Explaining the Improvements Project

The Broken Arrow City Council unanimously approved the construction contract for the New Orleans Street and Elm Place Intersection and Streetscapes Improvements project to Diversified Civil Contractors, LLC, during its meeting on May 17, 2022.

Construction began Monday, June 6, 2022. A timeline of the project can be found at the bottom of this page.

Diversified Civil Contractors submitted the lowest responsible bid of $4,465,993.50. With change orders that were necessary during the life of the project, the revised amount of the contract was $5,430,206.50. The project to revamp the intersection is the latest installment of the revitalization efforts of New Orleans Square in south Broken Arrow.

The improvements include:

  • Decorative concrete intersection
  • Asphalt mill and overlay
  • Approximately 2,400 feet of 12 inch waterline
  • Approximately 2,200 feet of 5-feet wide sidewalk
  • Approximately 600 feet of 10-feet wide sidewalk
  • Landscaping and irrigation
  • Hardscaping
  • Gateways
  • Streetlighting
  • Traffic Signals

The new pavement configuration will include two through lanes in each direction along with dedicated left turn lanes at the intersection. Also, a dedicated right turn lane is included along northbound Elm Place for right turns onto eastbound New Orleans Street.

The proposed improvements include replacement of the interior intersection with a decorative full depth concrete pavement using colored/patterned concrete and pavers. The color scheme will include a blue medallion of the New Orleans Square logo centered in a white square with white crosswalks and borders. The blue is a unique color which will help set the intersection apart from any other.
New Orleans and Elm Intersection Color Scheme
The existing asphalt pavement beyond the intersection will be milled and overlaid extending approximately 400 feet in each direction from the center of the intersection.

Beautification amenities, such as decorative plantings and shade trees, improved lighting, wider sidewalks, traffic signal upgrades, and enhanced crosswalks are included in the improvements.

Beautification Amentities

Landscaping will be planted in the area including new trees, hedges, flowers, and plants in the median. The plants that will be selected won't require a lot of water and will be able to withstand traffic and debris.

Gateways will also be installed to alert the public it is traveling into New Orleans Square.

New Orleans Square Gateways

Larger gateway signs will be placed in the medians facing traffic coming from the west and south. Smaller signs will be located along the side of the roadways in each direction.

Project Timeline (subject to weather, supply chain delays)

  • April 19, 2022 - Project advertised
  • May 10, 2022 - Bids will be opened
  • May 17, 2022 - Construction contract awarded
  • Late May, 2022 - Construction pre-work
  • June 3, 2022 - Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction
  • June 6, 2022 - Contractor on site, construction begins 
  • Late January 2023 - Intersection roadway mostly complete
  • Spring 2023 - Project mostly complete