Oklahoma_City_Boulevard

Oklahoma City Boulevard

Oklahoma City Boulevard

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The Oklahoma City Boulevard (also known as the Crosstown Boulevard) is an urban thoroughfare in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US. The highway makes use of the former right-of-way of Interstate 40 (I-40), which was relocated to the south along a former rail alignment due to increased traffic and visible wear on parts of the freeway.[1] A $85 million project by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) with funds from the US Department of Transportation began construction in 2011.[2]

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History

Controversy

The Oklahoma City Boulevard plan became controversial when the full extent of ODOT's original intended design became public during an Oklahoma City Streetcar meeting. At that meeting, ODOT Division Director Paul Green explained ODOT's intent for a thoroughfare design rather than a traditional urban street type boulevard. No previsions were presented by Green or ODOT representatives to accommodate the planned streetcar system approved by voters.[citation needed] Oklahoma City Streetcar Subcommittee member Jeff Bezdek was incensed by the plans and the lack of awareness by ODOT as to streetcar project. Bezdek was approached by Bob Kemper, a local transportation advocate and former ODOT employee about forming a citizens group to force further public review of the project. Bezdek conceived the name Friends for a Better Boulevard and suggested that Kemper organize a group under that title on Facebook to harness online civic support to demand a proper environmental review.[citation needed] Friends for a Better Boulevard (FBB) launched its campaign as a Facebook Group and via the popular Oklahoma City blog, OKC TALK.[citation needed] The group grew quickly to over six hundred active members and demanded that local leaders apply further review to the boulevard project. After much debate, the Federal Highway Administration stepped into the process and required ODOT to put the project under an Environmental Assessment to determine if a full-fledged Environmental Impact Study should be required. The state transportation agency developed three initial alternatives for consideration and evaluation. The slate was further expanded to four.[2]

Construction

The old I-40 now Oklahoma City Boulevard at the western section approaching Virginia Avenue traveling westbound in Oklahoma City

The Federal Highway Administration is awaiting submissions from ODOT for further review. Friends for a Better Boulevard has formally requested that earlier traffic modeling conducted by ODOT be reprocessed to thoroughly vet the alternatives.[3] As of October 1, 2016, the expressway is open to traffic from I-40/US-270 to Klein Avenue. On October 28, 2016, the east section from I-35 & I-40 opened to E.K. Gaylord.[4] On August 19, 2019 the Boulevard officially opened.[5]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County. All exits are unnumbered.

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References

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Template:Attached KML/Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway
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  1. [1]
    Smith, Dylan (May 31, 2011). "Proposed downtown street to be named Oklahoma City Boulevard". OKC.biz. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  2. [2]
    Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "FAQ". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  3. [3]
    Felder, Ben (August 5, 2014). "Group continues effort to reverse course of downtown boulevard". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  4. [4]
    "New Interstate Connections For Downtown OKC Open Friday". News9.com. Oklahoma City: KWTV-TV. October 28, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  5. [5]
    Editor, Brett Dickerson- (August 21, 2019). "Controversial Oklahoma City Boulevard opened by Gov and Mayor". Oklahoma City Free Press. Retrieved August 28, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. [6]
    Google (August 3, 2020). "Overview Map of Oklahoma City Boulevard" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
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