By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
Okarche’s Oklahoma Avenue is getting a face-lift, and the changes will require some new driving habits through the work zone with motorists asked to slow down.
The work to reconstruct and beautify the street has also reduced the speed limit to 10 mph.
David Adams, project superintendent, said drivers need to be safe and take extra precautions in the construction zone. He said a motorist nearly hit a worker shortly after work started last week.
“We are trying to keep everybody safe and do a good job” Adams said.
He said there will be intermittent lane closures at U.S. 81 and Oklahoma Avenue during the
project. Rainy weather could delay the work.
The federally-funded, $1,882,692 project will rebuild the intersection of U.S. 81 and Oklahoma Avenue. The intersection will be complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide wheelchair ramps.
The work will take about six months to complete, an Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesman said.
The project is 80% federally funded and 20% locally.
The work will improve the street from U.S. 81 east to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
New concrete and decorative stone will be used to spruce up the looks of downtown.
The town of Okarche, and Kingfisher and Canadian counties have also contributed to the project cost.
The speed limit has been reduced to 10 mph through the construction zone.
