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Interstate 40 in Oklahoma

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This article is about the section of Interstate 40 in Oklahoma. For the entire route, see Interstate 40.
Interstate 40 marker
Interstate 40
Map
I-40 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length331 mi (533 km)
Existed1957[1]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-40 at the Texas state line
Major intersections
East end I-40 at the Arkansas state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountiesBeckham, Washita, Custer, Caddo, Canadian, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, McIntosh, Muskogee, Sequoyah
Highway system
  • Oklahoma State Highway System
← SH-39→ SH-42

Interstate 40 (I-40) is an Interstate Highway in Oklahoma that runs 331 miles (533 km) across the state from Texas to Arkansas. West of Oklahoma City, it parallels and replaces old U.S. Highway 66 (US-66), and, east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, US-266, and US-64. I-40 is the longest Interstate highway in Oklahoma.

Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City, Clinton, Weatherford, Oklahoma City and its suburbs (El Reno, Yukon, Del City, and Midwest City), Shawnee, Okemah, Henryetta, Checotah, and Sallisaw.

Route description

[edit]

I-40 enters Oklahoma near Texola in Beckham County. It crosses the North Fork of the Red River near Sayre and runs through southern Elk City. It then cuts across northwest Washita County before entering Custer County. There, it passes through Clinton and Weatherford. After leaving Weatherford, I-40 then runs across northern Caddo County. After that, it enters the Oklahoma City metropolitan area at Canadian County.

I-40 and I-44 junction (also known as the Amarillo Junction) traveling westbound in Oklahoma City

I-40 runs through the southside of El Reno as it enters the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It then passes through Yukon before entering Oklahoma City city limits. In west Oklahoma City, I-40 has a junction with I-44. It then runs just south of downtown Oklahoma City on a new 10-lane section.[2] I-40 then interlines with I-35 at the Dallas Junction complex. This forms a concurrency with it for two miles (3.2 km). After the Dallas Junction, I-40 then passes through Del City and Midwest City on the Tinker Diagonal. This provides access to Tinker Air Force Base in east Oklahoma City.

In far eastern Oklahoma City, I-40 meets I-240 in a partial junction. Afterward, it passes through the northside of Shawnee. This marks the eastern end of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In Henryetta, I-40 serves as the northern terminus of the Indian Nation Turnpike. In McIntosh County, it crosses the northernmost arm of Lake Eufaula. Afterward, it meets US-69 south of Checotah.

Near Webbers Falls, I-40 is the southern terminus of the Muskogee Turnpike. It then crosses the Arkansas River before passing through southern Sallisaw. The Interstate crosses into Arkansas north of Moffett.

History

[edit]

West of Oklahoma City, I-40 parallels and replaces Old US-66. US-66 was decommissioned in Oklahoma in 1985.

Exit 176
Exit 181
Exit 240A
Exit 262

Bridge collapse

[edit]
Main article: I-40 bridge disaster

The I-40 bridge over the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System near Webbers Falls was struck by a barge on May 26, 2002, causing the bridge to collapse and resulting in the death of 14 people.

Westbound I-40 traffic was detoured through Gore and Webbers Falls along SH-10, US-64, and SH-100, while eastbound traffic was diverted through Porum and Stigler along SH-2, SH-9, and US-59.[3] Delays of 30 to 50 minutes on the 12-mile (19 km) westbound detour were typical, although trains passing through Gore could lengthen wait times by 15 minutes. The eastbound detour added 40 miles (64 km) and two hours to the typical trip. Some travelers chose to avoid the area entirely; one Tulsa trucking firm detoured trucks via Springdale, adding 70 miles (110 km) to the trip.[4][5]

The detour significantly impacted the town of Gore. Local firefighters directed traffic there 24 hours a day, with daytime temperatures approaching 100 °F (38 °C). Businesses in Gore reported loss of revenue due to the traffic; one gas station reported a 30% decline in revenue while traffic was detoured through town.[5]

2013 tornado

[edit]
Main article: 2013 El Reno tornado

On the evening of May 31, 2013, a very large and powerful multiple-vortex tornado occurred over rural areas of central Oklahoma, passing around El Reno, Oklahoma. This is known to be the largest tornado ever recorded at 2.6 miles (4.2 km) wide and was responsible for eight fatalities and 151 injuries. Four of those fatalities were storm chasers, the first known deaths in storm chasing history.[6] This tornado crossed over I-40 at around 6:33 pm CDT after hitting peak strength and maximum width and did a 270-degree counterclockwise loop north of the Interstate, clipping SH-66 before traveling on and along the Interstate, approaching Oklahoma City at a very slow speed. The tornado dissipated at 6:43 pm near exit 130 (Banner Road).[7]

