More Lights Turned On Along Broken Arrow Expressway

<p>Tulsa drivers will notice some lanes shut down over the weekend as city crews work to turn more highway lights back on. Those highways have been left in the dark because of copper thieves.  </p>

Friday, January 5th 2018, 6:38 am

By: Amy Slanchik

More Lights Turned On Along Broken Arrow Expressway

Tulsa drivers can expect some lane closures on the Broken Arrow Expressway this weekend.

City crews will work to bring the highway lights back after they were left dark thanks to vandals who stole copper wire.

Drivers on both sides of the BA Expressway can expect the left lanes to be closed in different places between 15th Street and Sheridan.

The City said the closures will start at 7:00 Friday night and drivers can expect the lanes to stay closed until 6:00 Monday morning.

The repairs are needed after vandals stole about 34 miles worth of copper from highway lights across the city, making it difficult for drivers to see the road.

To deter thieves, crews are replacing the copper wires with aluminum and putting stickers on each pole stating, "We use aluminum."

Workers hope to have everything completed by the end of 2018.

The final expense for the project is just under $10 million.

If needed, repairs will also be made next weekend.

Amy Slanchik

Amy Slanchik is passionate about storytelling. She joined the News On 6 team in May of 2016 after spending almost two years in Fort Smith, Ark. She is a proud University of Oklahoma graduate.