Crews Begin Median Removal Project Along Yale Between 81st, 91st

The City of Tulsa is nearly two months into a major widening project on Yale between 81st and 91st Street, and the road will be entirely shut down next month.

This Tulsa street is getting a major update, as work is underway to remedy an area that's had traffic issues for years.

"It's the last piece of the puzzle for the south side of Tulsa really that Yale hasn't been widened up to its ultimate size," says Construction Manager Elliott Stiles

He says for decades, traffic from the north and south has met on the windy road, creating a bottleneck. That's why the city is transforming the two-lane road to three lanes in each direction.

The city says the street project will cost around $30 million, making it the largest in Tulsa's History.

The project is made more complicated by the steep hill. Stiles says retaining walls will play a major role in the project. He says some will be small, but others will be huge.

"Others are going to be holding up great amounts of Earth as a slope stability wall and will have wall systems that reach as large as 85 feet deep," said Stiles.

He says the final road will be less steep and windy, making it safer for drivers.

"Flattening those curves to try and make them safer to get people a little more sight distance so they can see around corners and over the hills," he said.

In the meantime, drivers will have to put up with construction. Despite a few minor lane closures this week, Yale has stayed open, but not for long.

Phase 2 starts next month, which will close the road to thru-traffic.

"Really just those that absolutely need to get in and out so residents and business, but it will not be open to those that need to traverse the entire corridor just to get across that area,” Stiles said.

The entire project is scheduled to wrap up in the Fall of 2023.