Tracking Tulsa's Orange Barrels

Rick Wells, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The ubiquitous orange barrel is the object of editorial cartoons, water cooler conversations, and lots of colorful language.

There are thousands in use on streets and highways in and around Tulsa.

"We have about 2000 out on the road right now," said Brian Fletcher, who runs the Catoosa office of Advanced Workzone Services.

Those 2,000 barrels grabber cones are spread out over about thirty projects.

"I'd say we're medium range as far as size," Fletcher said.

Rick Wells, News On 6: "Any chance you'll run out?

Brian Fletcher, Advanced Workzone Services: "Nope."

One big stack of drums and cones just came off a Highway 169 project up north. For a long time folks thought that was orange barrel hell.

Rick Wells, News On 6: "So if that was hell this must be heaven."

Brian Fletcher, Advanced Workzone Services: "This is heaven. Actually that out there on the highway is heaven for me."

The colorful cones and drums are targets, people steal them. One night thieves got more than 100 off one job.

"I think it was $5,000 or $6,000 dollars we lost that night," Fletcher said.

If thieves don't steal them, drivers run over them Fletcher said crews try to fix damaged cones to get more life out of them.

Wonder what it's like to be an orange barrel.