2015 shootings

[edit]

On December 17, 2015, a Pasadena, Texas, man allegedly shot and killed two people on I-40 near Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was arrested by police in Clinton, Oklahoma.[8]

Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment

[edit]
Main article: Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway

The original I-40 Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway was built in 1966 mostly as an elevated route;[citation needed] however, this former stretch was too narrow for existing traffic and was frequently in disrepair. In response, the I-40 Crosstown Expressway has been relocated a few blocks south of the original route and the original bridge torn down. The project was completed in February 2012.[2]

The new I-40 Crosstown Expressway has been designed to carry more than 170,000 vehicles per day traveling at 60 mph (97 km/h) using at least 10 lanes for traffic and has breakdown lanes for disabled vehicles and future lane expansion.

When the new crosstown opened in 2012, nearly 95% of non–rush hour traffic was considered 'through traffic' (i.e., not transferring to or from downtown streets).[citation needed]

A landscaped boulevard (Oklahoma City Boulevard) was completed in 2019, replacing the original I-40 Crosstown Bridge right-of-way through downtown Oklahoma City, similar to the I-30 reconstruction through downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Business routes and old alignments

[edit]

I-40 has eight business routes in Oklahoma, six of which are old alignments of US-66. A number of other old alignments of US-66 are also present west of Oklahoma City.

  • Interstate 40 Business (I-40 Bus., formerly US-66) in Erick is a business loop that runs from I-40 two miles (3.2 km) west of Erick to the old alignment of US-66, through Erick, and back to I-40 four miles (6.4 km) east of Erick.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Sayre is a business loop that begins two miles (3.2 km) south of Sayre at US-283, runs north into the city, and then leaves Sayre to the east, rejoining I-40 two miles (3.2 km) east of US-283.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Elk City is a business loop that begins at exit 32 seven miles (11 km) west of Elk City. It runs for 10 miles (16 km) through Elk City, rejoining I-40 at exit 41.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Clinton is a business loop that begins at exit 65, runs five miles (8.0 km) through Clinton, and rejoins I-40 at exit 69.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Weatherford is a business loop that exits I-40 at exit 82B, runs four miles (6.4 km) through Weatherford, and rejoins I-40 at exit 82.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in El Reno is a business loop that exits I-40 at exit 119, runs eight miles (13 km) through El Reno, and rejoins I-40 at exit 125, the interchange with US-81.
  • I-40 Bus. (formerly US-62/US-75) in Henryetta is a business loop that leaves I-40 at exit 237, runs four miles (6.4 km) through Henryetta, and rejoins I-40 at exit 240, the interchange with US-75 and the Indian Nation Turnpike.
  • I-40 Bus. in Sallisaw is a business loop that leaves I-40 at exit 308 (US-59) runs four miles (6.4 km) through Sallisaw, and rejoins I-40 at exit 311, US-64.

Exit list

[edit]
CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
BeckhamTexola0.000.00
 I-40 west – Amarillo		Continuation into Texas
0.500.801Texola
​5.058.135
 I-40 BL east (Honeyfarm Road) – Erick
Erick7.3511.837 SH-30 – Erick, Sweetwater
​11.6518.7511
 I-40 BL west – Erick
​14.3023.0114Hext Road
Sayre20.7633.4120
 I-40 BL east / US 283 (S. 4th Street) – Mangum
23.3337.5523 SH-152 (Main Street) – Cordell
25.0140.2525
 I-40 BL west (N. 4th Street)
26.9043.2926Cemetery Road
Elk City32.50–
32.91		52.30–
52.96		32

 I-40 BL east / SH-34 south – Carter, Mangum, Elk City		Western end of SH-34 concurrency
34.8956.1534Merritt Road
38.7962.4338 SH-6 (S. Main Street) – Altus
40.4965.1640E. 7th Street
41.32–
41.74		66.50–
67.17		41

