Devon Tower in OKC Unveiled

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Does that go into that 15 + 15 year delay now of our I-44 in favor of those projects down the turnpike?  There has been story after story regarding that fiasco.

The only reason it's getting done now when it is would be because of ODOT handling the purse-strings.  But I'm sure the GOB handling of things by influencing those members of ODOT will continue on, just as they always do..

[okcpulse]

Hoss, highway maintenace projects always get done faster than highway construction projects.  The Broadway Extension widening project was planned in 1987, but didn't get off the ground until 1999, and 9 years later the project still isn't complete.

The Crosstown project was in the planning stages for 13 years before construction kicked off in 2006.  It's completion date was moved from 2009 to 2012.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

Hoss, highway maintenace projects always get done faster than highway construction projects.  The Broadway Extension widening project was planned in 1987, but didn't get off the ground until 1999, and 9 years later the project still isn't complete.

The Crosstown project was in the planning stages for 13 years before construction kicked off in 2006.  It's completion date was moved from 2009 to 2012.

I-44 started construction in 1986! 22 years ago! It's been planned on since the 1970s! And there is exactly zero roadwork going on and there hasn't been any in almost a year. There are no signs that any construction is about to start any time soon either.

In fact, there's not a single major highway construction project going on in metro Tulsa that I am aware of. None. Just a couple of smaller resurfacing projects. And there hasn't been a major project since I-44 and Yale was completed about a year ago. There are no signs that any projects are about to start either. ODOT has completed new interchanges at 71st and US 75 and I-44 and Yale and that's about all they have done in the last several years in terms of major projects.

They've torn down some houses along I-44 but as for construction they don't even have a completed design yet.

[okcpulse]

quote:Originally posted by swake

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

Hoss, highway maintenace projects always get done faster than highway construction projects.  The Broadway Extension widening project was planned in 1987, but didn't get off the ground until 1999, and 9 years later the project still isn't complete.

The Crosstown project was in the planning stages for 13 years before construction kicked off in 2006.  It's completion date was moved from 2009 to 2012.

I-44 started construction in 1986! 22 years ago! It's been planned on since the 1970s! And there is exactly zero roadwork going on and there hasn't been any in almost a year. There are no signs that any construction is about to start any time soon either.

In fact, there's not a single major highway construction project going on in metro Tulsa that I am aware of. None. Just a couple of smaller resurfacing projects. And there hasn't been a major project since I-44 and Yale was completed about a year ago. There are no signs that any projects are about to start either. ODOT has completed new interchanges at 71st and US 75 and I-44 and Yale and that's about all they have done in the last several years in terms of major projects.

They've torn down some houses along I-44 but as for construction they don't even have a completed design yet.

I-35 8-mile widening project in south Oklahoma City from downtown to Moore got started in 1984.  They just finished the last leg in 2006.  The I-40/I-35 interchange reconstruction began in 1987.  It was finished in 2000.

Though I do agree that local leaders have pushed for and developed plans for Oklahoma City's next two major highway projects...

A stack interchange at I-240 and I-35.  Right of way clearance is done but construction has yet to begin, and another stack interchange at I-235 and I-44.  Construction will begin after the I-235 widening is complete.

So I will concede, as we speak there are two freeway construction projects underway in Oklahoma City, the widening of I-235 from NE 36th to NE 63rd, and the 3-mile I-40 relocation project.  But I stress, our local leaders were VERY agressive in getting those projects off the ground.  It is a part of Central Oklahoma's 2020 transportation plan, and Forward Oklahoma City III, a campaign that has been ongoing since 1995 to diversify the local economy and provide top notch incentives for companies to move or set up operations here.

When you approach lawmakers with a well-designed comprehensive plan with a fancy timeline, armed with well-rounded local leaders and lobbyists, lawmakers don't say no.

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Don't forget the big 169 project that just finished up about a year ago.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Don't forget the big 169 project that just finished up about a year ago.

Yeah, after we lobbied for that for 10 years.  How long did it take 169 to get extended from 51st to 71st?  20 years?  They didn't extend that until 1990, the year I got married.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by swake

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

Hoss, highway maintenace projects always get done faster than highway construction projects.  The Broadway Extension widening project was planned in 1987, but didn't get off the ground until 1999, and 9 years later the project still isn't complete.

The Crosstown project was in the planning stages for 13 years before construction kicked off in 2006.  It's completion date was moved from 2009 to 2012.

