The highway makes use of the former right-of-way of Interstate 40 (I-40), which was relocated to the south along a former rail alignment due to increased traffic and visible wear on parts of the freeway.

Bezdek was approached by Bob Kemper, a local transportation advocate and former ODOT employee about forming a citizens group to force further public review of the project.

Bezdek conceived the name Friends for a Better Boulevard and suggested that Kemper organize a group under that title on Facebook to harness online civic support to demand a proper environmental review.

[citation needed] Friends for a Better Boulevard (FBB) launched its campaign as a Facebook Group and via the popular Oklahoma City blog, OKC TALK.

[citation needed] The group grew quickly to over six hundred active members and demanded that local leaders apply further review to the boulevard project.