FEMA grant to help improve Garnett Road

Tulsa County has secured more than $8 million in FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funds for a critical infrastructure project along South Garnett Road and the intersection at 101st Street.

The Broken Arrow City Council expressed its strong support for the project at its meeting on January 20, in Resolution No. 1734.

This effort marks a major milestone in long-term flood prevention and roadway safety for residents and motorists throughout Tulsa County.

The $12 million project will reconstruct one mile of Garnett Road between 91st and 101st streets. It will also elevate the 101st Street intersection by approximately five feet. These improvements aim to reduce repeated flooding that disrupts travel and creates safety concerns. Construction will require closing the intersection for nine months once the work begins.

FEMA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, administers this grant. Tulsa County Engineering worked for more than three years to achieve this funding. District 3 Tulsa County Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley led extensive advocacy efforts to secure it.

"This project represents a long-term investment in safety, resilience, and mobility for South Tulsa County," Dunkerley said. "Flooding at this intersection has been a recurring issue for years. Securing this grant took persistence, collaboration, and a commitment to doing what's right for the people who depend on this roadway every day."

Dunkerley worked with the highway engineering department for three years. Together, they developed, submitted, and advanced the grant application. They coordinated with federal, state, and local partners to address this transportation and economic artery. The commissioner traveled to Washington, D.C. twice to lobby FEMA leadership for federal support.

Tulsa County will fund its construction up front and get reimbursement from FEMA during the project.

In addition to Dunkerley's leadership, the project received critical support from regional partners who advocated for final approval of the grant, including:

• Sen. Markwayne Mullin

• Rep. Kevin Hern

• Mayor Debra Wimpee and the City of Broken Arrow Council

• Mayor Brad Girard and the City of Bixby Council

• Mayor Monroe Nichols, City of Tulsa

• Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Saint Francis Health System

• William K. Warren Foundation

Numerous Oklahoma Legislators also strengthened the effort, including State Sen. Christi Gillespie, Sen. Brian Guthrie, Sen. John Haste, Sen. Dave Rader, and Sen. Aaron Reinhardt. From the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Mark Tedford, Rep. Ross Ford, Rep. Stan May, Rep. Rob Hall, Rep. Chris Banning, Rep. Gabe Woolley, and Rep. Mike Lay, all of whom played key roles in advancing the project.

Once the Garnett and 101st Street project is complete, Tulsa County will partner with the City of Tulsa and the City of Bixby on a $14 million initiative to enhance two miles of East 101st Street from Garnett Road to Memorial Drive-delivering even greater safety and smoother traffic for South Tulsa.

"This is what collaboration looks like," Dunkerley said. "When local governments, state leaders, and community partners come together with a shared goal, we can deliver real, lasting improvements for our residents."

Tulsa County will share additional information on construction timelines and traffic impacts as this transformative project progresses.