Elm Street Widening Project: What's Happening in Jenks?

This "Ask Jenks" episode features City of Jenks Director of Communications Katie Butterfield and Councilor Matt Emmons. They discuss the ongoing Elm Street widening project, which spans from 111th to 131st Street. The conversation covers the project's background, the reasons behind its delays, and what residents can expect as it moves forward.

Meet Councilor Matt Emmons

In this episode, we get to know Councilor Matt Emmons a bit better. He represents Ward 2, which covers the area from Elwood on the east to Highway 75 on the west, and from 91st Street on the north to the Creek Turnpike on the south. Outside of his council duties, Matt works in construction. He's been a councilor for about a year now, and he's been a welcome addition to the Jenks Council.

The Elm Street Widening Project: A Closer Look

The Elm Street widening project is a big deal for Jenks. It involves widening Elm Street all the way from 111th Street to 131st Street. This project actually started with a citizen vote back in 2020. It's a significant undertaking, with a total cost estimated to be around $16 million. Because of its size, everyone knew it wouldn't be a quick fix, and it would take some time to get going.

Why the Delays? Understanding the Process

Many residents might wonder why the project, approved in 2020, hasn't visibly started yet. There are several reasons for the timeline:

• Right-of-Way Acquisitions: A major part of the early work involved getting the necessary land. This can be a complex process.
• Utility Relocation: Before any major digging, all the existing utilities—like power lines, gas lines, and water pipes—need to be moved. This involves working with different organizations such as PSO and ONG, as well as various landowners. It's a huge job to move every single light pole and utility line without causing big interruptions to power or water for residents.
• Construction Delays: Sometimes, things like bad weather can slow down progress.
• Design Updates: The project's design also needed some adjustments along the way.

The good news is that all the right-of-way acquisitions are now complete. So, even if you don't see a lot of construction happening on Elm Street right now, a lot of important work has been going on behind the scenes.

What's Next for Elm Street?

So, what's the next step for this project? Currently, the City staff is looking at proposals from different companies for the actual construction work. This means we're getting closer to seeing physical changes on Elm Street.

To make sure everyone stays informed, the City of Jenks has a plan:

• Updates will be posted on jenks.com, and there will be a special page just for this project.
• The City's social media pages will also share updates as needed.
• Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for the City of Jenks alert system on jenks.com. This system sends text or call alerts directly to your phone about major road closures, detours, or anything else that might affect traffic in the area. It's a good way to stay in the loop as the project moves forward.

Key Takeaways

• Councilor Emmons asks for patience from citizens, city staff, and the council. Projects of this size take time, and everyone wants to see it finished as quickly as possible.
• The City appreciates everyone's understanding as they work on these projects to make Jenks better.