Expect traffic snarls on Cherry Street until late this summer.
Starting January 6 , contractor crews with Crossland Heavy Contractors began the replacing a 6-inch water main as a part of the street rehabilitation project on 15th Street between South Peoria Avenue and South Utica Avenue in the Cherry Street District.
Both eastbound lanes are closed and traffic has shifted to the westbound lanes to allow for one lane of traffic in each direction (east and west). During this time, on-street parking will not be available along East 15th Street between South Peoria Avenue and South Utica Avenue. Surface lots, which count for the majority of business parking in the district, are to be accessible. Access to businesses and sidewalks remain open. Later in the month, traffic on 15th Street between Lewis and Utica will be shifted to the westbound lanes to continue the rehabilitation of the street along that one-half mile.
Last summer, the City of Tulsa held a public meeting at Christ the King Catholic Church to discuss the project plans for traffic and parking in the area between Utica and Peoria avenues. In September of 2019, the City of Tulsa and Crossland Heavy Contractors started the $5.7 million project, funded by Tulsa sales tax.
Project elements include:
- 6-inch waterline replacement
- Stormwater drainage improvements to the inlets and pipe system
- Sidewalk repairs where needed
- Intersection bump-outs with curb and gutter (Utica – Peoria)
- Back-in angle parking on the north side of the street and parallel parking on the south side of the street between Quaker and Trenton avenues (west of Utica Avenue); no on-street parking east of Utica
- Pedestrian crossing improvements – restriping six crosswalks, each with two rapid flashing beacons, at all of the collector streets between Utica and Peoria
According to the city, the last phase is expected to start in late summer, going into September, where East 15th St. between South Peoria Ave. to South Utica Avenue will be limited to one westbound lane. During the last phase, eastbound traffic may use 14th Street (Broken Arrow Expressway frontage road) as a detour between Utica and Peoria Avenues.