Transcript Staff Writer

An $8.5 million Lindsey Street construction project is progressing nicely, said Norman Public Works Director Shawn O'Leary on Wednesday.

"It's ahead of schedule, but I hate to say that because you never know what the weather will do," O'Leary said. "But we're making great progress."

The project is at Lindsey Street and 24th Avenue SE, planned to widen the roads and improve the intersection in the area. It has had the roads torn up since about Labor Day 2007, slowing traffic in the area.

It's scheduled to be completed in November.

The project is being funded from federal dollars through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and City of Norman capital improvement bond program, with any additional funding necessary from the City's capital improvement budget.

"It's a big one for us," O'Leary said, calling it a major bond project.

The project also will include traffic signals and left turn bays at Lindsey Street and Oakhurst.

O'Leary said one of the hardest portions of the project was reconstructing a box culvert bridge under Lindsey Street last fall.

Funding for the $5.2 million 24th Avenue SE portion of the project will come from $1.5 million in City of Norman Capital Improvement Project bond funding and $3.2 million in federal dollars.

The $3.38 million Lindsey Street portion is being paid for with $1.3 million in City CIP bond funding and $1.74 million from federal dollars.

The balance of funding on both roads will come from the City's CIP budget, O'Leary said.

"Suffice it to say, the federal share was very, very important," O'Leary said. "It's a great project."

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com