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New Bridge for Boulder Downtown

The road closed sign on the Archer side of the old demolished Boulder bridge.
KWGS News file photo
The road closed sign on the Archer side of the old demolished Boulder bridge.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Mayor Bartlett, joined by representatives of the Brady Arts District Owners Association, Downtown Coordinating Council and the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, today announced a major step for revitalization and increased economic development in downtown Tulsa. Construction is scheduled to begin in September on a new Boulder Avenue bridge spanning the downtown BNSF railroad tracks and linking First Street to Archer Street. Renderings of the bridge are attached to this email.

"Building the new bridge between the downtown core and the historic Brady Arts District, which is undergoing rapid revitalization, is the latest infrastructure improvement for this area," Mayor Bartlett said. "The new Boulder bridge will provide a needed link, for both vehicles and pedestrians, between the restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural attractions in the Brady District and ONEOK Field, the BOK Center and other portions of the downtown area."

The bridge will connect the Brady Arts District with downtown, and the existing Boulder Avenue continues the connection south to Veterans Park near the Arkansas River. Brady Arts District Owners Association President Steve Ganzkow said, "The newly designed Boulder bridge will be of great benefit to downtown and the Brady Arts District. The bridge will provide direct access and link downtown office workers and visitors with restaurants, entertainment and art activities in the Brady Arts District. The timing is perfect with all the new construction underway in the Brady Arts District."

The old Boulder Avenue bridge, built in 1929, was closed to traffic a decade ago and was demolished in 2009. The new Boulder bridge will have four lanes to accommodate both north- and southbound traffic and will include an extra-wide sidewalk for pedestrian use. It also fits in the overall downtown master plan, designed with transit potential as a downtown trolley route.

Landscaping will include Boston ivy, holly and roses at the approach ends of the bridge near the outside retaining walls. Art students from Tulsa Technology Center have designed artwork for the bridge fencing that represents Tulsa's history and culture through to the future.

The City of Tulsa has contracted with Becco Contractors Inc. for this $8,296,349.60 project, which includes bridge construction, landscaping, lighting and artwork installation. Completion of the project is scheduled for summer 2012.

Construction funding for the bridge comes from both the 2006 Third-Penny Sales Tax and the 2008 Bond Issue. SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure L.L.C. was the design engineering consultant for the project.
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