Plan Announced To Fix Keetonville Road

For months, a washed-out road has caused headaches for dozens of families in Rogers County.  The News On 6's Chris Wright reports officials now say they have come up with a solution.

When parts of Keetonville Road were shut down, many residents were literally cut off from Catoosa and Tulsa.  Now there are plans for a new route back to town.

Parts of two roads in Rogers County were washed away during heavy rains in April.  A section of Highway 20 slid down a hill.  That road has since been repaired, but a smaller road is still closed.

This was not here two weeks ago," said Sue Ingle who lives on Keetonville Road.

The county had to shut down Keetonville Road, a heavily-used shortcut between Catoosa and Owasso.  An estimated 85 families live on the north side of the road and they have to take major detours just to get their kids to school.

On Thursday though, county leaders unveiled their solution:  an entirely new road.

"In the long range, will put everyone towards Catoosa. It's towards Catoosa, which meets the needs of the school and everyone else," said Rogers County Commissioner Mike Helm.

The new road will take drivers west from Keetonville Road to the intersection of 76th Street North and 193^rd East Avenue.

It will cost nearly$7 million, and county officials say the government will foot the bill.

"The excitement part is that we secured $6.8 million from FEMA, so it means the county will not spend a dime putting this road in," said Rogers County Commissioner Mike Helm.

The road closure has been a hassle for the 85 families stuck on the other side for months now.  But, it's a headache they'll have to live with for a while yet. While the new plan is in place, the new road probably won't be ready for another year.

But, after having four months of having no road at all, county commissioners hope they don't mind the wait.

Residents on the south side of Keetonville, the section not cut off, say they've actually enjoyed the road closure.  They say they sympathize with their neighbors, but less traffic is nice, and they're glad the new road will also bypass them.