I-44 started construction in 1986! 22 years ago! It's been planned on since the 1970s! And there is exactly zero roadwork going on and there hasn't been any in almost a year. There are no signs that any construction is about to start any time soon either.

In fact, there's not a single major highway construction project going on in metro Tulsa that I am aware of. None. Just a couple of smaller resurfacing projects. And there hasn't been a major project since I-44 and Yale was completed about a year ago. There are no signs that any projects are about to start either. ODOT has completed new interchanges at 71st and US 75 and I-44 and Yale and that's about all they have done in the last several years in terms of major projects.

They've torn down some houses along I-44 but as for construction they don't even have a completed design yet.

I-35 8-mile widening project in south Oklahoma City from downtown to Moore got started in 1984.  They just finished the last leg in 2006.  The I-40/I-35 interchange reconstruction began in 1987.  It was finished in 2000.

Though I do agree that local leaders have pushed for and developed plans for Oklahoma City's next two major highway projects...

A stack interchange at I-240 and I-35.  Right of way clearance is done but construction has yet to begin, and another stack interchange at I-235 and I-44.  Construction will begin after the I-235 widening is complete.

So I will concede, as we speak there are two freeway construction projects underway in Oklahoma City, the widening of I-235 from NE 36th to NE 63rd, and the 3-mile I-40 relocation project.  But I stress, our local leaders were VERY agressive in getting those projects off the ground.  It is a part of Central Oklahoma's 2020 transportation plan, and Forward Oklahoma City III, a campaign that has been ongoing since 1995 to diversify the local economy and provide top notch incentives for companies to move or set up operations here.

When you approach lawmakers with a well-designed comprehensive plan with a fancy timeline, armed with well-rounded local leaders and lobbyists, lawmakers don't say no.

Define 'very agressive'....[:O]

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Don't forget the big 169 project that just finished up about a year ago.

Yeah, after we lobbied for that for 10 years.  How long did it take 169 to get extended from 51st to 71st?  20 years?  They didn't extend that until 1990, the year I got married.

That sir is typical of Oklahoma.  They have been talking about the I40 reoloc project in OKC for God knows how many years and were never able to get enough funds to get it moved.  Finally between federal state and local dollars they got it approved.  

I don't care whch city you live in our STATE sucks at roads.  It's pretty terrible actually when state's like Kansas and Arkansas do a better job at road maintenance than we do

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Don't forget the big 169 project that just finished up about a year ago.

Yeah, after we lobbied for that for 10 years.  How long did it take 169 to get extended from 51st to 71st?  20 years?  They didn't extend that until 1990, the year I got married.

That sir is typical of Oklahoma.  They have been talking about the I40 reoloc project in OKC for God knows how many years and were never able to get enough funds to get it moved.  Finally between federal state and local dollars they got it approved.  

I don't care whch city you live in our STATE sucks at roads.  It's pretty terrible actually when state's like Kansas and Arkansas do a better job at road maintenance than we do

For the first time in this thread, we agree on something.  []

[Breadburner]

Is that tower getting shorter yet....?

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by okcpulse

quote: I know we just redid this highway but let's re-do it again.

When and where was I-40 just redone?  Because it definitely wasn't the Crosstown Bridge.

You spent 4.3M on resurfacing it.

and I-44

and I-35

That's it?  And just how many resurfacing prjects did Tulsa have three or four eyars ago when OKC had none....

I-244 and Gilcrease Expressway, Gilcrease Expressway expansion, I-75 in north Tulsa

Crosstown Bridge was not on the resurfacing list.  I-44 was shaved as was I-75.  I-40 was shaved as well, and I-35.  I-244 and Gilcrease got new blacktop.

Then Tulsa had a bragging fest after reports were released that Tulsa had better highway surfaces than that of OKC.  Then people in Tulsa joke about how bumpy and bad the highways are in OKC when they drive there, then they go back to Tulsa and blow their top when they find out Oklahoma City got the money to fix it.

Are we chasing a tail here?

Don't forget the big 169 project that just finished up about a year ago.

Yeah, after we lobbied for that for 10 years.  How long did it take 169 to get extended from 51st to 71st?  20 years?  They didn't extend that until 1990, the year I got married.

That sir is typical of Oklahoma.  They have been talking about the I40 reoloc project in OKC for God knows how many years and were never able to get enough funds to get it moved.  Finally between federal state and local dollars they got it approved.  

