More work is needed on Pathfinder Parkway near the Tuxedo Bridge before that portion of the path can be re-opened, Director of Engineering Micah Siemers said recently.
Several areas of Pathfinder Parkway, the City of Bartlesville-owned pedestrian path that winds through several Bartlesville neighborhoods, were closed recently due to flooding that began in May. One of those areas, near the Tuxedo Bridge, remains closed due to erosion — which was significantly worsened by the recent flooding.
“This area remains closed due to further erosion of the path caused by recent flooding,” Siemers said. “A contractor will be required to reconstruct the riverbank in that area, but we won’t be able to move forward on the project until the river level drops back down to normal.”
Siemers said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still sending water down the Caney River to draw down Copan and Hulah lakes.
“Every time it rains the clock resets on this project, as Copan is still 17 feet and Hulah is still 19 feet above normal,” he said.
Siemers said a target date for construction will not be known until the river level falls.
“If we continue to get periodic rains, it could be this fall before the water levels are low enough to do any sort of bank reconstruction work,” he said.