 I-40 BL west / SH-34 north – Woodward, Elk City		Eastern end of SH-34 concurrency
WashitaCanute46.9175.4947Canute
​50.5281.3050Clinton Lake Road
Foss53.2585.7053 SH-44 – Foss, Altus
Custer​57.2092.0557Stafford Road
​60.9098.0161Haggard Road
​62.37100.3762Parkersburg Road
Clinton64.83104.3365
 I-40 BL east (Gary Boulevard)		No eastbound entrance
65.45105.3365A10th Street / Neptune DriveHistoric US 66
66.10106.3866 US 183 (S. 4th Street) – Cordell
​68.94110.9569
 I-40 BL west – Clinton		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
​71.69115.3771Custer City Road
Weatherford79.80128.4380 SH-54 – Thomas, Mountain View
80.50129.5580A
 I-40 BL east (SW Main Street) – Southwestern Oklahoma State University		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
81.76131.5881Washington Avenue / E. Main StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance, at E. Eads Avenue
81.99131.9582
 I-40 BL west (E. Main Street)		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
84.05135.2784Airport Road
Caddo​88.52–
88.97		142.46–
143.18		88 SH-58 – Hydro, Carnegie
​95.00152.8995Bethel Road
Hinton101.43163.24101 US 281 / SH-8 – Hinton, Anadarko
Canadian​104.48168.14104Methodist Road
Geary108.14174.03108 US 281 Spur – Geary, Watonga
​115.15185.32115
 US 270 west – Calumet		Western end of US-270 concurrency
​119.11191.69119
 I-40 BL east – El Reno
El Reno123.40198.59123Country Club Road
125.50201.97125
 I-40 BL west / US 81 – El Reno, Chickasha
127.48205.16127Radio Road
​130.47209.97130Banner Road
Oklahoma City132.48213.21132Cimarron Road – C.E. Page Airport
Oklahoma City–Yukon line134.55216.54134Frisco RoadOpened in August 2021
Yukon135.69218.37136Garth Brooks BoulevardFormer SH-92
Oklahoma City136.89220.30137Cornwell Drive / Czech Hall RoadEastbound exit and entrance on Czech Hall Rd., westbound exit and entrance from NW 10th Street
138.07222.20138A SH-4 (Mustang Road / Yukon Parkway)Signed as exit 139B westbound
138.95223.62138B (EB)
139A (WB)
 I-344 Toll (Kilpatrick Turnpike)
140.21225.65140Morgan Road
Oklahoma142.18228.82142Council Road
143.17230.41143Rockwell Avenue
144.16232.00144MacArthur Boulevard
145.16233.61145Meridian Avenue
146.16235.22146Portland AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
146.60235.93147 I-44 / SH-3 – Lawton, TulsaSigned as exits 147A (westbound I-44) & 147B (eastbound I-44); I-44 exits 120A-B
147.15236.81147CMay Avenue – Fair ParkMerged with exit 148A upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
147.72237.73148AAgnew Avenue / Villa Avenue / May AvenueMay Ave. not signed eastbound
147.95238.10148BOklahoma City Boulevard eastEastbound exit and westbound entrance; former Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway alignment
148.16238.44148CPennsylvania AvenueFormerly exit 148B (that was eastbound exit and westbound entrance only) on old alignment
148CVirginia AvenueClosed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
149.20240.11149Western AvenueFormerly also served Reno Avenue and Sheridan Avenue on exit 149A of old alignment
149BClassen BoulevardClosed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
150AWalker Avenue – Downtown Oklahoma CityClosed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit and westbound entrance
150BHarvey AvenueClosed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit only
150.15241.64150AShields BoulevardNo eastbound exit
150.00241.40150BRobinson AvenueWestbound exit only; formerly exit 150C on old alignment; location of Skydance Bridge
150.94242.91151AOklahoma City Boulevard westWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
151ALincoln BoulevardClosed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit only
151.35243.57151B

 I-35 / US 77 south / US 62 west – Dallas		Western end of I-35/US-62 concurrency
151C
 I-235 / US 77 north – Edmond, State Capitol, Oklahoma Health Center		Signed as exit 126 westbound, due to I-35 concurrency
152.35245.18127Eastern Avenue / M. L. King AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit number follows I-35
152.90246.07153


 I-35 north / US 62 east to I-44 – Tulsa, Wichita		Eastern end of I-35/US-62 concurrency
Del City153.68247.32154Reno Avenue / Scott Street
154.63248.85155ASunnylane Road – Del City
155.29249.92155BSE 15th Street – Del City, Midwest City
Midwest City155.84250.80156ASooner Road
156.38251.67156BHudiburg DriveNo eastbound entrance
156.87252.46157ASE 29th Street – Midwest CityEastbound exit only
157.12252.86157BAir Depot Boulevard – Tinker Gate
157.61253.65157CTown Center Drive – Eaker Gate
158.65255.32159AHruskocy Gate (to Midwest Boulevard)
159.14256.11159BDouglas Boulevard – Lancer Gate, Liberator Gate, Marauder Gate
Oklahoma City162.36261.29162Anderson Road
164.02263.96165
 I-240 west (SH-3) – Lawton, Dallas		Western end of SH-3 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
165.72266.70166Choctaw Road
168.77271.61169Peebly Road
170.55274.47170

