91st and Riverside improvement project begins June 16 in Tulsa

The City of Tulsa said an improvement project at East 91st Street and South Riverside Drive is set to begin on June 16.

This is the site of a fatal crash on Feb. 13 involving two Holland Hall students.

The project will replace the pavement at the intersection, improve drainage to better manage storm runoff, and also add asphalt compaction to strengthen the road's surface.

The first phase of the project will close the outermost north and southbound lanes of Riverside near the intersection, with traffic limited in both directions. The right turn lane on 91st will be closed during this phase, which will last about two weeks.

During phase 2, set to begin on June 30, the inner lanes will be closed, which will last another two weeks.

"Ultimately, these upgrades will support long-term durability at the intersection, which sees almost 30,000 vehicles a day," the City shared.

Construction is scheduled for completion by mid-July 2025.

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FROM 5/12/2025

The City of Tulsa plans to repave the intersection of 91st and Riverside, where a fatal crash occurred on Feb. 13.

The work, which the city says was in the planning stages since last year, will begin in June, though the timing hasn't been announced.

A noticeable dip at the intersection in the northbound lanes will be eliminated when the work is done. A city survey of the area has documented the dip, which is over a 66" storm drain underneath the road. A city examination of the pipe has not found soil infiltration that could have caused the dip.

A city spokesman said the work would improve the pavement and drainage for the area, without specifics on the scale of the project. City records indicate the dip has been there since at least 2019.

On Feb. 13, 2025, a car that witnesses described as moving at high speed went through the intersection and over the dip before leaving the road and plunging into Joe Creek. Two teenagers, Claire Esmond and Mollie Buffington, died in the crash, and a third teen, the driver, survived with serious injuries.

Previous Stories:

1. Community mourns Holland Hall teens killed in crash, some calling for intersection changes
2. Tulsa police says evidence shows speed was a factor in deadly crash involving Holland Hall students
3. Community remembers life of Holland Hall student killed in crash
4. 2 Holland Hall students killed in crash, 1 in critical condition