Broken Arrow, OK sent this bulletin at 05/05/2023 10:23 AM CDT
Elam Park construction starting in May
City officials lift the shovels at what will become Elam Park on May 1. Pictured from left, Engineering and Construction Director Ethan Edwards, Assistant City Manager Kenny Schwab, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Conway, City Councilor Johnnie Parks, City Councilor Lisa Ford, Vice Mayor Christi Gillespie, Mayor Debra Wimpee, City Manager Michael Spurgeon, City Councilor Joe Franco, Parks and Recreation Director Matt Hendren, and Miss Rooster Days Sloane Beese.
The City of Broken Arrow has officially broken ground on Elam Park Phase I, a new 40-acre destination park at 2900 W. Florence St., directly behind Aspen Creek Elementary.
The contractor should begin working on the site in mid-May.
Project elements include:
· An adaptive playground
· A restroom facility
· A feature fence
· A tree grove food truck court
· An entry drive with parking
City Manager Michael Spurgeon started the ceremony by thanking the individuals who have worked to get the Elam Park project to this stage.
For more, go to https://bit.ly/3VwxyY8.
Look what's going on in Broken Arrow
37th Street, also known as 209th E. Ave., will be closed to everyone but local traffic. The contractor is installing waterline upgrades and a new stormwater drainage system.
Spring has sprung, and our construction teams are making improvements all over the city. So, let's take a look at what's going on behind the dirt and cones.
At Aspen Ridge in south Broken Arrow, the development's infrastructure is now complete. Reasor's is breaking ground there on May 9. Building permits will be issued soon for a new Chipotle and a Kum & Go. And, in April, the developer said he had 11 signed purchasing agreements with new businesses coming to Aspen Ridge. They are also in talks with 3 hotel developers about possibly building out there as well. We are so excited about the new opportunities coming to the southside of our city!
Now, onto infrastructure projects. We have three projects underway simultaneously at the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant. First, the waterline is now installed for the washdown hydrants for the Flow Equalization Basin. Final grading and sod placement are pending installation. The last concrete work will begin soon, and the contractor will finish the Flow Equalization Basin next month.
Second, the new UV disinfection chambers have arrived and were installed in the concrete basin. The site work is underway, and we expect site paving to start within the next 45 days.
And third, a pre-engineered metal building is being installed on top of the new disinfection structure. Installation should be complete within the next 30 days. The project is on track for completion late this summer.
And, on the Rose District Alleyway project, city crews have upgraded the water line between College and Dallas Streets and are working with PSO to improve the lighting in the alley. The contractor will begin repaving the alleyway from north to south in the next 30 days. This project provides a better aesthetic and will create useable space for our Rose District merchants and restauranteurs.
Now, let’s discuss some transportation projects.
A widening project led by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has started on Albany Street from Lynn Lane to 23rd Street. It will transform West Albany Street into five lanes in front of the High School. The project includes new curbs and gutters, improvements to the intersection, and new sidewalks on both sides of Albany Street.
The contractor is installing a new waterline on the northeast quadrant of the intersection. Please remember there are no left turns onto Albany Street from County Line Road during this project, which will continue until Spring 2024.
Another new widening project is causing a road closure on 37th Street , also known as 209th East Avenue, to everyone but local traffic. The contractor is installing waterline upgrades and a new stormwater drainage system. City Utility crews are in the area constructing new sanitary sewer crossings at Timber Ridge Cottages and the Casey's Convenience Store. Once the crossings are complete, the contractor will remove the existing roadway on the project's south end and start working north on the new road construction.
At New Orleans Square, the contractor has been working on installing the new irrigation system throughout the project, backfilling the new planter beds, and installing the new plantings and landscaping.
The electrical contractor has also been working to finalize the new lighting throughout the project. On May 1, Elm Place's southbound lanes and New Orleans Street's westbound lanes were closed for the construction crew to work in the roadway and prep for the upcoming resurfacing work. When the crew finishes these lanes, they will move to the northbound and eastbound lanes. The roadway work is expected to be completed on May 19, pending weather or unforeseen circumstances. Left turns will be restricted during these lane closures, including in the intersection.
Once the roadway is resurfaced, the crews will stripe the streets and mark the lanes and protected left turns. The focus will then shift to completing the beautification amenities behind the curbs and completing the entire project.
A new widening project is beginning on Washington St., between Olive Street and Aspen Avenue. Signs will go up on May 8, alerting drivers that the speed limit will be lowered starting on May 15 through the length of the project. Traffic will be shifted to the north side of the roadway, and the construction will begin on the south side first. The contractor will start with the stormwater underground piping, followed by the road widening and improvements. The project is expected to be completed in early 2024.
Learn more about the city's improvement projects with this month's Broken Arrow in Motion hosted by Economic Development Manager Jennifer Rush. Watch it on YouTube.
Meter Reader saves family from fire
For Skylar O'Brien, April 10 was a typical Monday reading water meters for the City of Broken Arrow Utilities Department. O'Brien has been with the city for four and a half years and was on his usual route when he saw white smoke rising from the top of a house near Vandalia Street.
"I noticed there was smoke coming from the garage and a window. Next, I called 911," he said. "I've worked in this area and knew a large family lived here, and my immediate concern was how many people were inside."
O'Brien went to the front door, and smoke was coming out. Just as he was about to open the door, two people came out, and he escorted them across the street and away from the fire. For more, go to https://bit.ly/3AgQn7C.
Watch this month's Community Development update
Ever wonder what new businesses are coming to your neighborhood? Every month we bring you the Community Development Update to keep you aware of new developments coming your way. Watch Operations Communications Officer Lesa Jones provide the details on what's coming to BA. Watch it on YouTube.
