Viewer Asks About Tulsa Highway Project

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The News On 6 started a new feature on Newson6.com on Tuesday that gives viewers input during the morning news meeting.  It's a live daily chat where you can bring up ideas you may see during our newscasts.  One viewer on Tuesday asked about the status of an area highway project.

Tom wanted to know the status of Highway 169 resurfacing. 

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says instead of resurfacing, crews actually did what is called a pavement rehabilitation project.  That means they basically go in and put steel bars between concrete panels.  The project stretched from 21st Street South to 51^st Street.

"The contractors come through.  Saw the groove into the pavement, remove that concrete and drop a steel bar across that joint to strengthen that joint," said ODOT engineer Bruce Arnold.

If it seemed like it took a while to complete the project, that's because it was actually two separate phases of work.  The second phase was needed after an ice storm damaged parts of the highway.

ODOT says striping on Highway 169 should be finished within a few weeks.      

You're invited to join The News On 6 Morning News Meeting on Newson6.com each morning at 9 a.m.