Tulsa Drivers Upset Over Perceived Construction Delays

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- While there are repairs happening right now on the highways around Tulsa, the city says the city streets are not being forgotten.

A lot of people get frustrated when they don't see workers at a construction site for days on end, but the city says work is still being done.

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News On 6 got a few e-mails from viewers who want to know what is going on with the construction at 21st and Sheridan.

Construction started in January and crews are about 50 percent done.

"It had been torn up so badly that it was just one lane of traffic going in each direction," said Tulsa driver Claudia Ainette.

Tulsa drivers are seeing red over all the orange on Tulsa's streets.

"Then they came and did this grating thing and then they just left. And we haven't seen anything since. Except people bouncing on these ridges," Ainette said.

Ainette says if you aren't paying attention, the road bumps can do more than jostle you around the car.

"I've started driving through the intersections at five miles an hour. Because I had to keep getting my tires aired up and then I wound up getting a flat tire one night, on a Friday night, in the rain," she said.

Claudia's urban off-roading has smoothed over in recent days. "Where there is a slope there... that's new. That's just been within the last week."

Construction on Sheridan from 11th to 21st. and Admiral to 11th appears to be two separate jobs, but they are tied together.

"Stipulations in the contract that no project is to be under construction within one mile of each other. So that's why they are currently working from Admiral to 11th and then again at 21st and Sheridan," said Matthew S Liechti, Lead Engineer City of Tulsa.

The city is waiting for the equipment and the intersection is scheduled to be laid over next week. After that, it should be smooth sailing, at least at 21st and Sheridan. 11th and Sheridan is still a work in progress.

Drivers will need to wait a bit longer for smoother streets. The project is running as scheduled but won't be entirely complete until June 2011.