Tight MAPS 4 budget may result in cuts to Oklahoma River pedestrian bridge and plaza

Steve Lackmeyer, The Oklahoman
Updated ·3 min read
A MAPS 4 low-water dam will extend the Oklahoma River lakes from Eastern to Reno avenues, an area shown in this photo.
A MAPS 4 low-water dam will extend the Oklahoma River lakes from Eastern to Reno avenues, an area shown in this photo.

Designs for a MAPS 4-funded pedestrian bridge and low-water dam are progressing with a “bare bones” budget with cuts to include a proposed performance plaza.

Construction of the bridge, which will connect trails on the north shore to OKANA on the south shore, is set to begin next year with completion by the resort’s opening in January 2025.

David Todd, head of the city’s MAPS office, said timing of the dam, which will be built between Eastern Avenue and Reno Avenue, is uncertain due to required reviews by fish and wildlife agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Chris Russell, project manager with TEIM Design, showed renderings of the “bare bones” bridge and a span featuring LED lighting and light poles with banners.

A basic pedestrian bridge is set to be built over the Oklahoma River connecting OKANA with the Boathouse District and Riversport Adventures is shown in this rendering. LED lighting and banner poles were removed due to budget constraints. TEIM Design
A basic pedestrian bridge is set to be built over the Oklahoma River connecting OKANA with the Boathouse District and Riversport Adventures is shown in this rendering. LED lighting and banner poles were removed due to budget constraints. TEIM Design

The bridge will be 20 feet wide, 500 feet long, and will span 14 feet between the bottom of the bridge and water surface.

How much will it cost to build the bridge?

To meet the deadline of completing the bridge before the OKANA opening, the city council last month authorized an early $1,067,460 contract for the steel beams. The remainder of the bridge will be put out for construction bids this winter.

Russell estimated the additional bridge amenities, if built, would cost about $750,000. The community gathering spot at the south side of the bridge is designed to accommodate up to 2,400 people and includes a concrete oval stage and overhead roof structure. The plaza, if built, would cost an additional $550,000.

More: Tourism destination planned by Chickasaw Nation has a new name: the Horizons District

Todd said designs for MAPS projects typically can be adjusted to stay within budget with major cuts to the overall design. But just the bridge and dam alone are estimated at $9,665,000, which is slightly more than budgeted.

pedestrian_bridge_map
pedestrian_bridge_map

“We can’t build a bridge that is too short,” Todd said. “We can’t build a dam that is too short. We have them as bare bones as possible, and we still fall a little bit short.”

City projects have not been immune from cost escalations that have stalled commercial projects nationwide. But the city also saw MAPS sales tax collection exceed projections, allowing some project budgets to be increased.

Todd said the MAPS contingency budget also is still an option for the project. The bridge is designed to allow the addition of amenities at a later date and could be funded through private sources.

A performance and gathering stage at the south shore end of a MAPS 4 pedestrian bridge may be cut from the project due to budget constraints.
A performance and gathering stage at the south shore end of a MAPS 4 pedestrian bridge may be cut from the project due to budget constraints.

What to know about OKANA

The $400 million OKANA is being built along the north and east sides of the First Americans Museum. The 12-story hotel is close to being topped out, and construction also has begun on the resort’s convention center and indoor water park. The resort also will include a Native American craft village, restaurants, shops, an outdoor recreational lagoon and a garage.

The dam, meanwhile, will extend the Oklahoma River lakes from Eastern to Reno avenues and create additional developable shoreline east of OKANA and the museum. The Chickasaw Nation, which is building OKANA, has a right to buy the 36 acres from the city at a future date.

The Oklahoma River is seen Tuesday near a proposed dam in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma River is seen Tuesday near a proposed dam in Oklahoma City.
Designs for the pedestrian bridge over the Oklahoma River show its piers will be spaced to accommodate regatta racing lanes.
Designs for the pedestrian bridge over the Oklahoma River show its piers will be spaced to accommodate regatta racing lanes.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tight budget prompting cuts to MAPS 4 Oklahoma River projects