Final elements of James Garner Phase II Project to include decorative lighting, signage at bridge

Phase 1 work of final elements begins 9/3/24

The last element of the James Garner Phase II project is to place the decorative lighting and signage on the bridge structure over Robinson Street. The installation of these decorative elements will be done in two phases as follows:

Phase 1

Beginning Tuesday, September 3, the electrician will install the under-bridge lighting. This will required closures of each lane of traffic on Robinson Street, one lane at a time, as the electrician works on that section of the bridge. This work is expected to last through Friday, September 6. Once complete all lanes of traffic will be opened.

Phase 2

Decorative signage is expected to be delivered on or about September 23. Once delivered individual lane closures will again be necessary under the bridge while the new decorative lettering and lighted signage is installed.

Only one lane of Robinson traffic at a time will be closed for each phase of this work. Closure of the new James Garner Avenue is not expected to be necessary to complete either phase, so it will remain open to traffic the entire time.

This project will be carried out by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. All question should be direct to ODOT-District 3 at 405-527-5569

HISTORY OF THE PROJECT

On October 13, 2015, Norman Voters approved the $150 million, 15-year, Norman Forward Sales Tax initiative. The program outlined various citywide projects to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Norman. One of these projects is the James Garner Avenue - Acres Street to Flood Avenue project. The current construction cost for the project is approximately $7.9 million. Of that, approximately $4.8 million, will be paid from federal grant funds, and the remainder will be paid with Norman Forward Funds. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation conducted a bid opening on October 20, 2022, for the James Garner Avenue Norman Forward Project. The low bidder was Redlands Contracting, LLC of Warr Acres, Oklahoma. ODOT awarded the project on November 7, 2022. This project has a 460-calendar day construction schedule, which will likely result in summer 2024 completion. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is administering the construction of this project, with the assistance of Smith Roberts Baldischwiler.

Proposed improvements for the James Garner Phase 2 Norman Forward Project include:

• Construction of a new roadway extension of James Garner Avenue beginning from just north of Acres Street adjacent to the Norman Municipal Library and extending north of Robinson Street to connect to Flood Avenue.
• New multilane roundabout intersection between the Flood Avenue and the new James Garner extension
• A new vehicular and pedestrian bridge over Robinson Street with aesthetics honoring James Garner as the roadway's namesake.
• Reconstruction and extension of the Legacy Trail with improved pedestrian lighting.
• Low Impact Development such as plantings and landscaping in the roadway medians and at bridge abutments to filter runoff and help prevent erosion.
• Reconfigured connections between local streets from Johnson Street to Himes Street.
• Decorative roadway lighting and landscaping.

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