OKC Boulevard

[TheTravellers]

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

[Pete]

[Rover]

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.

[Plutonic Panda]

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.

[David]

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..

[HangryHippo]

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

[Johnb911]

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

[SEMIweather]

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.

[SEMIweather]

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

[jonny d]

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).

[Rover]

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.

[David]

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.

[Pete]

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.

[shawnw]

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

[Rover]

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.

[OKCisOK4me]

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.

[SEMIweather]

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.

[Johnb911]

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...

[Jeepnokc]

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,

[jerrywall]

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.

[Lazio85]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtThcKvB...on_share_sheet

[onthestrip]

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?

[shawnw]

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

[jn1780]

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.

[Lazio85]