By John Dobberstein, Editor
Tulsa County officials said Tuesday they have received an $8 million federal grant to fund flood prevention and safety work on Garnett Road in south Tulsa, a crucial traffic artery for shoppers, commuters and other travelers in the south suburban area.
The FEMA hazard mitigation grant will fund a critical infrastructure project along South Garnett Road and the 101st Street East Avenue South.
The $12 million project will reconstruct 1 mile of Garnett Road between 91st and 101st streets and elevate the 101st Street intersection by approximately five feet to mitigate repeated flooding that has historically disrupted travel and created safety concerns.
Construction is expected to require a 9-month closure of the intersection once work begins.
This grant, administered by FEMA under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the result of more than 3 years of sustained work by Tulsa County Engineering and extensive advocacy led by District 3 Tulsa County Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley, officials said.
“This project represents a long-term investment in safety, resilience, and mobility for south Tulsa County,” said Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley in a statement Tuesday. “Flooding at this intersection has been a recurring issue for years. Securing this grant took persistence, collaboration, and a commitment to doing what’s right for the people who depend on this roadway every day.”
Dunkerley worked with the county’s highway engineering department to develop, submit and advance the grant application, coordinating with federal, state and local partners to address the route, which has languished as a two-lane road even as population growth and traffic has boomed in the area.
Dunkerley said he traveled to Washington D.C. twice to lobby FEMA leadership and advocate for federal support. Tulsa County will fund construction costs upfront and receive reimbursement through FEMA during the project.
Mayors from Broken Arrow, Bixby and Tulsa, in addition to U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, Saint Francis Health System and the William K. Warren Foundation also advocated for the project.
Numerous members of the Oklahoma Legislature, including State Senators Christi Gillespie, Brian Guthrie, John Haste, Dave Rader and Aaron Reinhardt, as well as State Representatives Mark Tedford, Ross Ford, Stan May, Rob Hall, Chris Banning, Gabe Woolley and Mike Lay were also instrumental in advancing the project, county officials said.
Once the Garnett and 101st Street project is completed, Tulsa County will move forward with the cities of Tulsa and Bixby on a subsequent $14 million project to upgrade 2 miles of East 101st Street from Garnett Road to Memorial Drive to improve safety and traffic flow.
“This is what collaboration looks like,” Dunkerley said. “When local governments, state leaders, and community partners come together with a shared goal, we can deliver real, lasting improvements for our residents.”
Tulsa County officials said they will share additional information regarding construction timelines and traffic impacts on Garnett as the project moves forward.
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