 I-335 Toll north (Kickapoo Turnpike) – Tulsa		Access to Turnpike southbound to be under construction; I-335 exits 130A-B
171.75276.40172Newalla Road – Harrah
PottawatomieMcLoud175.71282.78176
 SH-102 north (Mcloud Road)		Western end of SH-102 concurrency
177.78286.11178
 SH-102 south – Dale, Bethel Acres		Eastern end of SH-102 concurrency
​180.85291.05181



 US 270 east / SH-3W east / SH-3 ends / SH-3E begins / US 177 – Shawnee, Tecumseh, Stillwater		Eastern end of US-270/SH-3 concurrency, western end of SH-3E concurrency; SH-3 splits into SH-3E and SH-3W
Shawnee184.85297.49185Kickapoo Street – Shawnee
185.84299.08186
 SH-3E east / SH-18 – Shawnee, Meeker		Eastern end of SH-3E concurrency
​191.84308.74192
 SH-9A south – Earlsboro
Seminole​199.49321.05200 US 377 / SH-99 – Prague, Seminole
​211.55340.46212 SH-56 – Cromwell, Wewoka
Okfuskee​216.49348.41217 SH-48 – Holdenville, Bristow
Okemah221.02355.70221
 US 62 west / SH-27 – Okemah, Wetumka		Western end of US-62 concurrency
​227.04365.39227Clearview Road
​231.06371.86231
 US 75 south – Wetumka, Weleetka		Western end of US-75 concurrency
OkmulgeeHenryetta237.10381.58237
 I-40 BL east – Henryetta
239.67385.71240A

 Indian Nation Turnpike south – McAlester, Dallas		Indian Nation Turnpike exits 104A-B
240B


 US 62 east / US 75 north / I-40 BL west – Henryetta, Okmulgee		Eastern end of US-62/US-75 concurrency
McIntosh​247.15397.75247Tiger Mountain Road
​254.44409.48255Pierce Road
​258.42415.89259 SH-150 (Lake Eufaula Road)
​261.46420.78262
 Lotawatah Road to US 266
Checotah264.20425.19264 US 69 – Eufaula, McAlester, DallasSigned as exits 264A (south) and 264B (north)
265.07426.59265
 US 69 Bus. – Checotah
​269.42433.59270Texanna Road – Porum Landing
Muskogee​277.83447.12278 US 266 / SH-2 – Muskogee, Warner, Porum
​283.69456.55284Ross Road
Webbers Falls285.70459.79286

 Muskogee Turnpike west – Muskogee, Tulsa
286.78461.53287
 SH-100 north – Webbers Falls, Gore
Arkansas RiverI-40 Bridge
SequoyahCarlisle290.84468.06291
 SH-10 north (Carlisle Road) – Gore
​296.94477.88297 SH-82 – Vian, Tahlequah
​302.59486.97303Dwight Mission Road
Sallisaw307.14494.29308
 I-40 BL east / US 59 – Sallisaw, Poteau
309.85498.66311
 I-40 BL west / US 64 – Sallisaw, Stilwell
Muldrow320.17515.26321
 SH-64B north – Muldrow
Roland324.40522.07325 US 64 – Roland, Fort Smith
​330.10531.24330
 SH-64D south – Dora, Fort Smith		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
​330.20531.41
 I-40 east – Little Rock		Continuation into Arkansas
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary route

[edit]

I-40 has one auxiliary route in Oklahoma:

  • I-240: A bypass of the southside of Oklahoma City

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Froehlig, Adam. Scans from the "Yellow Book". Froggie's Place. URL accessed September 20, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "OKC I-40 Crosstown". Okladot.state.ok.us. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  3. ^ "I-40 Webbers Falls Local Detour Route & Map". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  4. ^ Stewart, D. R. (May 29, 2002). "Truckers weigh cost of detours". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Morgan, Rhett (July 26, 2002). "Towns on detour route await bridge reopening". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "El Reno tornado on May 31 now widest in US | Earth | EarthSky". June 5, 2013.
  7. ^ "May 31, 2013 El Reno, OK Tornado – Google My Maps".
  8. ^ "2 Dead in Apparent Road Rage Shooting on Oklahoma Highway - ABC News". ABC News.
[edit]
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Interstate 40
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Arkansas
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