AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Central States => Topic started by: bugo on March 01, 2014, 03:41:27 PM

Title: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: bugo on March 01, 2014, 03:41:27 PM
I read about this a couple of years ago.  ODOT is building a "gateway" to Tulsa at the east end of the Arkansas River bridge (the 51st Street Bridge) to welcome travelers to Tulsa (why it isn't between the end of the Turner Turnpike and the I-44/244 split is beyond me.  That way it would catch travelers staying on I-44 and travelers headed downtown along I-244.)  Last time I drove over the bridge a few days ago, I noticed there were vertical trusses on each side of the bridge similar to the trusses used for overhead signage on freeways.  There is not yet any structure built over the highway.  Hopefully they won't have to close the freeway while they are building this structure.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: bugo on June 05, 2014, 12:33:54 AM
They are also building similar structures on the Lewis Avenue bridge over I-44.  They will not cross over the highway, they are just "posts".  They have a pseudo southwestern looking motif.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: US71 on June 05, 2014, 10:20:26 AM
Quote from: bugo on June 05, 2014, 12:33:54 AM
They are also building similar structures on the Lewis Avenue bridge over I-44.  They will not cross over the highway, they are just "posts".  They have a pseudo southwestern looking motif.

Decoration.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: bugo on June 05, 2014, 07:46:49 PM
Here's a picture of one of what I call "monoliths":

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14353988362_35da123db9_c.jpg)

And yes, David, it's for decoration.  That was never in question.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: rte66man on June 05, 2014, 08:43:37 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 05, 2014, 07:46:49 PM
Here's a picture of one of what I call "monoliths":

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14353988362_35da123db9_c.jpg)

And yes, David, it's for decoration.  That was never in question.

Look just like the monoliths at the ends of the overpasses on the new I40 stretch in OKC.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: Scott5114 on June 05, 2014, 10:10:58 PM
They could have done a better job of tying them into the bridge railing so that they look like part of the bridge. As it stands, they just look like random things along the side of the road.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: bugo on June 05, 2014, 10:28:29 PM
I hope they light up at night.
Title: Re: Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa
Post by: bugo on June 13, 2014, 10:06:26 PM
Here are some more snaps of the monoliths:

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14229708390_42009df0d4_b.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5191/14436476573_fa728f4da5_b.jpg)

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14229697748_82d09a7108_b.jpg)

When stopped at the light today, I asked a construction worker if they were going to light up and he said they would.  I hope they're pretty when they're lit up.