Does anybody know what the construction along I-35 around 2nd ST in Edmond is going to be? Lot of signage and equipment.
Does anybody know what the construction along I-35 around 2nd ST in Edmond is going to be? Lot of signage and equipment.
From ODOTs website:
"The $18 million project will resurface and add shoulders to north and southbound I-35 as well as build turnarounds at 33rd St., 15th St. and 2nd St. This project also includes the first phase of a one-way frontage road conversion along I-35 in Edmond."
This is a huge first step in making the much needed improvements in the area. Once the bridges are expanded to add the turnarounds, the service roads will be able to switch to one way. This work will also lead to I35 being expanded to 6 lanes up to Waterloo.
The 35 is programmed to be six lanes to SH-33.
anyone have a visual I can look at?
I aways heard I-35 will be winding to Guthrie, but always in the planning stage.....and that Waterloo / I-35 intersection is something else, something needed to be done there years ago. I drive this every day, not looking forward to the congestion, but glad improvements are being made. THANX GUYS
Does anyone know if the turnaround bridges will include sidewalks and bike lanes? They are sorely needed. There is no way to cross the current bridges in anything but a car without taking your life in your hands.
They will include sidewalks but no bike lanes. ODOT is slowly taking their time including bike lanes in specific projects but they are few and far between. Don't ever expect bike lanes from an ODOT project IMO. Contact your local legislator and ask them to write a bill requiring the consideration of bike lanes for any road project ODOT under takes.
The Fox Lake walking/biking trail already goes under I35 just south of second so ODOT probably doesn't see the need for bike lanes.
2nd Street is also apart of US 77 so you would also have to get the Feds to agree to add a bike lane.
It's an interstate and main road highway exit with big box stores. Is a bike lane really a thing needed at this location?
The only bike lanes I see used in Edmond are the ones designated for recreation, like the trails to Arcadia or loop around Mitch Park. I have not seen a single rider on the bike lanes by 2nd and UCO. Those on bikes, tend to use the sidewalk as Edmond drivers are not conditioned for bike riders and not knowing how to properly yield or give space. Edmond is not designed to be a bike city, the town is very compartmentalized and not mixed retail/housing/services that would see a benefit from biking.
In a town that is traffic ridden due to extremely poor planning and an obsession for red stoplights, all focus should be on making traffic move smoother across the city.
This is so wrong, I don't even know where to start. One has to get to the recreational trails, etc. It's ridiculous that I live 3/4 of a mile from the Arcadia trails and I have to take a car to get there. I live the same distance from wal mart, etc. and I can't get there on foot or by bike. The new YMCA and library is going in on the east side of I-35 on 15th, but you can't get there from even the close neighborhoods like mine except by car. It's time to start thinking about how we access city amenities. The recreational trails are great - I use them all the time, but more is needed. If Edmond is to grow east, and it is, then we need a way to get across I-35 that doesn't involve a trail miles out of the way or incredible danger.
^
As an avid cyclist, I almost refused to go on a ride where I had to get in the car.
But that was California, where you literally have bike lanes on every street. You could take off in any direction and never have to worry about a trail or even consult a map ahead of time.
You simply can't imagine how great that is. It means you can ride your bike anywhere, any time. So much so, more than once I rode my bike from L.A. to San Diego and Santa Barbara... More than 100 miles each direction (took the train back, which also accommodates bikes).
I started to ride a bit here when I moved back and quickly realized the only safe places were the rec trails. I know we have made progress but there is no reason not to integrate bike lanes into every single road project.
Living near OAK, I rode a few times over to Will Rogers to pick up that trail then take it down to the river, then loop around. But off the rec trails, there are no lanes and absolutely no one is paying attention. After a couple of close calls I pretty much stopped riding my bike and that sucks.
The cities/communities that provide for bike lanes along roads truly are a pleasure to ride in. For example, Portland, Oregon (which admittedly has huge problems) has the greatest bike lanes! I was new to the area and within a few days could navigate on a bike and felt quite safe. I was in NYC last month and believe it or not, cycling in the city is pretty safe due to the provisions they have made to accommodate cyclists on the roads. As a result, more people ride and those that are riding are not driving. There are places in downtown OKC now where this is happening. I know most of our culture is still very car-centric but Edmond’s gotta start somewhere.
While this area has big box stores and restaurants, I believe the mantra “if you build it, they will come” applies. You don’t see it in this area because not one road project has made consideration for it. You don’t see many people use the designated bike lanes bc they don’t go anywhere and are more meant for students at UCO who are not there half the year.
I'm not even a cyclist, but I see people riding in this area a lot. They have no way to cross the highway other than the spring creek trail. I once saw a woman trying to push a baby in a stroller across the 15th street bridge. It was really hard to watch as she struggled to get over the grass and up onto the little ledge that borders the bridge. Sidewalks are not that big an ask and can accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. They should be included in every road project that borders on residential areas.
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