By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A City of Yukon contractor is due to start in February on a $1.2M project to rebuild a section of Wagner Road with concrete and make other upgrades.
This arterial street, on Yukon’s north side, has been plagued by flooding and other drainage issues over the years.
City engineers believe having new concrete paving (instead of asphalt) will greatly enhance the well-traveled Wagner Road.
“We believe it’s going to be a longer-lasting surface,” Assistant City Manager Mitchell Hort said.
Brewer Construction was approved at the Jan. 4th city council meeting to reconstruct Wagner Road from State Highway 4 east to Yukon Parkway at a cost of $1,225,166.98.
The contractor will:
- Reconstruct the asphalt road with concrete paving
- Correct the offset alignment at the east end
- Replace existing broken concrete panels
- Replace broken curb and gutter
- Construct concrete driveways
Wagner Road will be a primary detour route during phase two construction on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s SH-4 project, from Main Street (SH-66) north past Wagner Road.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission this year is due to select a contractor for the estimated 12-month construction project. A bid letting date for phase two has already been delayed twice.
HOW WILL IT HOLD UP?
Ward 4 City Council Member Aric Gilliland asked how the newly rebuilt stretch of Wagner Road will “hold up to increased traffic” – notably large vehicles – during the SH-4 construction.
“The concrete, we believe, will stand up a lot better than asphalt,” Hort replied. “One of the reasons we’re doing concrete is – as we’ve discussed in the past – we’re worried about the water sitting on it.”
The upcoming Wagner Road project must be completed before phase two of ODOT’s Highway 4 project, which will start with construction of a wider box bridge near the Wagner Road intersection.
“We have to get it done fast,” Yukon City Manager Tammy Kretchmar told council members.
TEIM Design, the City of Yukon’s engineering firm, will receive $36,750 for engineering and construction observation services on the Wagner Road project.
Ultimately, Yukon city officials also plan to reconstruct the stretch of Wagner Road between SH-4 and N 11th Street. This area is in the floodplain.
