Berryhill Residents Worried With More Construction Delays, Detours

People in Berryhill feel like they're living on an island because several bridges and roads are under construction.

The 23rd Street Bridge construction project is the next scheduled closure for people who commute in and out of west Tulsa, Berryhill and parts of Sand Springs.

Mary Colebrook goes through the same ritual every time someone calls her Berryhill nursery to ask for directions.

"I'm going to tell you that road is under construction and you're going to have to follow the detour signs to get here," she tells them.

With several ongoing bridge and road projects, getting to Berryhill is becoming a challenge.

"It gets to be a nightmare," Colebrook said.

Bridge work is forcing drivers to take a detour from the West 51st Street on-ramp to eastbound I-44.

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Berryhill commuters are bracing for more detours with the planned 23rd Street Bridge closure by the refinery and I-244.

Colebrook is worried about increased truck traffic detouring from west Tulsa onto 57th West Avenue, which is getting repaved too.

"It's kind of, really, nonsense. They decide to close all the roads at the same time and work on everything, and now we have at least three or four of them under construction and no way in and no way out," she said.

Deputy Justin Green with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office said emergency responders are prepared for the increase in construction closures.

"We are made aware of that ahead of time. We pay attention to those kind of details and we plan for that in responding. Our deputies are knowledgeable about the geography and which alternate routes would be available," Green said.

Some drivers might be forced to change their routes through Sand Springs, or survive the detour traffic.

Colebrook said, “It's going to get worse before it gets better I'm afraid."

ODOT hasn't announced an official date for the 23rd Street Bridge closure, but should know more in about a week.