Stretch of 71st Street in Broken Arrow closed because of construction work

If you're driving to or from Broken Arrow, you can expect a major road to be closed for the next couple of days. <br/><br/>A one mile stretch of 71st Street is shut down because of work on the railroad

Monday, February 28th 2005, 6:46 am

By: News On 6

If you're driving to or from Broken Arrow, you can expect a major road to be closed for the next couple of days.

A one mile stretch of 71st Street is shut down because of work on the railroad tracks. 6 in the Morning reporter Omar Villafranca says the one mile stretch of 71st Street is a busy stretch of roadway. Broken Arrow Police say more than 23,000 cars pass over the railroad tracks every day.

71st will be closed from 161st East Avenue to 145th East Avenue. Union Pacific Railroad will tear up the concrete, put in a new crossing, and then lay new concrete to smooth it out. This will cause a headache for drivers who use this street. Broken Arrow Police Sgt Ed Ferguson: "Local traffic will be allowed so anybody that needs to go to Rhema Bible College or area businesses that are on the east side of the railroad will be able to access them. However, they will not be allowed straight through the entire mile section."

Police urge commuters to take a different path to and from work for the next couple of days. They say try 81st Street or Southwest Expressway Boulevard, which runs alongside the Broken Arrow Expressway. 61st Street is also closed for construction.

Officials hope the road will re-open Wednesday, but depending on the weather, it could be closed until next Monday.