Motorists in Tulsa should brace for some disruptions starting next week, as the City kicks off a major upgrade to a busy intersection. Construction at East 91st Street and South Riverside Drive is set to get underway next week, Monday, according to the City of Tulsa's latest announcement. Aimed at enhancing the thoroughfare, the project will involve full pavement replacement and drainage improvements, alongside other modifications to ensure the intersection can better serve its daily load of almost 30,000 vehicles.
The endeavors starting Monday promise to increasingly secure the intersection's long-term durability. Planned closures during the project's initial phase will reduce traffic on S. Riverside Dr. to just one lane in each direction near the work zone. The right turn lane on E. 91st St. will also be temporarily out of service, a setup expected to last around two weeks before the lanes reopen to two-way traffic.
Funded by the city's Improve Our Tulsa sales tax, the project carries a price tag of $500,000 and will be executed by Becco Contractors. Commuters are urged to allow for extra time in their travels and to heed any signed detours. The scheduled completion is set for mid-July, signaling a relatively quick turnaround for the scale of improvements being implemented.
The second phase of construction is slated to begin promptly on June 30, according to city statements. This part of the project will see the innermost northbound and southbound lanes of S. Riverside Dr. also being closed. Drivers will need to be prepared to adjust, as they will once again have to only use one lane in either direction. All lanes are expected to be back in service after this additional two-week period.
As Tulsa gears up for the changes, the community can look forward to an intersection more capable of efficiently handling its traffic demands. Residents and visitors alike should plan for impacted travel times but can take solace in the long-term benefits the project promises to bring.
