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By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number
18-39
PUBLIC WORKS COMMON SENSE Week of 2018/09/24
Having taken to task possible construction deficiencies of the OTA
(Oklahoma Turnpike Authority) in the "Cimarron Turnpike" which connects
Tulsa with I-35 North of Stillwater, it seems only fair to give credit for
actions in a widening project on the "Turner Turnpike", the first one built
in
the 1950s if memory serves correct. In a sizeable story in the September 12
issue of the daily paper with numerous pictures it developed that a long
promised widening from Southwest of Tulsa westward was well under way
with one section to possibly open before year end. The project is being done
in three sections which indicates to me that some consideration has been
given to the convenience of the 'customers'.
In a project of that size construction would disrupt travel on the
whole
length for several years. In doing it in smaller sections the work on each
section causes delays for a shorter period of time and more quickly opens
completed stretches to use. Shorter work sections also reduces the delays
due
to slow speed limits on shorter sections. If my opinion of the matter is
correct
then compliments should be due to the decision makers in the OTA, and
Thank You.
Unfortunately on the other side of the scale one only needs to turn
to the
City of Tulsa and the more than three year construction of a large park
titled
"Gathering Place" on both sides of a major North-South multi lane thruway.
Tulsa's Riverside Drive has been closed to traffic for that length of time
before
being opened at last on September 10, three days after the park itself was
opened to the public with much fanfare. The street now has at least two pair
of 'tunnels' which allow ground surface walking between the two sides of
park.
During this closing the detour was down South Peoria Avenue through
the 'Brookside Area' which was already in a very crowded state. The added
traffic resulted in delays and safety situations and seemed to me to be done
in
total disregard to the convenience and safety of the citizens. Further
aggravating
many, including me, was the keeping Riverside Drive at four lanes, while
further
South it becomes six. Former Mayor Susan Savage had proposed widening it
to six, plus a parkway between with added turn lanes, during her terms but
'protests' reported to be from residents in nearby neighborhoods served to
sidetrack that plan, to the detriment of the users.
Several past projects seem to have been carried out with total
disregard
for the convenience and safety of the general population. Even now with
discussion being renewed toward a widening project on South Yale Avenue
over 'Signal Hill' from 81st Street to 91st Street a deaf ear seems to
prevail
down town in City government and media. A proposal to tunnel under the
'Hill' with twin 3-lane bores has received no known consideration, and the
daily paper has continued to decline to run 'Letters to the Editor' about
the
subject, claiming 'excess words'. While it is known that tunnels can be
expensive, it might be less than the huge amount of dirt and rock moving
necessary to widen the current 2 lanes to even 4. That seems to me to be a
farce with both ends having six lanes plus left and right turn lanes.
In addition the hilltop residents would probably welcome a reduction
in the traffic on the hill so they could more easily enter and exit their
developments. Also, with the large diameter boring machines now available
the tunnels would not require the large amounts of blasting as in earlier
years
and tunnels would not have the risks of snow, ice, or rain slickening that
is a
problem now. Thus the residents would not be bothered by that activity and
the completion of one tunnel would allow two-way traffic through it while
the
second was being bored.
It seems that the planners, designers, and officials have no care
about
the safety and convenience of those residents in the areas surrounding such
a project. This was painfully evident in the previous decade when Yale was
being widened from 71st to 81st and the disruption was over two years
because of mis-direction on the part of the contractor that could have been
avoided. Although there have been, and are, a number of other such
instances, these listed should shed a little light on a seemingly prevalent
problem.
END
Composed September 14, 2018
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. 841
Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK
74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com
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