By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
A reconstruction of Okarche’s Oklahoma Avenue is expected to give the downtown area a face-lift and a much needed resurfacing of an aging street.
But the work has been delayed due to a forecast of rainy weather and scheduling plans by the contractors.
A mostly federally-funded project, costing $1,882,692, was expected to begin on Oklahoma Avenue March 30, but that start date has been pushed back.
The work will rebuild the intersection of U.S. 81 and Oklahoma Avenue, making all four corners compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide wheelchair ramps, said Jonathan Brooks, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation resident engineer.
The Okarche project is funded 80% federally and 20% locally. The work is still expected to start sometime this spring.
But the contractors have had some weather delays with jobs they have in other places and do not want to start in Okarche until their other projects are completed, said Lisa Shearer-Salim, Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
Sidewalks, curbs and roadway will be rebuilt and resurfaced from U.S. 81 east to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. New street lights will be installed.
Brooks said, “It will look a lot nicer.”
He said aging pavement needed to be replaced. And new concrete and decorative stone will be used to spruce up downtown.
Okarche, Kingfisher and Canadian counties have also pitched in on funding the project.
The street will remain four lanes, with two lanes in each direction. During the construction, two lanes of traffic will remain open at all times.
Once work begins, it is expected to take up to six months to complete.
