A new phase of work started Wednesday at Tulsa’s “Center of the Universe” – an artsy feature atop a bridge made into a landmark because of an unusual acoustic effect at the site.
Workers erected barricades to keep passersby safe as work began on the bridge deck that supports the feature. Work underneath the bridge is now complete.
The Downtown Tulsa Partnership spearheaded the project, estimated to cost $10 million, largely funded through bridge and street maintenance funding from the City of Tulsa.
The plans call for enhanced lighting, decorative brickwork, and extensive landscaping to create an improved walkway to the many pedestrians who use it daily to cross the railroad tracks. The road access to the Jazz Hall of Fame building and an adjacent parking garage will remain.
The planners say “they hope” the acoustic anomaly will remain after the plaza is rebuilt, but they won’t be sure until it’s done. The effect has never clearly been understood, but the plans call for the area around the central plaza to be similar to the original.
This article was originally published by KOTV (News on 6). You can see the original story here.