OKC Boulevard

[jn1780]

Any update on the east end? All the landscaping work is on hold because of the intersection relocation project. They got started then stop abruptly..

[Pete]

Any update on the east end? All the landscaping work is on hold because of the intersection relocation project. They got started then stop abruptly..

Getting ready to move forward again.

They have pretty much finalized the plans to move the intersection one block west but it will still curve around Uhaul and connect with Reno in the same place.

[HangryHippo]

Getting ready to move forward again.

They have pretty much finalized the plans to move the intersection one block west but it will still curve around Uhaul and connect with Reno in the same place.

How f***ing stupid! This whole thing is a boondoggle.

[5alive]

This is so upsetting! Can this not be left as it is for now. Then perhaps in the future things will change with U-Haul.

[kukblue1]

What is wrong with it the way it is now. I haven't heard of an accidents. Does it become a bottleneck on weekends or after Thunder games? If it's not broken don't fix it

[warreng88]

When did Western open under the bridge? I just noticed it yesterday.

[Jeepnokc]

When did Western open under the bridge? I just noticed it yesterday.

Just a couple of days ago. I think I noticed it Thursday.

[Teo9969]

Given the terminus nature of Reno, they just need to do away with connecting those two streets, except by pedestrian path.

The D-O-T is playing amateur hour over here with a not-insignificant section of Oklahoma's most important land mass (downtown OKC).

[Jeepnokc]

When did Western open under the bridge? I just noticed it yesterday.

and....when I was down there this weekend....already had a homeless tent set up under it.

[Plutonic Panda]

and....when I was down there this weekend....already had a homeless tent set up under it.

Better than LA where infrastructure that isn't even finished yet gets tagged.

[OKCbyTRANSFER]

I tried to take it this morning to get to I-40 but it was still blocked to cross Reno.

[Pete]

The Western/Classen underpass is open but you can only go south to Reno until they finish Western to the south, which will reestablish access to I-40.

In the last photo, you can see what they did to the Exchange intersection. It's no longer part of the Western/Reno interchange; looks like just a single (one way?) lane where you can head south on Exchange from eastbound Reno. The whole thing is just bizarre.

[PaddyShack]

How was this easier or cheaper than an at-grade intersection? They still shifted a 4-lane road, built 2 bridges and have now blocked a rather important connection in and out of downtown from the Stockyards. I just can't imagine what sort of development will go around here.

[Pete]

The Exchange thing is a real head-scratcher.

It's a direct link between the core and the stockyards, with a dedicated bridge over the river.

Why, at a time when that district is trying to do lots of things and broaden their appeal, do we completely sever this tie?

Just don't understand.

[PaddyShack]

I guess one good thing is we now have more blank wall space for local artists!

[Pete]

Oklahoman reporting the ribbon cutting on the boulevard will be 8/19:

https://oklahoman.com/article/563793...ted-for-aug-19

[TheTravellers]

How soon does OKC get control of the blvd so they can (hopefully, theoretically, maybe) fix some of it? Although I think OKC's engineers are sometimes doing stupid things about equal with OKDOT...

[jn1780]

How soon does OKC get control of the blvd so they can (hopefully, theoretically, maybe) fix some of it? Although I think OKC's engineers are sometimes doing stupid things about equal with OKDOT...

Well city has control of east part and you see what they have planned and wanted to do with Oklahoma avenue.

[Urban Pioneer]

The Exchange thing is a real head-scratcher.

It's a direct link between the core and the stockyards, with a dedicated bridge over the river.

Why, at a time when that district is trying to do lots of things and broaden their appeal, do we completely sever this tie?

Just don't understand.

The did not want to build the proposed roundabout. Extraordinarily dinasouric thinking by engineers.

[Pete]

^

And we were already spending the money to completely rebuild the intersection.

Now the opportunity to do things the right way has passed.

[Plutonic Panda]

Now the opportunity to do things the right way has passed.

Or it has just become a lot more expensive!

[Pete]

Or it has just become a lot more expensive!

Which means it almost certainly will never happen.

[HangryHippo]

And the repaving of Reno Ave. has made it a very smooth crosstown boulevard that actually crosses town.

[Plutonic Panda]

Which means it almost certainly will never happen.

Maybe until a serious investment from the city for the Farmers Market district is in store then yeah. It isn't all bad. Some disconnect can be good and create a districts own funk. The Arts District in LA is separated by a development barrier of sorts and a bad bad homeless area as I'm sure you know and eventually through a new subway proposal among other things the city is looking to connect it with downtown. The Farmers Market area can be looked at the same way and it will surely development regardless of a wide elevated boulevard so as long as the city keeps it momentum.

OKC had no problem laying new concrete down for P180 and tearing it up shortly after for streetcar installation. Perhaps if MAPS 4 happens a MAPS 5 project could be a reconstruction of the boulevard to better fit in with the city goals.

[Geographer]

Has anyone submitted the reconstruction of this albatross for MAPS 4 (serious question)?