OWASSO — The City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night to move forward with a roughly $8 million project to widen the heaviest traveled two-lane section of road in the city.
The panel’s action means the city will ask the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to consider the construction phase of the Garnett Road upgrade from 96th to 106th streets north as a candidate for federal funding assistance through the Surface Transportation Program.
Ground could be broken on the project in two years “if everything falls into place,” said City Engineer Dwayne Henderson.
The Indian Nations Council of Governments administers grant funding and establishes a selection process for the distribution of Surface Transportation Program funds. If the project is selected in November, construction funding will be targeted for fiscal year 2017 or earlier, depending on the money available.
The one-mile stretch of Garnett accommodates heavy residential, commercial and hospital traffic. Traffic counts in the area were measured at 14,800 and 15,411 vehicles per day, respectively, in 2012 and 2013.
The road is significant in the distribution of traffic to and from Bailey Elementary School and the primary shopping district in Owasso, Smith Farm Marketplace.
The project would widen the road to five lanes, with two lanes in each direction and a center turn lane to expedite movements into various developments along the route. Also included are sidewalks on both sides of the road and dedicated bicycle lanes.
Based on the design, the estimated cost for the planning and construction would be $7.991 million.
ODOT’s funding portion would be through the Surface Transportation Program, which would cover 80 percent of eligible construction costs, or $4.279 million.
The city would underwrite 20 percent, or $1.070 million.
ODOT and the city would split the remaining right of way, utility relocation and engineering costs.
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The bus had two occupants, a driver and an 8-year-old girl. The driver had a suspended license, police said.
