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Riverfront authority details sinkhole, sewer repairs and ongoing dredging work
Summary
At its May 19 meeting the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority received a detailed update from Public Works on dredging, decanting sites, a sinkhole that impacted 48‑inch sewer lines, and geo‑testing for an ODOT pedestrian bridge; permanent repairs will be coordinated with bridge work and basin drainage.
Frank Manning, facilities program manager for the Public Works Department, told trustees at the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority’s May 19 meeting that crews are managing multiple river maintenance projects, including dredging, decanting and a recent sinkhole that exposed large sewer lines.
"There are three 48‑in sewer lines that cross that tributary," Manning said as he described the collapse at a tributary by Eastern Avenue on the river’s north side. "Temporary repairs were completed by May 15th." He said crews expect permanent work on the lines will require coordination with basin drainage and other nearby construction.
Why it matters: the Authority manages pool elevations and river conditions that support recreation and events; sediment and debris from high watershed flows require recurring dredging and decanting operations to keep channels navigable and safe. Manning said Project MCO 788, a decanting site at Walker Avenue, is being built with liners and bags to support dredging in the Brom Basin.
Manning reported several project updates: Project MCO 762 (the First American Museum Boat Landing) is at substantial completion and nearing final acceptance; Project MCO 776 covers repair and operation of the Oklahoma River Skater System and the Authority approved an on‑call electrical service agreement with Taiga, which had staff on site the day of the meeting. Manning also said Red Rock Consulting completed geo‑testing at the planned ODOT pedestrian bridge site near RiverSport at Lincoln Avenue April 27–30 and that ODOT has approved the testing and will move forward with bridge plans.
On the sinkhole, Manning described a large repair job that initially required temporary fixes and a crew from the utilities department. He said the permanent work will likely affect multiple 48‑inch lines and that staff aim to coordinate the repairs with planned basin drainage tied to the pedestrian bridge construction to minimize repeated disturbance of the site.
Manning also updated trustees on decanting site status: MB2 is full and entering the decanting process, while EB1 has had materials removed and is being prepared for reuse with sod and a flume to manage runoff.
The presentation closed with an invitation for questions; trustees did not record substantive follow‑up questions during the meeting. The Authority did not provide a firm completion date for the permanent sewer repairs at the time of the meeting.
