 In a letter sent to OTA in March 1990 , USACE identified issues with the Creek Turnpike project , such as modifications to Polecat Creek 's channel , impacts on the Arkansas River floodplain and levee system near Jenks , and loss of 14 @.@ 8 acres ( 6 @.@ 0 ha ) of wetlands . In two other letters sent in May 1990 , USACE requested alterations to the project , detailing further concerns about destruction of a unique type of wetland near the turnpike 's planned intersection with Yale Avenue , OTA 's plan to temporarily drain Mill Creek Bridge Pond , and emergency access to homes only accessible by crossing the pond on a wooden bridge . USACE warned that , should the changes the corps requested not be made , the turnpike plans may violate federal law , which would result in USACE withholding the necessary permits . The corps also required " absolute assurance " that new wetlands constructed as part of the project 's mitigation efforts would not be built on land that was formerly the site of a landfill . On March 29 , USACE held a public hearing as part of the permit process . The hearing had around 500 attendees , with over fifty of them giving five @-@ minute speeches against the turnpike . One speaker compared the highway 's environmental impact to that of the wreck of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez . No citizens spoke out in favor of the project . 
