New gateway signage coming to 14 intersections to welcome visitors to the city

Soon there will be no doubt you've entered Broken Arrow city limits once 14 new gateway signs are installed at various arterial entrances to the city.

The Broken Arrow City Council awarded a contract to Northeastern Irrigation & Landscape, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, for $819,207 to construct 14 gateway signs on Oct. 15. This gateway initiative is a 2018 General Obligation Bond approved project.

Phase 1 of the Gateway Sign Project includes primary sign locations at the following intersections:

• Aspen Avenue and Concord Street (near Albany St.)
• Olive and Albany Streets
• Houston Street and Garnett Road
• Washington Street and Garnett Road

"In 2020, a committee was nominated through the Broken Arrow Planning Commission who worked through a master plan for creating entryway signage and an iconic gateway sign for city streets," said Special Projects Division Manager Shannon Marshall.

The committee, in collaboration with GH2, spent several months fine-tuning the design details, ensuring the signage designs were unique and met the city's expectations.

The project's first phase includes:

• Four large primary signs
• Two secondary signs, two feet wide and five feet tall
• Eight tertiary signs consisting of fluted poles with heavy-duty plaques

"The masterplan identified additional primary sign locations and the possibility of an iconic structure off the turnpike, but that would be a future phase," Marshall continued.

The project's second phase, which is not a part of this construction contract, includes the following intersection locations identified by GH2:

• Kenosha Street and Garnett Road
• Omaha Street and Lynn Lane
• Kenosha Street and Oak Grove Road
• Highway 51 and Evans Road 

"These signs will greatly help in continuing to identify Broken Arrow as a beautiful place to live, work, and play," Marshall concluded.

Broken Arrow in Motion, November 2024

What are the latest updates on construction projects in BA? In the November edition of Broken Arrow in Motion, we have updates on the Sunset Amphitheater infrastructure, the Houston Widening Project from Garnett to Road to Olive Avenue, The Gardens at Central Park and more. 

Elam Park officially opened in late October and the response has been incredible! We want to thank everyone who had a part in bringing this magnificent park to south BA, especially the Broken Arrow voters who overwhelmingly voted to put $3 million of the 2018 General Obligation Bond funds toward Elam Park Phase I. It is a fantastic park that is inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of physical abilities. If you haven't been to the park yet, it is directly behind Aspen Creek Elementary School. We encourage you to take your little ones there soon.

Next, we’re happy to announce that Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful and the City have broken ground on The Gardens at Central Park. It is another project that voters approved in the 2018 General Obligation Bond package. This destination botanical garden will include four different gardens, an entry plaza, a pergola, seating, and signage. Construction will continue through February, with the plantings added in the spring. It will be a beautiful place to relax, reflect, and stop to smell the roses.

(Watch Broken Arrow in Motion with Assistant City Manager of Operations Kenny Schwab by clicking on the image below.)

Another significant project that's coming to Events Park is the Sunset in Broken Arrow Amphitheater project. The developer, Venu, is building the amphitheater itself. However, the city is working on several infrastructure improvements that are needed to bring the amphitheater to life.

The sanitary sewer line is fully installed, and we’ve made the waterline connection to Rural Water District Four. We've also received approval from the Corps of Engineers to proceed with a stream crossing at the park's entrance, but we are still waiting for the permits to be approved for the new pedestrian bridge at the entrance to Events Park.

The curb and gutters are finishing up in Parking Lots 1 and 2, and the asphalt paving for the parking lots will take place this fall. Plus, a drainage system is being installed under Parking Lot 3. This is an underground detention system that features a network of chambers and piping that will take the place of the traditional pond-style detention system.

New Orleans Street, also known as 101^st Street is being widened from the NSU entrance to past the 38^th Street Events Park entrance. The south side section of the street has been demolished, and the subgrade and the base rock has been placed. The north side of New Orleans Street, near NSU’s entrance, is under construction now and asphalt for that section should be laid in just over a month.

Next, at Camino Villa, the sewer pipe installation is complete. The contractor is now installing and repairing the manholes, and this project should be finished around Thanksgiving.

Next, the Fleet Maintenance Building is substantially complete. The gas line is installed the interior buildout is finished, and when the HVAC installation by the City's Building Maintenance crew finishes up, this new facility will be operational.

At Melinda Park, new water lines are approximately 20 percent complete and are now tied into the main waterline. Sewer line construction should also begin this month. We are working to obtain the right-of-way easements from the property owners, and we expect the City Council will approve an agreement with them before January.  The road construction portion of this project should begin in the spring.

Now, let's talk about a couple of road projects. Construction has begun on the Houston widening project from Garnett to Olive. Traffic control is in place, and we are relocating the waterline at the Haikey Creek Bridge. Please note, there are lane and speed reductions in the work zone while the project is under construction.

On the 37^th Street widening project from Albany to Kenosha, the waterline relocation is complete, and we are currently expanding the northwest  section of the roadway. The southbound lane of traffic is closed until around Thanksgiving, but the northbound lane is still open.

Rose District Holiday Market Tuesdays through December 17

Don’t Put Your F.R.O.G. in the Drain

Wastewater can often be problematic due to the prevalence of conventional pollutants such as grease, organic matter and solids or rags such as “flushable” wipes. Grease and debris can clog and overload the sanitary sewer system. Processing grease and food contaminants raises the cost of treating wastewater; and debris can clog pumps and sewer lines completely.

Fats, rags, oils, and grease can create an obstruction in the sewer lines and in sewer pumps. When sewer lines are clogged, the wastewater finds the path of least resistance and can come out into a sink or bathtub creating unsanitary conditions in a home.

Sewer obstructions also clog the pump stations that carry wastewater to the City wastewater treatment plant. When wastewater comes out of a pump station or a manhole it gets into our rivers, streams, and ponds. This can cause illness in animals and people; and harms plant life. Please keep Fats, Rags, Oil & Grease (FROG) out of the sewer system.

Where does the F.R.O.G. Come from?

These are common sources of fats, oil, and grease:

• Cooking oils
• Meat drippings
• Milk, butter, ice cream, and other dairy products
• Soups, sauces, and gravy
• Mayonnaise and salad dressings

These are common sources of rags:

• “FLUSHABLE” wipes
• Baby Wipes
• Paper Towels
• Cleaning wipes
• Shop towels and rags

Upcoming holidays impact solid waste and recycling pick up schedule

It’s the holiday season! City offices will be closed four days in the coming weeks in observance of the holidays.

Depending on your trash service day, the holiday may affect when your trash is picked up.  

For additional holiday information, visit the service and holiday schedule on the City of Broken Arrow website. Have a joyous holiday season!

New water tower coming to south BA

Construction is expected to begin in early 2025 on an elevated water storage tank, also known as a water tower, on 11.5 acres at the northeast corner of New Orleans and Lynn Lane.  The elevated water storage tank will stand 187 feet tall and hold up to 2.5 million gallons of water. 

City Hall

220 S. First St. 

Broken Arrow, OK 74012

(918) 259-2400