61st Street Widening

[MichaelC]

From KTUL

quote:Tulsa - A major construction project could transform a south Tulsa neighborhood. The city plans to widen the 61st Street corridor from Riverside to Lewis. It's a two-phase project starting on Riverside to Peoria. NewsChannel 8's Abby Ross shows us how the project will help development in that area.

There are many vacant lots in the area. And, the land is so flat, it retains a lot of water, so no one wants to build there. This new project will fix that problem.

On 61st, you get a little bit of everything -- businesses, homes, even a daycare. Off of 61st, it's quite different -- a business here, a business there -- in between, several vacant lots.

Jim Costas has lived in the area for more than 30 years.

"No one wants to do anything until the area is defined as an area where it's not flooded anymore," Costas says.

That will happen when the city widens 61st street. The project has two phases -- first from Riverside to Peoria, then from Peoria to Lewis.

At 61st and Peoria, workers will also put in a huge drainage pipe, fixing a major flooding problem.

"If that is clear with a drainage system improved that'll bring new residents and businesses," Costas says.

But, what about that time during the construction? Habib Islam manages a business that will be right in the middle of all the mess.

"That's alright," he says. "I've been here for 12 to 14 years that's no problem."

Habib doesn't mind. But, what about Deborah Jefferson, who heads up the daycare in the area.

"I think we'll maintain," she says. "We just have to get through it."

Everyone we talked to says the project is worth the temporary hassle, including Jim, who will just have to find another way to get to his driveway.

"The sooner the better," he says.

The project is currently in the planning stages. The money will be available by next year. The entire project costs about 12-million dollars. The money comes from the 2006 sales tax.

[YoungTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

From KTUL

quote:Tulsa - A major construction project could transform a south Tulsa neighborhood. The city plans to widen the 61st Street corridor from Riverside to Lewis. It's a two-phase project starting on Riverside to Peoria. NewsChannel 8's Abby Ross shows us how the project will help development in that area.

There are many vacant lots in the area. And, the land is so flat, it retains a lot of water, so no one wants to build there. This new project will fix that problem.

On 61st, you get a little bit of everything -- businesses, homes, even a daycare. Off of 61st, it's quite different -- a business here, a business there -- in between, several vacant lots.

Jim Costas has lived in the area for more than 30 years.

"No one wants to do anything until the area is defined as an area where it's not flooded anymore," Costas says.

That will happen when the city widens 61st street. The project has two phases -- first from Riverside to Peoria, then from Peoria to Lewis.

At 61st and Peoria, workers will also put in a huge drainage pipe, fixing a major flooding problem.

"If that is clear with a drainage system improved that'll bring new residents and businesses," Costas says.

But, what about that time during the construction? Habib Islam manages a business that will be right in the middle of all the mess.

"That's alright," he says. "I've been here for 12 to 14 years that's no problem."

Habib doesn't mind. But, what about Deborah Jefferson, who heads up the daycare in the area.

"I think we'll maintain," she says. "We just have to get through it."

Everyone we talked to says the project is worth the temporary hassle, including Jim, who will just have to find another way to get to his driveway.

"The sooner the better," he says.

The project is currently in the planning stages. The money will be available by next year. The entire project costs about 12-million dollars. The money comes from the 2006 sales tax.

61st and Peoria is flooded with crime.  Are they going to drain the criminal element?  Thats why no one builds there, not the amount of lanes on the roads.

[sgrizzle]

They both feed each other. Off-loading traffic at 61st is important for riverside because the 71st/riverside/peoria intersection is overloaded during high traffic times. Keep in mind this "high crime" area is also the home to metro christian academy and southern hills.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

They both feed each other. Off-loading traffic at 61st is important for riverside because the 71st/riverside/peoria intersection is overloaded during high traffic times. Keep in mind this "high crime" area is also the home to metro christian academy and southern hills.

uh no, there is everyting east of 61st/lewis, the there is slumsville between lewis and riverside.  the two are somehow magically mutually exclusive.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

They both feed each other. Off-loading traffic at 61st is important for riverside because the 71st/riverside/peoria intersection is overloaded during high traffic times. Keep in mind this "high crime" area is also the home to metro christian academy and southern hills.

uh no, there is everyting east of 61st/lewis, the there is slumsville between lewis and riverside.  the two are somehow magically mutually exclusive.

Southern hills is AT 61st and lewis and Metro Christian is west of Lewis.

[inteller]

i tink in a way SH buffers everything east of 61t/lewis because it is one large controlled piece of property.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

i tink in a way SH buffers everything east of 61t/lewis because it is one large controlled piece of property.

The windy road from lewis to harvard also slows traffic and is likely going to be tough to widen if they ever want to.