City Council To Get Update On Controversial OKC Boulevard Project

The old Interstate 40 is coming down, but some business owners are upset with what could be going up in its place.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Council will be briefed on the progress of the controversial Oklahoma City Boulevard project.

The $100 million project replaces the Interstate 40 Crosstown Bridge that crews have been dismantling for the past several weeks.

Some property owners though are concerned parts of the new Boulevard will also be elevated. Those critics say elevating even part of the new roadway will lead to blight in the area.

However, Public Works Director Eric Wenger tells News 9 the city hasn't made any final decisions yet.

"We don't have to create new issues downtown," Wenger said.

Wenger says the city is also still considering using roundabouts on the new roadway. He says one of this project's top priorities is to ease traffic congestion downtown before and after Thunder games.

The Boulevard is scheduled to be finished by 2014.