Growing pains for Owasso along 76st Street North

Owasso is one of the fastest growing towns in Oklahoma. But that means some growing pains. <br><br>News on 6 reporter Steve Berg talked to some businesses as they prepare to shut down 76th Street North.

Monday, April 12th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Owasso is one of the fastest growing towns in Oklahoma. But that means some growing pains.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg talked to some businesses as they prepare to shut down 76th Street North. Janet Newton's feed store sits at the west end of the 76th Street North project. And she's not sure how the roadwork will go. "It's going to be very interesting."

But after 35 years, she figures her customers will figure out how to get here once the road is closed. "I think they'll come around, or they'll call and ask me how to get here, and I'll sure tell 'em how to do that." Fortunately, there are barely any businesses to be disturbed. In fact that's part of the reason why they're widening 76th Street North to spark some new development.

"It's a huge deal for Owasso." Dee Sokolosky's bank sits at the east end of the project. He says his customers should still be able to get in and out okay. And he says the noise and the dust will be worth it to open up the western edge of Owasso.

He figures the biggest impact will be on people traveling between Owasso and the Cherokee Industrial Park. Motorists will have to go from Sheridan to 86th Street North and then back down on Main Street.

76th Street North will be closed to through traffic, but people can still drive on it if they live or have business in the area. "So it'll be one mile out of their way to get to Owasso."

They say what's painful now will be pleasant later. "I think it'll be very nice, and the roads will be better and safer to travel." "When you come back 8 or 9 months from now, we'll all have smiles on our faces and be glad that it happened."