VIEW: 18-39: Public Works Common Sense

VIEW FROM HERE
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. © 2018 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com