OKLAHOMA CITY – Next Monday the streets of downtown Oklahoma City will come alive with music. 

That’s when the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. parade will wind its way down Broadway and into Bricktown.

Yet some business owners in the area said the parade is hurting their bottom line and spoke against the event at city council.

The parade closes down dozens of city blocks starting at 10th St. and Broadway.

Store owners said that absolutely wreaks havoc on stores open for business in the area.

“I mean it’s a $5 ($5,000) to $10,000 impact on my business that we won’t be able to get back,” business owner Steve Schlegel said.

Steve, the owner of Schlegel Bikes, said unfortunately the extensive road closures to accommodate the parade limits access to his business.

“There has been a little conflict,” councilwoman Meg Salyer said.

OKLAHOMA CITY – After months of public debate, Tuesday marked decision time for the design of a new downtown boulevard in Oklahoma City.

The city council gave the project the go ahead and agreed to build a new bridge over Western avenue leading into downtown.

The fact is most of the planned boulevard will be at street level but not all of it.

Critics said elevating any of the roadway will only be repeating the mistakes of the past.

“We preferred a grid design,” business owner Joe Loomis said.

“It’s important to keep that alignment and keep traffic moving freely,” OKC Mayor Mick Cornett said.

The mayor said traffic concerns with the planned boulevard crossing Western Ave. led to four options: a bridge over Western, a tunnel under Western, an old-fashioned intersection or a roundabout.

Officials with Devon Energy recently accepted an award that honors their use of safety and creativity in the work place.