Cherokee Bridge and the Cherokee Avenue entrance to Johnstone Park are still closed to facilitate work on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation bridge replacement project.
The closures are necessary to facilitate water and sewer relocations needed for the bridge project currently underway by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The ODOT project includes replacing the State-owned bridge over the Caney River and realigning the bridge/intersection east of its current location.
“The sewer line across Highway 123 has been installed, and the ODOT contractor hopes to have the water line installed by next week, weather permitting,” said City Utility Inspector Red Miller. “Once the water line is in, they’ll open the bridge back up and (Highway) 123 will be open.”
But more closures are coming, Miller said.
“They plan to close the smaller bridge north of the Cherokee Bridge within the next week or two, so traffic will be diverted once that happens,” he said.
Northbound traffic will be able to turn west at County Road 1775 and take Road 3950 to Durham Road back east to Highway 123.
“After the north bridge is done, which should take about 100 days — if the weather holds and everything goes right — they’ll open Highway 123 until the new bridge is done,” Miller said.
The two-year project began in April of this year. Intermittent closures in the area should be expected throughout the project.