Let's do THIS with the old I-40

[Pete]

Skyline, the city manager recently said they are still early in the design phase so I don't think there is anything new to see.

[Skyline]

I haven't been able to find any images, new or old, of the boulevard route.

[Pete]

[Skyline]

Thanks Pete.

[Skyline]

I find the west end of this boulevard very strange. It is easy to picture and imagine the boulevard going through downtown on the east end, but the west end not so much.

This is why I wanted to see the route pictured.

[Pete]

The west half in particular is going to be UGLY.

It's very industrial anyway but at ground level there is lots of badly kept mostly vacant land and all the buildings have their backs turned to what will be the roadway. I cringe at the thought of people taking that gateway into downtown as it's going to leave a very bad impression and I don't see much changing anytime soon.

I said this before but I don't think there is really the need for this, especially since Reno and other east-west streets immediately nearby are already four lanes. And it does create yet another area that will be highly visible and in serious need of sprucing up and redevelopment -- and we already have plenty of those.

[Skyline]

I completely agree.

I never gave the boulevard that much thought until seeing the old I-40 empty and now driving on the new I-40. This finally caused me to question what the boulevard will look like and the actual route mainly because of the west section and it's surroundings.

I love the new I-40, but I do not like the appearance given after exiting on the west section. I really miss the Walker exit and I do not like the drive of Western Ave.

I am not sure that the boulevard is the best idea (right now or in the near future) and I agree that Reno Ave. could serve the same purpose.

[foodiefan]

I agree, the Western section north is the pits. . .perhaps there will be some encouragement to clean it up.

[BrettM2]

I am not sure that the boulevard is the best idea and I agree that Reno Ave. could serve the same purpose.

Do you mean the entire Boulevard or just the stretch west of Reno? I'm not sure if the city is hoping for more than it should, but it seems like they could just have the western terminus of the Boulevard be Reno and use that road as the on/off ramp for the western stretch of the new I-40.

[Pete]

I just don't think they really knew what to do with this corridor so they decided to more or less replicate the old I-40 at ground level.

It doesn't make any sense as an entrance to downtown because it would take you far longer to drive all the distance on surface streets rather than just continuing on the new I-40 and taking an exit further east. And there isn't much of anything in that western sector that needs all this access... There is already the Penn/Agnew exit/entrance right there, as well as Western.

[Pete]

I agree, the Western section north is the pits. . .perhaps there will be some encouragement to clean it up.

Or we could just stop building new, expensive roadways in areas where they aren't needed and that now NEED to be cleaned up because it serves as a gateway into our downtown.

There are plenty of crappy areas in town that almost no one sees, and that's just fine. Every city has them. We just don't need to be spending millions to feature them, then divert all kinds of resources that are badly needed elsewhere to try and do something with the area.

Take a look at aerials of this route... Most don't pay attention because of the elevated nature of the old I-40. It's really, really bad.

[MDot]

Take a look at aerials of this route... Most don't pay attention because of the elevated nature of the old I-40. It's really, really bad.

I've drove around that area so much that I can't help but notice how UGLY it is even from the old I-40.

[Skyline]

Do you mean the entire Boulevard or just the stretch west of Reno? I'm not sure if the city is hoping for more than it should, but it seems like they could just have the western terminus of the Boulevard be Reno and use that road as the on/off ramp for the western stretch of the new I-40.

I'm not sure, I am only now beginning to think about the new Boulevard now that the new I-40 is completely up and running.

[Urbanized]

Western (interstate-style) flyovers are already complete, barricaded and waiting to connect to new road. For better or worse, the boulevard is a done deal. At this point we just have to make the best of it. Hopefully they find a way to knock the design out of the park.

[Pete]

Urbanized, I realize this is largely a lost cause but they could still tie the flyover into Reno and just have the boulevard start about Classen.

[Snowman]

If they really wanted it to connect to i40 on both sides; having the flyovers off i40 just east of Exchange bridge bend to 3rd at Western and would have been a much cleaner way for the city grid. Not sure how much a visual improvement it would be over the current route.

[UncleCyrus]

I really hope the bike lanes don't get scrapped, but then again, parts of it I probably wouldn't ride alone anyway.

Also, they could put the streetcar/light rail down the median like the old interurbans used to be.

[Spartan]

It does seem unnecessary to have Reno, OKC Boulevard, Sheridan?, Main, Linwood, et al--ALL funneling out of downtown westward.

[Pete]

Especially since there is so little in that area to the west of Classen. Just small industrial buildings and blight.

I really don't think anyone thought this through, just went with the default approach of basically replacing the old I-40 with a surface road.

[mcca7596]

I remember it beeing discussed by Eric Wenger, even, in a council meeting that the possibility existed of just tying the boulevard into Reno around Shartel and Classen.

[Larry OKC]

I just don't think they really knew what to do with this corridor so they decided to more or less replicate the old I-40 at ground level.

It doesn't make any sense as an entrance to downtown because it would take you far longer to drive all the distance on surface streets rather than just continuing on the new I-40 and taking an exit further east. And there isn't much of anything in that western sector that needs all this access... There is already the Penn/Agnew exit/entrance right there, as well as Western.

Thank you. I have been saying the same thing for several years now. Whenever I write my COuncil person etc about it, get back no response at all. Not even the form letter "thank you for writing" variety.

if they are going to scrap the west end, they need to do it rather quickly as construction is to begin within the year or so....of course we have the half finished westend Boulevard exit/flyover already built, between the Agnew/Penn exits...

[Snowman]

Thank you. I have been saying the same thing for several years now. Whenever I write my COuncil person etc about it, get back no response at all. Not even the form letter "thank you for writing" variety.

if they are going to scrap the west end, they need to do it rather quickly as construction is to begin within the year or so....of course we have the half finished westend Boulevard exit/flyover already built, between the Agnew/Penn exits...

At this point it is a federal requirement that it ties into something, they may be able to get away with merging it into Reno but we can not scrap it entirely.

[Spartan]

I remember it beeing discussed by Eric Wenger, even, in a council meeting that the possibility existed of just tying the boulevard into Reno around Shartel and Classen.

Well if they're smart, they should just do that...and spend the money elsewhere.

[Architect2010]

I thought the idea was to tie the new Boulevard onto the old portion of the I-40 after Western. Basically where the I-40 bridge structure stops and continues onto the elevated portion of land. Then it would follow the old I-40 alignment from there and would tie back into the new I-40 just before the 44/40 junction. Does anyone else recall this plan?

[Snowman]

I thought the idea was to tie the new Boulevard onto the old portion of the I-40 after Western. Basically where the I-40 bridge structure stops and continues onto the elevated portion of land. Then it would follow the old I-40 alignment from there and would tie back into the new I-40 just before the 44/40 junction. Does anyone else recall this plan?

That is most likely what will happen, there may be a chance the west side will tie into Reno around Shartel and the east side tie into 3rd/old i40, I have doubts ODOT will change the plan that much.