoma City Boulevard"). The above made me wonder about where the new boulevard starts and ends. I just assumed it would begin/end somewhere in the neighborhood of Bricktown (would it go all the way to Lincoln? [speaking of which does Lincoln stay disjointed forever or does it get re-aligned after the current 235-to-40 ramp goes away?], would we want it to? seems like a bad idea to have a 4-6 lane wide boulevard bridge over the canal if so... I know there's the I-40 bridge now, but it's very elevated and I thought the boulevard would remain at-grade, which seems problematic at the canal as the canal bridge currently there for parking lot access has always seemed awkward to me; or maybe the boulevard elevates to get over the canal and train tracks and curves into SE 5th?) and end/begin where it merges onto the new I-40. I haven't had the expectation that it would be a street like Reno that goes on seemingly forever in either direction. Is there a rendering or has someone already done some photoshop magic to help visualize this?

Oh, sorry for all the nested parenthetical statements, it's late...

The boulevard is on the old i40 path, it is at grade most of the way, becomes depressed for the north/south santa fe tracks and elevated around Toby Keith's bar to clear the canal, i40 ramps and the east/west rail line. It starts near Penn and ends at i235, by all reports now it will be four lanes. There may be a rendering in the i40 construction thread.

[Just the facts]

I am assuming you are talking about a seawall. That would be TERRIBLE for rowing because the wakes from boats would bounce off of the wall and go on for ever. Boats are only inches above the waterline making them hard to row in flat water, let alone the never ending wakes that would result from your seawall.

The wall would only be built along one portion of the river, which isn't used for rowing. Somewhere there is thread called "urbanzing the Oklahoma river" that has lots of examples of what the wall would look like.

[wschnitt]

The wall would only be built along one portion of the river, which isn't used for rowing. Somewhere there is thread called "urbanzing the Oklahoma river" that has lots of examples of what the wall would look like.

What portion is not used for rowing?

[OKCisOK4me]

Probably this has been answered elsewhere on this forum (and this probably isn't the exact right place to ask, but in a quick search I couldn't find a clear, dedicated thread for "Oklahoma City Boulevard"). The above made me wonder about where the new boulevard starts and ends. I just assumed it would begin/end somewhere in the neighborhood of Bricktown (would it go all the way to Lincoln? [speaking of which does Lincoln stay disjointed forever or does it get re-aligned after the current 235-to-40 ramp goes away?], would we want it to? seems like a bad idea to have a 4-6 lane wide boulevard bridge over the canal if so... I know there's the I-40 bridge now, but it's very elevated and I thought the boulevard would remain at-grade, which seems problematic at the canal as the canal bridge currently there for parking lot access has always seemed awkward to me; or maybe the boulevard elevates to get over the canal and train tracks and curves into SE 5th?) and end/begin where it merges onto the new I-40. I haven't had the expectation that it would be a street like Reno that goes on seemingly forever in either direction. Is there a rendering or has someone already done some photoshop magic to help visualize this?

Oh, sorry for all the nested parenthetical statements, it's late...

You may also want to check out 40Forward. There is an interactive map that, although not highly detailed, shows the interchanges for the boulevard with the new alignment.

[wschnitt]

Stand corrected. I know nothing about rowing. And who said it would be my seawall?

Haha. It is YOUR wall because of the fact that you suggested on this thread as well as the urbanizing the river thread.

I like the idea of the wall, but it would not work. Unless it was a wall with then plants and rocks in front of it, ie overgrown mess.

[wschnitt]

=) Well, I will pick up my wall and go play somewhere else. Kidding aside, I want whatever will promote healthy, dense, development along the river. The aesthetics or design matter less than that to me.

Are you familiar with the concrete wall and sidewalk in front of the devon boathouse?

http://boathousedistrict.org/files/2..._Disc2_011.jpg

That works because of the rocks in front of it.

[shawnw]

You may also want to check out 40Forward. There is an interactive map that, although not highly detailed, shows the interchanges for the boulevard with the new alignment.

Ugh, I totally forgot about that site. Haven't been following the I-40 stuff as much as other threads. Thanks.

[OKCisOK4me]

You're welcome!

[Just the facts]

And who said it would be my seawall?

Hey, if you don't want the credit for the idea can I have it? Hadrian's Wall, The Great Wall, JTF's Wall - I can live with that.

[Larry OKC]

The boulevard is on the old i40 path, it is at grade most of the way, becomes depressed for the north/south santa fe tracks and elevated around Toby Keith's bar to clear the canal, i40 ramps and the east/west rail line. It starts near Penn and ends at i235, by all reports now it will be four lanes. There may be a rendering in the i40 construction thread.

I know that was the way they were leaning for quite a while but it seems I have been reading recently about the relocation/Boulevard in the Oklahoman, they have gone back to mentioning 6 lanes (like the one below)...don't know if this is anything official or just a writers lapse or what???

http://newsok.com/beams-from-elevate...rticle/3640174

After the elevated Crosstown is taken down and removed, work will begin on the new six-lane boulevard, which will be built where the bridge now stands. The boulevard should be finished by late 2014.