Duffy Street between Jenkins Avenue and S. Jones Avenue will shut down for a full week starting Sept. 8, as crews replace a 16-inch water main beneath the road.

The City of Norman announced the closure in a Sept. 1 update to its project page. The road is expected to reopen Sept. 15.

The work is part of the larger James Garner Waterline Replacement project, which stretches along James Garner Avenue from Duffy Street north to Main Street. That project began July 13 and is expected to last eight months, putting the estimated completion around March 2027.

Why the work matters

According to the city's project page, replacing the water lines along this stretch will eliminate future conflicts with the planned James Garner Streetscape project, a separate Public Works effort. The work will also reduce the chance of water system damage to new street improvements once that streetscape construction begins.

The water line replacement is happening first so the city does not have to tear up newly built road surfaces later.

What drivers should know

The city's notice does not name a specific detour route for the Duffy Street closure. It asks residents to follow posted traffic control signs in the area and allow extra travel time.

The broader James Garner project has already required intermittent lane closures along James Garner Avenue since July. The City of Norman announced a temporary closure of James Garner Avenue between Gray Street and Main Street on July 22 for construction tied to the Gray Street Two-Way project.

Drivers who use Duffy Street as a cut-through between Jenkins and Jones avenues will need to find an alternate route for the full week.

How to stay updated

Residents with questions about the Duffy Street closure or the larger project can call 405-366-5443 or email Nathan Madenwald, the city's utilities engineer for the project, at [email protected]. The city said it will post updates to its project page at normanok.gov as the work progresses.