Elm Street Expansion Woes: Jenks Residents Stuck in Traffic Limbo

The City of Jenks is dealing with some big delays on the Elm Street expansion project. Turns out, AT&T needs to get their lines moved before construction can really pick up again. This whole situation is causing a lot of traffic headaches for folks living here, making their daily drives a real pain. Everyone's just hoping things get sorted out soon.

The Elm Street Expansion Story

Back in 2020, the City of Jenks passed a bond that included plans to make Elm Street better. The idea was to widen South Elm Street from three lanes to five lanes. For a while, residents like Bo Ortiz have been saying that Jenks needed wider roads to handle all the traffic. The goal was to make things smoother for everyone driving through.

Daily Commute Nightmares

Right now, though, the construction has actually made traffic worse. Many residents, including Bo Ortiz, say it's become a real problem. Ortiz mentioned that without the construction, his drive home from work takes about 20 minutes. But with all the work on Elm Street and the resulting traffic jams, that commute has nearly doubled. It's definitely been a big inconvenience.

Another resident, Dan Ruer, shared his frustration. He pointed out that with only two lanes, one going each way, it's super hard to get around. People are finding themselves stuck in traffic for an extra 15 to 20 minutes, especially if they're trying to drive during busy times like 8:00 AM or 5:00 PM. It's gotten to the point where Ortiz has to leave for work earlier just to try and avoid the worst of the traffic.

Key Takeaways for Commuters

• Commute times have gone up a lot.
• People now have to plan their daily trips around traffic.
• There's a lot of frustration among folks who live here.

Local Businesses Feel the Pinch

The traffic issues aren't just affecting people's commutes; they're also causing problems for local businesses. Take "Spot for Kids" in Jenks, for example. This center helps children with speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Christian Becker Dixon, a speech language pathologist there, explained how the construction has made it tough for parents to get to their appointments on time.

If parents arrive too late, like 13 to 15 minutes past their scheduled time, the center has to cancel the appointment. This is because they can't bill insurance for a full session if the child doesn't get their full time. It's a tough spot for families who then have to change their own schedules. Dixon hopes the construction finishes up soon and doesn't get even worse.

What's Holding Things Up?

The main reason for these delays, according to the City of Jenks, is AT&T. The city says AT&T needs to move their lines before the construction crew can keep going with the project. So, right now, the city is basically waiting on AT&T to get their part done so they can move forward and finish up this work.

Hoping for a Solution

While residents are hoping for a quick fix, some, like Christian Becker Dixon, don't have super high expectations. She mentioned that they're just getting used to the situation and trying to adapt. The City of Jenks says that the overall project isn't completely stopped, but they are actively working on ways to finish it up as fast as they can. Everyone's just ready for Elm Street to be done and for traffic to flow smoothly again.