Norman residents and commuters will need to adjust their routes as construction will close a portion of N. Webster Avenue from next Monday to next Thursday. Specifically, the stretch between W. Gray Street and W. Tonhawa Street will be off-limits to through traffic because of new storm drainage system installations at the intersection. Although certain disruptions are inevitable, the city assures that access to the City of Norman Development Center parking lot, and the City’s drive-thru payment window, will remain open for utility customers when approached from the north or via Tonhawa.
The temporary closure is a piece of a larger puzzle, with its origins traced back to a 2019 Bond Issue approved by the citizens of Norman. With an eye for improved transportation and aesthetics, the project aims at upgrading Gray Street's one-way stretch between University Avenue and Porter Avenue into a two-way thoroughfare, including landscape and street enhancements. Regarding the funding, federal grants cover a significant portion – approximately $4.9 million, with the balance of $2.6 million financed through the city's bond program, in a statement obtained by the City of Norman.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation, who unveiled the low bid from Ellsworth Construction, LLC in March last year, is managing the project with WSB's assistance. The $7.5 million endeavor, which began on August 5, 2024, includes the addition of new sidewalks, curb and gutter, decorative pavement, lighting, traffic signals, and the enhancement of pedestrian safety. Additionally, it will oversee the introduction of reverse angle parking, planting landscapes, and converting the railroad crossing for two-way operation as detailed by the City of Norman release.
The culmination of the project will see the transformation of the intersection with James Garner Avenue to accommodate the upcoming James Garner Phase 3 2019 Bond Project, which entails extensive reconstruction for two-way traffic facilitation. Commuters can expect that the developments, slated to significantly lift the city's face and functionality, will culminate within a 360-calendar-day span, as reported by the City of Norman. In the interim, travelers are recommended to observe detour and construction signs to minimize any delays.
