Classen Drive is about to trade tailpipes for patio vibes. A short block of the Midtown street will shut down for good beginning Monday, March 23, city officials said Thursday. The stretch will be turned into a pedestrian plaza with a small amphitheater, folded into a larger mixed-use project planned for the site. Neighbors and drivers circling the NW 10th Street roundabout should brace for barricades and early construction activity that same week, as per The Journal Record.
Closure tied to The Eddie mixed-use project
The permanent shutdown is part of The Eddie, a mixed-use development planned for 1111 N. Classen Drive that is set to bring 48 apartments and about 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, as reported by The Journal Record. According to developer renderings and city council documents, the current roadway between the NW 10th roundabout and Dewey Avenue will be replaced by a park, with a modest amphitheater on the west end reserved for pop-ups and performances. City council has approved tax-increment financing for the project, and developers have said they are aiming to finish in early 2027.
Traffic and timing
The City of Oklahoma City posted a construction advisory on X stating that the segment of Classen Drive will close permanently starting Monday, March 23 and urging drivers to plan alternate routes. The advisory sits on the city's social feed and, true to form, keeps things brief. The City of OKC post does not include a formal detour map, so motorists should be ready for lane shifts and barricades around the roundabout as crews move in. City officials say more details will roll out as the work moves forward.
Where The Eddie fits in Midtown's growth
The Eddie is on the list of major projects expected to break ground in 2026 as part of a broader Midtown building wave, according to The Oklahoman. City planners have also secured federal transit-oriented planning funds to rethink the entire Classen corridor and improve both pedestrian and transit connections, per a release from the City of Oklahoma City.
Developers and city officials say the new plaza should inject more public space and activity into the heart of Midtown, while nearby residents are likely to keep a close eye on how the permanent closure affects traffic circulation and deliveries. For now, the city's advisory and updates from the development team remain the go-to sources for detours and timing. Follow the city's official feed for construction schedules and street changes. This story will be updated as officials release more detailed plans.
