A Norman City Councilman wants OU to share the physical impact of widening Jenkins Avenue instead of just extending the street into the residents side of the street.
"We need to lessen the impact on the residents there," Councilman Doug Cubberley said. "This project was never a priority for the city. It was previously not in the 5 year plan. The university approached us about it because of the expansion of the stadium."
The expansion of Jenkins Avenue between Lindsey and Constitution streets to four lanes was included in the 2004 budget passed by the City Council on June 10, according to City of Norman records. Staff for the city of Norman say the proposed $2 million expansion is needed to reduce traffic around Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Cubberley, whose ward includes Jenkins Avenue, said several homeowners have approached him with concerns about the road expansion. This road expansion is an accommodation to the university, he said. Cubberley would like to work with the university, but he also wants the residents accommodated on the east side of the street. The university should consider expanding the street on west side of the street, instead of putting the total burden on the residents.
W.D. Macintosh, 76, of 1727 Jenkins Ave., has lived at his current residence for 27 years. He said he didn't realize when he first moved here that so much construction would take place around him.
Macintosh said he hopes to be compensated for the loss in property value when the city begins widening lanes over the next 5 years.
When a homeowner buys a house, they're paying for all the land up to the sidewalk, Macintosh said. The expansion will lower the property value of his house because the additional traffic is going to cause a bottle neck of congestion at the corner of Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue.
The city continues to talk with residents and OU officials about the expansion, said Scott Martin, the city manager's press secretary. Jenkins Avenue has become a central entrance to OU and the Norman community. The exact way in which the expansion will take place is still in the planning stage.
Martin said the road expansion is needed to improve the flow of traffic during on football game days and the rest of the year. The expansion of Memorial Stadium will put another 8,000 fans on the road ways around the campus, increasing congestion. Also, the continuing development of the Swearingen Research Park on south campus will also increase traffic around the area.
Angelo Lombardo, Norman's city traffic engineer, said rental properties and two homes north of Timberdale Road including Macintosh's will be the only houses effected by the expansion.
As the construction on the expansion approaches, the city will look into either buying the land from the residents or compensating them in some way, Lombardo said.
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