James Garner Avenue will be closed to traffic between Main and Gray streets for roughly 30 days starting Monday.
A Wednesday press release states that the closure is part of the Gray Street Two-Way Conversion between University Boulevard and Porter Avenue. The project is intended to modify the road from the current one-way westbound system to two-way east and westbound traffic and will include the installation of streetscape elements along Gray Street, according to the project website.
Gray Street will be open to traffic but will be reduced to one westbound lane, according to the release.
“Travelers should follow all detour and construction signage to reduce delays,” the release reads.
In a text to OU Daily Thursday, Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant said if drivers aren’t cautious in work zones, complete road closures might be enacted.
“I hope people will plan their routes accordingly and that construction timelines are not delayed as we get closer to realizing the full vision of the Gray St conversion,” Grant wrote.
The project will also include improvements to the railroad crossing east of James Garner Avenue.
OU Daily reached out to Norman Public Works Director Scott Sturtz and did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Background
The project is part of the transportation bond program that passed in April 2019. The bond involves 19 projects including a traffic management center, widening and reconstruction of roads, traffic signals, sidewalks, stormwater drainage and multimodal bike paths.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is administering the construction of the bond projects, with the assistance of WSB, a national engineering and design firm. Construction began in August 2024 and is expected to be completed in February.
The total construction cost is roughly $7.5 million, of which approximately $4.9 million will be paid for by federal grants, according to the release. The remaining $2.6 million will be paid for by the city’s bond program.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
