 The City of Broken Arrow, with the assistance of Tetra Tech, an outside contractor, will be conducting smoke testing for the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant sub-basins in north Broken Arrow in the coming weeks.
“The testing will be located mostly around County Line Road (23rd Street) between Kenosha and Albany Streets,” Director of Engineering and Construction Charlie Bright said. "It’s around the Broken Arrow High School and eastward on the other side of County Line Road.”
Residents living in the area of the testing should not be alarmed if they notice smoke rising from the ground on their property while the tests are underway. Smoke testing is a relatively simple process that consists of blowing smoke mixed with larger volumes of air into the sanitary sewer line through manholes and sewer pipes.
"We’ll make notes [of where smoke is seen] and track it so we can make future improvements," Bright said.
The testing will continue for several weeks during the daytime hours between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Smoke testing is part of the City’s Infiltration and Inflow reduction field investigations. The data from the tests will be used to prepare a Defects Summary Report and Rehabilitations Recommendation for the future improvements to the wastewater collection system that flows into the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Engineering and Construction Department, along with Tetra Tech, will alert residents when they will be in their neighborhoods conducting tests. They will also notify the Broken Arrow Fire Department of the locations where the testing will occur each day.
This testing enables the City to identify maintenance issues that require attention to ensure the system operates properly. It helps identify problems such as broken manholes, roof drains, yard drains, uncapped lines, and cracked mains.
The smoke draws attention to passageways that are permitting the smoke to reach the surface. By sealing off the crevices where water flows into the system uninvited, it reduces the amount of water entering the sanitary sewer system and lowers the cost of treating that excess water.
“Maintaining a sanitary sewer system is challenging, and over time, it begins to age," Bright said. “As that occurs, you have more and more ways rainwater and other water can get into the system.”
The City last conducted smoke testing in 2023.
“It turned into an important project, and we significantly reduced the amount of flow that was going through the basins and into the lift stations,” Bright said.
 Watch the July 2025 Broken Arrow in Motion video on YouTube with Director of Solid Waste and Recycling Jerry Schuber by clicking the Arrow Forge Innovation District image above.
In this July 2025 edition of Broken Arrow in Motion, you'll see updates on the Arrow Forge Innovation District, the Houston Street Widening Project, the Elevated Water Storage tank, and so much more!
Arrow Forge Innovation District. In June, the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority announced that CSI Aerospace will become the anchor company for the Arrow Forge Innovation District. They are expanding their operations and investing $5.5 million to build a new facility in the district. They will also add 50 jobs to Broken Arrow’s economy over five years. That’s fantastic news! On the ground this month, the contractor is completing the stormwater and sewer systems and installing new lighting at the district's entrance.
Houston Street Widening Project between Garnett and Olive. The contractor, Becco Construction, is expected to switch the intersection closure to the north side of the roadway later this month or early next month. There have been delays with this project due to an extremely wet spring.
The subgrade required a geogrid to enhance stability, which was added to the road base, making it firm enough to drive on without causing potholes or rutting. The contractor had to redo several creek structures due to damage to the forms and other materials resulting from flooding in the area. Utility issues have caused other delays. The contractor must complete this work before the south side of the road's curb and gutter can be completed. Once the curb and gutter are in place, the contractor can begin work on the asphalt. During the delays, the contractors’ crew continued to do as much work as possible. They understand that this project is a top priority for the City and are now working on the sidewalk at the intersection. We expect the intersection project to finish later this fall, depending on the weather.
Elevated Water Storage Tank on Lynn Lane and New Orleans Street. The contractor, Landmark Structures, has just completed the 20th and final concrete pour for the base of the brand-new water storage tank. The concrete pours are in eight-foot sections, meaning the elevated water storage tank is already about 160 feet tall. The steel is slowly arriving on site, and once they receive all of the materials, they will start welding the tank. This construction project has been an enjoyable one to watch and is expected to continue until summer 2026.
To read additional updates, go to Broken Arrow in Motion, July 2025.
 The drive on 23rd Street, between Houston Street and New Orleans, is considerably smoother with the road resurfacing project that’s recently been completed.
On 23rd Street, also known as County Line Road, the roadway was overlaid with asphalt from Houston Street, all the way down to New Orleans Street (101st Street),” said Assistant Director of Streets and Stormwater Zack Smith.
This project cost $280,000 for two miles of roadway.
“This stretch of roadway had a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) in the mid-20s, which, if you’re not familiar with PCI, that’s in the poor range,” said Assistant Director of Streets and Stormwater Zack Smith said. “Basically, second to the bottom as far as how the scoring goes."
The City of Broken Arrow hired an outside consultant to evaluate every road in the City. They rated each road within Broken Arrow city limits to help the Streets Department scientifically prioritize road improvements based on the greatest need. This particular roadway had what Smith called alligator cracking, also known as rutting.
For more on this project go to Resurfacing underway on 23rd Street or click on the photo below to watch more about the project on the City's YouTube channel.
Come celebrate the magic of the full moon with Broken Arrow Parks and Recreation's unforgettable hike at the Ray Harral Nature Park.
Ray Harral is located on Tucson Street between Elm Place and Lynn Lane, and it's directly behind Childers Middle School and Spring Creek Elementary.
During the hike you'll experience the enchanting sights and sounds of nature under the moonlight. This monthly event is FREE and suitable for ALL AGES, making it the perfect event for families and friends.
The trail is a scenic loop of less than one mile, featuring a sparkling natural spring, a thrilling suspension bridge, and exciting attractions along the way.
To secure your spot for the full moon hike or to discover even more fantastic events hosted by Broken Arrow’s Parks and Recreation Department, visit baparks.org.
Mark your calendars for our next hike on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. We can’t wait to see you there!
Click the graphic below or this link to the City's YouTube channel to watch more about the Full Moon Hike at Ray Harral.
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