Maintenance in Progress During April on 71st Street Bridge over Arkansas River; Motorists Need “Work Zone Awareness”

4/6/2022

City of Tulsa Street Maintenance personnel are working on emergency joint and panel repairs on the 71^st Street bridge over the Arkansas River through the month of April into early May. During this work, traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction on the bridge.

As this work is occurring, the City of Tulsa is joining the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to observe the current week and the week after it as Work Zone Awareness Weeks. This is part of the National Work Zone Awareness Week observance April 11 – 15.

This year’s Work Zone Awareness Week theme is “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” A work zone may be planned in advance, or it may be unexpected and temporary during emergency repairs or crashes, placing crews and responders in direct contact with traffic.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued a proclamation for April 4 – 15, 2022 as Oklahoma Work Zone Awareness Weeks. The governor cited statistics including: 

• In 2021, 20 people were killed and 261 were injured in more than 1,557 collisions in Oklahoma work zones and many of these fatalities and injuries were caused by inattentive driving, following too closely, and speeding in construction zones.

• By state law, the fines for speeding in work zones are doubled and texting while driving is banned; drivers are asked to remain vigilant behind the wheel and buckle up, as 50 percent of crashes potentially would have been less severe for drivers wearing a seat belt.