Projects to Ease Norman Residents' Commutes

In Norman, getting around town is becoming a challenge. Road construction on a scale not seen for years is underway.

Wednesday, April 1st 2009, 6:29 pm

By: News 9


By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- In Norman, getting around town is becoming a challenge. Road construction on a scale not seen for years is underway.

And Norman residents are trying to be patient.

A project that got started recently along the Robinson Street Bridge over Interstate 35 contributes to $300 million worth of road construction is either on-going or starting soon. Much of it involves the interstate, but a lot of it is in town.

East side, west side, and all around the town detour and road closed signs seem to multiply. Drivers have noticed.

"Oh, there's quite a bit of it," Norman resident Marshall Cooper said. "There's some over by street, and it kind of cuts off. I gotta kinda take a detour. It's kind of a headache."

There are state projects, like the Rock Creek Bridge over I-35. There are city projects, and then there are combined city-state projects.

"I think we just have so many transportation projects in the pipeline, either under construction or under design, that as we finish one we're starting another one," Norman Public Works Director Shawn O'Leary said.

O'Leary admits the long-running project on NW 36th St. has been plagued with delays. But it should finally be finished in about a month. Many a Norman resident hopes so.

"It's real slow," Norman resident Debbie Richardson said. "The roads are dusty. I'm concerned about kids crossing the street, because we live on the east side of 36th and the school's on the west side."

Some projects have ended. Tuesday the extension of Tecumseh Avenue opened to traffic, but Wednesday, the Flood Street Bridge on I-35 closed down.

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