By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
SAPULPA, Okla. — Drivers can once again travel through downtown Sapulpa as Dewey Avenue officially reopens after nearly a year of construction.
City leaders are marking the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today, celebrating a redesigned streetscape aimed at making downtown more pedestrian-friendly, boosting local businesses, and enhancing Sapulpa’s growing identity along historic Route 66.
The project transformed Dewey Avenue from a four-lane roadway into a two-lane street — one lane in each direction — eliminating on-street parking and significantly widening sidewalks. The redesign prioritizes slower traffic, safer walking areas, and more opportunities for people to stop and spend time downtown.
“We wanted to encourage pedestrian traffic, slow vehicles down, and really help people engage with our local businesses,” said David Reed, president of Reed Architects & Interiors, the firm that helped design the new streetscape.
Reed says the project also focuses on creating gathering spaces — with benches, trees, landscaping, and what he describes as a “front porch” feel for downtown residents and workers.
“When I moved my business downtown, I was shocked to see how many people actually live on this street,” Reed said. “This gives them a front-door porch space instead of a four-lane highway running through downtown.”
Built with the Christmas Chute in mind
Another key element of the redesign is its focus on Sapulpa’s popular Christmas Chute, which draws thousands of visitors each holiday season.
Each new light pole along Dewey Avenue was engineered to double as a structural support for the Christmas Chute. Reed says beginning in November 2026, both lanes of the street will be fully covered with holiday lights and décor.
“Both lanes will be covered in Christmas — and how awesome is that,” Reed said. “Sapulpa will be branded the Christmas town in America.”
The improvements are also designed to make setup easier for volunteers, allowing them to focus more on visitors rather than installation logistics.
Businesses already seeing an impact
Local business owners say the changes are already paying off.
Terri Fain, manager of Heart of Route 66 Vintage Store, says foot traffic has noticeably increased since construction fencing came down a few weeks ago.
“New road, new look — people want to come down and see what it’s all about,” Fain said. “We’ve had some record-breaking Saturdays already, and it’s only going to get better.”
Fain also addressed concerns about parking, noting that multiple parking lots are available just off Dewey Avenue along nearby side streets.
“We already feel like we’re at — or even above — where we were before the road closed,” she said. “People are curious, and they’re excited.”
She says the streetscape gives downtown Sapulpa a storybook feel — especially during the holidays.
“I really feel like we’re becoming a Hallmark town,” Fain said. “It’s magical.”
Looking toward the future
Reed says several new businesses have already moved downtown in anticipation of the project’s completion, and he expects more private investment to follow.
“Expectations are high,” Reed said. “Sapulpa has been around for more than 120 years, and this is about setting the next generation up for success.”
With Dewey Avenue now open, city leaders and business owners alike are hopeful the redesigned street will help draw more visitors to downtown Sapulpa — not just for Route 66 and Christmas events, but year-round.
