Project 180 Starting to Transform Downtown OKC

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Project 180, the city's latest project to update and beautify downtown Oklahoma City is underway.

The public attended a meeting Monday morning to learn more about the 180 acre downtown makeover and ask questions about the progress. Another meeting open to the public was held at 6 p.m. Two other opportunities to attend a meeting will be on June 9 at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Construction is transforming the Myriad Gardens now, including reglazing the Crystal Bridge.

Laura Story, with Project 180, said they "want it to be everybody's downtown."

In one way or another, residents will be impacted by the work going on downtown.

"I'm interested in the things that are happening downtown, in particular the renovations to the streets," said resident Ben Janssen.

Janssen is talking about the streetscape project, a makeover of 10 downtown blocks. He's happy to hear the city is putting in bike lanes, since it's his main mode of transportation, and making the downtown area more pedestrian friendly.

Learn more about Project 180.

The streetscape project will resurface roads and sidewalks, add two-way streets and about 1,000 new parking spots.

The first phase of the project is on Reno in front of the Ford Center and the Cox Convention Center.

Construction will start in late August and the entire streetscape project could take up to four years to complete. With all the changes you can expect a few headaches.

"Patience is going to be needed. We need everybody to be patient with us while we're out in traffic," Story said.

"I don't care how long it takes, just to see that after a few years it will be even better, for me it's worth all the trouble," Janssen said.

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