Not A Single Major Street Paving Project Has Been Completed In 7 Years Despite Ample Funds
More than $6 million is available for street paving and repair in Sulphur, yet no major paving projects have been completed on city streets in the last seven years.
The City of Sulphur has a designated one-half cent sales tax that goes into a restricted fund each year, designated for city paving, repairs and street infrastructure.
The permanent measure was voted on and approved by the citizens of Sulphur in the mid-1980’s.
In July of 2024, council members approved paying Parkhill Engineering almost $200,000.00 to engineer a paving project consisting of 39 blocks within the city limits, however to this date no paving has been started.
In addition to the street paving, repairs to a bridge on West Muskogee, between West 15th and West16th Streets, was engineered to be repaired or replaced and that street is still blocked off to through traffic over a year later. The cost to engineer the bridge repair now stands at more than $57,000.00. Initially, council members approved $54,000.00 in July, 2024, then an additional $3,650.00 in January, 2025 for the project. Photos at right in this article show the blocked street, along with a large pothole in the middle of another street, one that could easily cause major damage to a vehicle.
Among the 39 blocks of streets on the list to be repaved, many are not even in heavy traffic areas.
The question has been raised as to why paving projects have not been started to address the deteriorating conditions of many city streets when funds are clearly available and restricted for such needs.
In the 2025-2026 City of Sulphur Budget, the street fund account shows $6,250,000.00 available for use.
Below is the list of approved streets proposed to council members by Parkhill in 2024 for resurfacing:
•3 blocks on East Second Street from East Muskogee to Oklahoma;
•3 blocks on East 4th Street from Muskogee to Oklahoma;
•5 blocks on East Tahlequah Ave. from U.S. 177 to 4th Street;
•4 blocks on East Vinita Ave. from Division Street to 4th Street;
•approximately 8 blocks on West 14th Street from Willow Lane to just north of Williams Dr.;
•8 blocks on West 14th Street from Broadway to Willow Lane;
•3 blocks on Ardmore Street from West 15th to 18th Streets;
•2 blocks on West Tishomingo Ave. from Colbert Drive to West 17th Street; and
•approximately 2-3 blocks on Westgate Drive (which is a privately owned street according to City Manager Andy Freeman).
ABOVE: A large pothole onWest 13th Street, south of Broadway Avenue, in Sulphur, is among many throughout town. INSET: Muskogee Street between West 15th and West 16th Streets has been blocked off over a year due to a washed-out bridge.
