BROKEN ARROW, Okla.— Due to improvements currently underway on Houston Street (81st Street), the City of Broken Arrow is announcing a northbound/southbound lane closure at the intersection of Olive Ave. (129th E. Ave.) and Houston St. beginning Jan. 29 that will continue for approximately three months. 

The City encourages Olive Avenue drivers to detour to Kenosha (71st St.) or Washington (91st St.) streets. Motorists traveling west will be permitted to turn north onto Olive Avenue, and those driving south will be allowed to turn west onto Houston Street. However, no through access exists for north and southbound traffic, and left turns are prohibited at the intersection.

The closure is necessary partly because of the tight constraints on the right of way. Other factors include the need to make significant stormwater drainage improvements under the intersection due to the nearby creek. The level of construction that is necessary to accomplish this project is not possible, with traffic continuing in all four directions. The intersection closure will also allow the completion of the work in a timelier manner. 

The Houston Street Widening Project, between Garnett Road and Olive Avenue, is one of 17 Transportation projects of the 2018 General Obligation Bond currently underway in various stages of development. Becco Contractors, LLC. of Tulsa is the contractor and the lowest responsible bidder at $5.7 million to complete the project. It includes widening the roadway to five lanes from Garnett Road to Olive Avenue, sidewalk, ADA ramps at the intersection, concrete work at the driveway returns, new traffic signals, signage, and pavement markings at the Houston Street and Olive Avenue intersection.