Broken Arrow in Motion

In this episode of Broken Arrow in Motion, Mayor Debra Wimpee provides updates on several infrastructure projects, including the new fire station, jail construction, and more.

A new pedestrian bridge is being installed as part of the 1st Place Waterline and Trail Project. With the waterlines complete, crews are pouring the ramp leading to the bridge. Most of the sod is in place, and crews will soon begin work on the retaining wall on the bridge's south side.

At the Liberty Parkway Trail, between Aspen Avenue and Elm Place, crews are repairing 800 feet of the retaining wall. Bicyclists and runners who frequent the trail should know this section is temporarily closed for construction. The contractor is working on the steel footings, and they've already completed nine sections.

The Stormwater Improvement project on Houston Street is ongoing. The construction crew is now pouring the footings for the cast-in-place stormwater structures to improve flow in the drainage ditches. The contractor will finish this project in the coming weeks.

Now, here's an update on the new Elevated Water Storage Tank at the corner of New Orleans and Lynn Lane. Work continues on site, including dirt work for an access road and concrete areas around the tower. Soon they will fill the tank, and it will be online, providing water to our south Broken Arrow residents and businesses.

Let's discuss two residential streets' projects. At Ridgeway Heights, near Kenosha and Midway, the crew will soon begin cleaning up the project site and making final preparations for next week's punch list walk-through with the construction administrator. At that time, City staff will inform the contractor which items must be addressed before the project is complete. At Melinda Park, the crew continues to resurface the streets throughout the neighborhood. They have started pouring the sidewalks and curbs in the final phase of the project.

Now, let's talk about facilities, starting with the new Fire Station #8 that's under construction in East Broken Arrow. The crew has poured all the foundational footings and is continuing work on the station's underground utilities.

And last but not least, here's an update on the Broken Arrow Justice Center. For this project, we are adding new detention space, updating facilities, and modernizing the security systems. Key elements include renovating the kitchen, control room, and staff areas. We are also expanding the detention pod, laundry facility, and staff office, and updating security. Plumbers are on-site installing the grease trap interceptor and framing for the kitchen. The office areas are complete. The electricians are running conduits for security and control pathways. Roofers have begun tearing off the north end of the roof, and parking lot demolition is underway. The 2018 General Obligation Bond funds this project.