Filed by Michael Cross in Local News, News.
January 8, 2013
 

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This morning, the City Council of Oklahoma City could be approving the new downtown Boulevard south of the Ford center, but there will now be delays in completion.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has to do another environmental impact study.

One of the biggest projects on Oklahoma City’s Core to Shore program, the Main Boulevard where the I-40 Crosstown used to be won’t be completed until at least 2016.

ODOT Chief Engineer Gary Evans says another environmental impact study was needed after all the input from different groups on the final look of the Boulevard.

“We’re just hopeful that throughout the process that we’re able to get something that not only the people that pass through Oklahoma City, but the people that have destinations in Oklahoma City and the people who live in the downtown area can be proud of.”

The boulevard was expected to be completed in 2014, but now it looks like construction won’t even be able to start until next year.

ODOT is using federal money to build the Boulevard, but it will revert to the city once it’s complete.