Improvements Planned For Highway 75 Intersection

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA COUNTY, OK -- A Sperry couple is dead after a crash on Highway 75 north of Tulsa.  Investigators say the couple turned onto the highway in front of an oncoming car Sunday evening at 116th Street North.  Some wonder what can be done to make getting onto the highway safer.

04/05/2009  Related Story: 2 Killed In Crash Near Owasso

Lordly Lucas drives along Highway 75 and 116th Street North all the time.  And all the time, he says, it's risky.

"It's hard getting out of here, on this highway, because them cars are driving 70 miles an hour and it's hard to get out, it's dangerous," said Lordly Lucas.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Lee Yeng and Pang Kou Yang of Sperry died in a Sunday evening crash along Highway 75 and 116th Street North.  Troopers say Yeng pulled into the path of a northbound car.

The road, 116th Street North, where that fatal accident happened, is very busy.  It is used by thousands of drivers every day.  Mostly drivers from Owasso who want to get on Highway 75 to head toward downtown Tulsa.  Considering how much traffic there is on Highway 75, making that left hand turn is often a challenge.

"I've had some close calls myself, yeah.  It's really dangerous pulling a boat when you have a trailer behind you, and trying to get out here," said Lordly Lucas.

ODOT intends to put in an overpass at 116th Street North and Highway 75 starting in the 2012 fiscal year.

"We'll be doing some work before that to acquire right of way, and move utilities back so we can go in and do that project.  In the meantime, until we can get to that project, we have gone in and put in some additional safety measures to really catch drivers attention," said Kenna Mitchell with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

It's hoped the flashing lights and the nearly $8 million overpass project will improve safety at the intersection for all drivers, including Lordly Lucas.

"It's dangerous, it's really dangerous getting out on this highway," said Lordly Lucas.

Until that overpass is built, troopers urge drivers to be careful and patient when turning onto Highway 75.