Why is the City widening Denver Ave?

[Red Arrow]

I was chatting with a city engineer recently, and he said "maybe they want to fix that 'kink' in the road."  He didn't know anything about the project, but his instinctive reaction was that a bend in the road was bad.

Here's the "kink"...

Kinks and curves in roads are FUN!  Straight roads are boring and cause sleepiness.

[rdj]

Is it the bend or the swell there?  I've always thought the bend combined with the elevation change down and then back up there caused a bit of an issue that made sure you were paying attention.

[dsjeffries]

From the Improve Our Tulsa website:

Non-Arterial "DENVER AV" Street Project #144467
Proj #: 144467
Description: Rehabilitation
Location: Maintenance Zone 4067: Denver Ave. from 13th St. to Riverside Dr., 16th Pl. from Denver Ave. to Carson Ave., 17th St. and 18th St. from Boulder Ave. to Cincinnati Ave. and Baltimore Ave. from 15th St. to 18th St.
Budget: $4,855,000.00
Current Status: Design
Design Date:   2014
Construction:   2016
Engineer:   Guy

[sauerkraut]

Maybe to give some contractor a job, I see no reason for it. I see a lot of un-needed road work going on as far as that goes.

[AquaMan]

Really? Drive up Denver from Riverside past 15th to the expressway. Its a road in dire need of repair or replacement. So is 18th around Boston. Main is nice though. Then for some fun, try thinking past your own interests (running) and consider that the Gathering Place will likely put additional stress on this area as people drive, bike, and shuttle between Riverparks, downtown entertainment, hospitals, arena, churches, etc. Then consider that if you repair/replace it would be a good time to widen, add sidewalks etc. Doesn't seem like make work for contractors. Seems like good planning.

[Hoss]

Really? Drive up Denver from Riverside past 15th to the expressway. Its a road in dire need of repair or replacement. So is 18th around Boston. Main is nice though. Then for some fun, try thinking past your own interests (running) and consider that the Gathering Place will likely put additional stress on this area as people drive, bike, and shuttle between Riverparks, downtown entertainment, hospitals, arena, churches, etc. Then consider that if you repair/replace it would be a good time to widen, add sidewalks etc. Doesn't seem like make work for contractors. Seems like good planning.

Don't forget; he hasn't provided any proof he really even lives here.

I know I do.  There are several segments of road in this town that need attention.  21st Street between Memorial and Sheridan come to mind.  It's like driving on the dark side of the moon out there.

[carltonplace]

It can't be enough extra money in the budget to buy those houses on Denver.

[rebound]

There is a five-property gap between the multi-family on the North and the professional building on the South of the "kink".  They could eliminate most of the kink just by straightening the street in that area, and not have to mess with any of the buildings.  But I agree with an earlier poster, I don't see an issue with it as it is.

[TheArtist]

If our traffic engineers are worried about that "kink" in the road, would be interesting to see how they would react if you set them down in a traditional city like London.  They would have to destroy most of the city in order for the traffic to flow "efficiently". How ever do those poor people in those other cities like that make it?

[BKDotCom]

There are worse kinks in town

17th & Utica
8th & Utica (or Lewis... somewhere in that vicinity)

Hwy 75 still has (I think it used to be worse)  an abrupt kink/sheer in the lane stripes around the new 71st street overpass..  
The pavement continues to go straight, but the stripes shift over (far worse offender in my opinion)
new wider pavement?  Lets shift the lanes out for reasons.  You definitely need to be alert to make sure the car next to you is aware of the shift.  I witnessed several close calls when that was my commute

Google Maps  (north of the bridge)
(It doesn't appear that abrupt from the air... but it's pretty abrupt at hwy speed)

Google Maps  (south of the bridge - not as bad)