A widening project has eliminated traffic congestion and peak-hour no-left-turn signs while also improving safety at the 15th Street and Utica Avenue intersection. The project, which began in 2008 and was completed in 2009, reconstructed the intersection and its approaches with concrete and added a left-turn lane for each direction. New traffic signals also were installed. The original intersection was four lanes on each approach and had no-left-turn signs for each direction that were open during peak hours. Traffic often backed up at the intersection, as two major hospitals are located within a half mile of it, as well as the Cherry Street area to the west. The intersection also is adjacent to the Broken Arrow Expressway, and a lot of traffic travels through the intersection to access the expressway's last entrance before the downtown Inner Dispersal Loop. The project was funded by the 2001 and 2006 sales tax packages. Photo taken June 2009.
