Tulsa World
By RICH BRIERRE
Published: 3/25/20112:21 AM
Last Modified: 3/25/20116:00 AM
The old adage, "build it and they will come," albeit trite, is valid. Brick and mortar projects, when combined with legitimate public or public-private partnerships, can and do lead to a huge economic impact for metropolitan areas.
The BOK Center, one of the crown jewels of the renowned Vision 2025 vote, is experiencing record attendance figures. Regional communities such as Bixby, Broken Arrow, Glenpool, Jenks, Owasso, Sand Springs, Skiatook and Collinsville are also undergoing a resurgence as the nation digs out of a two-year recession.
Catalytic to this growth has been the completion and beginning of key infrastructure improvements. Reconstruction of Tulsa's Inner Dispersal Loop was recently completed, and the six-lane reconstruction of I-44 from Yale Avenue to Riverside Drive is well under way.
While these projects were or still are a headache for travelers in the interim, the long-term gain will prove to be very beneficial.
But just as important are those projects that are planned or under discussion. Completing the Gilcrease Expressway would provide north and west Tulsa with never-before seen economic development opportunities.
The construction of a toll bridge in south Tulsa would greatly benefit Tulsa, Bixby, Jenks and Glenpool. As the area continues its rapid development, the need for the bridge has increased significantly... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, March 25, 2011
by John Cox