 Click the image above to watch the June 2025 edition of Broken Arrow in Motion with City Manager Michael Spurgeon.
This month’s edition of Broken Arrow in Motion showcases several projects. Highlights include the construction of a new elevated water storage tank, the exciting developments at the Highland Park Rugby Field, the latest updates on the Houston Street widening project, and more!
The elevated water storage tank is about 80 feet tall near New Orleans Street and Lynn Lane. Still, it has just over a hundred feet left to go. Landmark Structures, the contractor, specializes in building these types of elevated tanks and vessels. They pour the structure’s walls into eight-foot sections at a time. For many residents, this is the first time they’ve seen the construction of a tank of this size. It’s a fascinating process.
The contractor has also rough-graded a detention pond and an access road near the facility. Work on this project will continue until sometime in the summer of 2026. Once complete, the tank will hold up to 2.5 million gallons of water and be a huge asset to the City as it grows south and eastward.
Speaking of water tanks, maintenance work continues on the 2-million-gallon water storage tank on Tiger Hill at the southwest corner of Kenosha and Lynn Lane. Welding crews are plating the roof's top and completing the internal maintenance on the structure’s floor. Once the work is complete, the tank will be painted. This project should finish in early July.
The Oak Crest sanitary sewer and waterline improvement project is 40 percent complete with the waterline portion and approximately 25 percent complete with the sanitary sewer line improvements. This project involves replacing the sewer lines and repairing and replacing the manholes and aging waterlines within the Oak Crest Addition, east of South Main Street. The concrete crews are doing their cleanup now.
The voter-approved Gateways Markers Project continues as the electricians are now installing the lighting in four locations around the entrances to the city—
- Aspen Avenue and Concord Street, near the BA Expressway
- Olive Avenue and Albany Street,
- Houston Street and Garnett Road, and
- Washington Street and Garnett.
Smaller secondary gateway markers have also been installed throughout the city. This project is a welcoming addition to the City and sets Broken Arrow apart from other regional communities. It’s paid for with funds from the 2018 General Obligation Bond.
Moving eastward, construction continues on the new Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on-ramp as a part of the Events Park Infrastructure project. This project is in keeping with the City’s partnership to bring the Sunset Amphitheater to Broken Arrow.
Though the current on-ramp had to be closed intermittently during construction, it is now open. The streetlights are now being electric-powered. This improved on-ramp will benefit the people exiting Events Park following high-traffic events such as Scotfest, Camp Bandage, and eventually concerts at the amphitheater when it opens next year.
The Highland Park Rugby Field parking lot and entrance to the venue in east Broken Arrow are now complete. The contractor is removing the rocks from the field and will then install the sprinkler system and sod. This field will be a great asset in accommodating this growing sport within our community.
An infrastructure improvement project is underway at Melinda Park in the northwest part of the city. The waterline installation is complete, and the sod is being laid. However, 1,500 feet of sewer line still needs to be installed before this project finishes in mid-July.
In south Broken Arrow, Cherokee Pride Construction has started testing the newly installed sanitary sewer lines at the Arrow Forge Innovation District. They are also finishing construction on the waterlines, with about 100 feet left to go. Once completed, they will begin testing the waterlines as well. They are placing the top of the wet well at the new lift station and installing the five-foot by three-foot junction boxes to facilitate the stormwater flow in the district.
North of Arrow Forge, the Houston Street widening project from Garnett Road to Olive Avenue is progressing significantly. The concrete driveways are complete, and the signal poles are installed on the south side at the Houston Street and Olive Avenue intersection. The asphalt installation is expected to begin soon on Houston’s south side.
 Click the image above to watch a video update about this project.
The Stone Mill subdivision near Kenosha Street and Olive Avenue is receiving street, drainage, and sidewalk improvements as part of the City of Broken Arrow’s Street Maintenance Program.
According to Tim Wilson, the Streets and Stormwater Director, this project is funded by the Street Sales Tax Fund and was initiated following a street analysis conducted by a third-party consultant.
"They identify the streets to give us a PCI score, and that’s how we select the subdivisions that we improve,” Wilson said.
The PCI rating serves as a report card for the condition of streets. PCI stands for Pavement Condition Index, which measures the overall health of streets on a scale from 0 to 100. A score of zero indicates very poor conditions, while a score of 100 signifies excellent quality.
An outside contractor evaluates Broken Arrow’s streets every five to seven years and then presents a five-year road plan, which is coordinated with the City’s own assessment.
“The PCI on this subdivision was low, and it was probably in the 40s, and the City Council approved for us to come here and do a mill and overlay, so here we are,” Wilson said.
The Stone Mill project began last fall with a public meeting, which provided residents with an opportunity to engage with the city about how their neighborhood would be impacted during construction.
The Broken Arrow Streets crews completed the paving portion of the project, and Cherokee Pride Construction was responsible for the concrete work.
“We have to provide good transportation,” Wilson said. “People have to get to work. And while I appreciate the patience of all the residents, there’s a little bit of inconvenience in getting new streets. Still, in the end, it will be worth it."
This project is expected to be completed early next week.
 Road Scholars pictured from left, Samantha Shepherd, Jerry Waymire, Steven Head, Andrew Clegg, Robert Hanna, Phillip Olvera, Herbert Trae Moore, and Director of Streets and Stormwater Tim Wilson. Darryl Hale was unable to attend and is not pictured.
Seven employees from the Streets Department were honored for completing the Local Technical Assistance Program Road Scholar Certification.
The City recognized Herbert Trae Moore, Phillip Olvera, Andrew Clegg, Darryl Hale, Steven Head, Jerry Waymire, and Robert Hanna for their success at the City Council meeting on June 16.
The program is through Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology and consists of eight courses, 112 hours of instruction, and lab experience.
“Every once in a while, we get to send our employees to get training and certification so they can become experts in what they do,” Director of Streets and Stormwater Tim Wilson said. “Tonight, we can recognize those who completed 112 hours of intense training.”
Samantha Shepherd from the Local Technical Assistance Program at OSU made presentations to each program graduate.
“It is my honor to represent a program that plays a vital role in supporting education and advancement in our local, county, and tribal government personnel across the state,” Shepherd said. “Today, I’d like to recognize a group of individuals who have completed the Road Scholar Program.”
The Road Scholar Program is an intensive certification program designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of those responsible for maintaining and improving our local transportation systems.
The program consists of eight comprehensive courses totaling 112 hours of instruction and hands-on training.
“These courses cover a wide range of topics, including roadway planning, construction maintenance, and safety, ensuring that participants are well-equipped with the technical expertise necessary to serve their communities effectively,” Shepherd said.
Completion of this program is no small accomplishment. It reflects a strong commitment to professional development and a deep investment in infrastructure knowledge that supports our everyday lives.
The Highway 51 corridor which includes Elm Place, Lynn Lane, and Kenosha Street around the Broken Arrow Expressway has the highest traffic volume in the city.
The City of Broken Arrow has been awarded approximately $7 million in a federal grant to design corridor improvements to increase traffic flow and connectivity.
And collaboration with the State of Oklahoma and the federal government is underway to significantly improve travel for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. A project of this magnitude is estimated to cost approximately $60 million.
In this edition of DRIVING BA, take a drive with Assistant City Manager of Operations Kenny Schwab and Director of Engineering and Construction Charlie Bright as they discuss the proposed improvements, the RAISE grant funding, and its timeline. Click on the image below to learn more.
|