I don't care whch city you live in our STATE sucks at roads.  It's pretty terrible actually when state's like Kansas and Arkansas do a better job at road maintenance than we do

For the first time in this thread, we agree on something.  []

[sgrizzle]

Here are a ton of drawings for the project:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=156332

[cecelia]

OU is positioned right in OKC's backyard. In fact, Norman has become a bedroom community of OKC.

And OU isn't OKC's only amenity. OKC may have a wild west reputation, but there are an awful lot of people there doing interesting, progressive (yes, I said [}:)] progressive [}:)] ) things, and those things are big population draws.

OKC has a livelier intellectual life.

OKC has a more interesting night life and cooler things to do during the day.

OKC has huge, cool Asian grocery stores, the B-52 restaurant (omg, the *best* Korean food), coffee shops, bookstores and galleries out the wazoo, all kinds of people meandering around, and people from all over just hanging around.

Meanwhile, Tulsa has the poor pitiful Philbrook. Good gawd almighty, people, that used to be a beautiful place. What have you done to her? Philbrook now looks like one of those over-rouged little old ladies who always drench themselves in some overpowering perfume.

Give it up, folks --- OKC has Tulsa beat by a mile.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by cecelia

OU is positioned right in OKC's backyard. In fact, Norman has become a bedroom community of OKC.

And OU isn't OKC's only amenity. OKC may have a wild west reputation, but there are an awful lot of people there doing interesting, progressive (yes, I said [}:)] progressive [}:)] ) things, and those things are big population draws.

OKC has a livelier intellectual life.

OKC has a more interesting night life and cooler things to do during the day.

OKC has huge, cool Asian grocery stores, the B-52 restaurant (omg, the *best* Korean food), coffee shops, bookstores and galleries out the wazoo, all kinds of people meandering around, and people from all over just hanging around.

Meanwhile, Tulsa has the poor pitiful Philbrook. Good gawd almighty, people, that used to be a beautiful place. What have you done to her? Philbrook now looks like one of those over-rouged little old ladies who always drench themselves in some overpowering perfume.

Give it up, folks --- OKC has Tulsa beat by a mile.

Mayor Cornett, is that you?



And BTW, we have Philbrook, Gilcrease Museum, Jazz Hall of Fame, Cain's, The Brady.  What does OKC have?  The Cowboy Hall of Fame?

Fitting.

Oh..edit, and who else can forget?

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by cecelia

OU is positioned right in OKC's backyard. In fact, Norman has become a bedroom community of OKC.

And OU isn't OKC's only amenity. OKC may have a wild west reputation, but there are an awful lot of people there doing interesting, progressive (yes, I said [}:)] progressive [}:)] ) things, and those things are big population draws.

OKC has a livelier intellectual life.

OKC has a more interesting night life and cooler things to do during the day.

OKC has huge, cool Asian grocery stores, the B-52 restaurant (omg, the *best* Korean food), coffee shops, bookstores and galleries out the wazoo, all kinds of people meandering around, and people from all over just hanging around.

Meanwhile, Tulsa has the poor pitiful Philbrook. Good gawd almighty, people, that used to be a beautiful place. What have you done to her? Philbrook now looks like one of those over-rouged little old ladies who always drench themselves in some overpowering perfume.

Give it up, folks --- OKC has Tulsa beat by a mile.

Good gawd, what on earth brought all that on? lol

I am excited to see OKC getting a great structure like this. Its about time, its a much larger city than Tulsa and should indeed have the tallest buildings.

As for OU, yes it is very fortunate that OKC has such a large state funded, graduate university nearby. We have finally gotten some small colleges started here, but getting more funding from the state and being allowed to grow them more is the tricky part. The medical district that is being expanded within OKC is also a benefit. Count yourselves as luuucky for both.

As for "progressive, things to do, people hanging around"... not sure what your talking about. We have a great arts scene that is only improving. I wouldnt trade Bricktown for Brookside and Cherry Street any day. There are always people in those areas "hanging around" versus when I have been to Bricktown during the day and it be vacant and empty. But keep working at it, soon you will get that "critical mass" just like our downtown will and things will take off for real. Oh, and the canal... wouldnt trade that for our river any day.

Philbrook.... I think its beautiful, and the new gardens are stunning. Gilcrease.... still one of the greatest collections of Western and Native American art and artifacts in the world.

Again, OKC should have always had Tulsa beat by a mile. And imo whats happening is that OKC isnt "beating" Tulsa lol. Its just ending its long, pitiful, shame and getting to where it should be in relation to Tulsa. I am glad OKC is finally getting its act together. This can only help everyone in the state, including Tulsa.