Kickapoo Turnpike

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Kickapoo Turnpike

The Kickapoo Turnpike highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
Length21 mi[1] (34 km)
StatusOpen
Existed2020–present
Major junctions
South endSE 89th Street in Oklahoma City
Major intersections
North end I-44 / Turner Turnpike in Luther
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
Highway system
  • Oklahoma State Highway System
← Indian Nation Turnpike→ Kilpatrick Turnpike

The Kickapoo Turnpike, soon to be signed as Interstate 335, is a 21-mile (34 km) toll road in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The northern section from US-62 to Interstate 44 (Turner Turnpike) opened to traffic on October 13, 2020. The southern segment from Interstate 40 to US-62 opened to traffic on January 5, 2021.[2]

Route description

The turnpike begins just east of Luther Road, at an at-grade intersection with SE 89th Street, on the Oklahoma–Cleveland county line. It heads north and features a southbound-only interchange with I-40 a half-mile (800 m) later.[3] There are four other interchanges between its termini: SE 29th Street, Reno Avenue, NE 23rd Street (US-62), and Britton Road.[1] A toll plaza is on the turnpike in the vicinity of Hefner Road and NE 122nd Street.[4] The Kickapoo Turnpike ends at a trumpet interchange with I-44 (Turner Turnpike) in Luther, just east of I-44 exit 146 (the Luther/Jones interchange).[3]

History

The turnpike project originally was given the name "Northeast Oklahoma County Loop." The road itself was proposed on October 29, 2015, by Gov. Mary Fallin, as part of the state's Driving Forward initiative.[5] On June 6, 2016, the tollway was approved by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, under the working title Eastern Oklahoma County Turnpike.[6] In September 2019, "Kickapoo Turnpike" was announced as the tollway's official name.[7]

Construction

The first piece of the turnpike to be constructed is the interchange with I-44, at the northern end of the route. Construction on this interchange began in January 2018.[8] Phase 1, which stretches from the Turner Turnpike to US 62 (23rd Street) in Harrah, opened on October 13, 2020. Phase 2, which opened on January 5, 2021,[9] connects the rest of the Turnpike to Interstate 40, linking I-40 directly to Interstate 44 on the eastern side of the Oklahoma City metro. The cost of constructing the Kickapoo Turnpike has been estimated to be more than $440 million (2018 dollars).[4]

Opposition

In January 2016, a group calling itself Citizens Opposed to the Eastern Oklahoma County Loop-Turnpike-Interstate was reported to have created a Facebook page in opposition to the proposed turnpike.[10] Following months of meetings and protests, Neal McCaleb, interim director for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA), released a statement saying that, because of public input and the work of engineering professionals, the estimated number of homes that would eventually be lost to construction had been reduced by 22 percent, from 103 houses to 80.

In August 2016, a lawsuit was filed against the OTA, claiming that the agency, in issuing $900 million in bonds to be used for multiple toll road projects, was in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution, which stipulates that laws passed may address only one subject.[11] On December 13, 2016, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the OTA, stating that the agency had properly authorized the bond issue and given "valid notice of this application."[12]

Interstate designation

On August 2, 2021, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved the designation of the Kickapoo Turnpike as part of an extension of Interstate 240, forming a beltway around Oklahoma City. ODOT Director Tim Gatz stated in the Transportation Commission meeting that the numbering change was primarily to aid in navigation using digital mapping and routing applications. Gatz also said, "If you look at the Interstate 240 designation on the loop around the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, we are finally to the point where we have a truly contiguous route there that can shoulder the burden of some of that transportation need in a loop format. That's common practice across the country, and you'll see that in many of the metropolitan areas, and that update will really be beneficial as far as everything from signage to how do you describe that route on a green-and-white sign." The designation must be approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to take effect.[13]

Future

A southern extension of the Turnpike to I-35 is planned.[14] As a result, in Fall 2023, the AASHTO approved for the Kickapoo Turnpike to be designated as Interstate 335. In March 2024, the OTA announced that it would be updating signage for the turnpike over the next two months. The current turnpike logo would be removed and replaced with I-335 shields along with the yellow "TOLL" banner. I-240 will not be part of the turnpike and the future interstate will not connect to its parent until the extension is built.[15]

Tolls

On March 1, 2016, toll rates on all turnpikes in Oklahoma increased for the first time since June 2009. The rate hike was implemented to help fund the Driving Forward initiative, which includes improvements and/or extensions to five other Oklahoma toll roads, as well as the construction of the Kickapoo Turnpike from scratch.[16]

As of January 25, 2022, it costs $3.95 with PlatePay ($1.90 with Pikepass) to drive the entire length of the turnpike.[17]

Exit list

Exit numbers branch off of I-44's mileage markers. The entire route is in Oklahoma County.

Locationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Oklahoma City0.000.00SE 89th StreetSouthern terminus; at-grade intersection; road continues unpaved into Cleveland as McDonald Road
0.50.80130B
 I-40 east (US 270 / SH-3 east) – Fort Smith		Exit 170 on I-40; southbound exit and northbound entrance
1.32.1130A
 I-40 west (US 270 / SH-3 west) – Oklahoma City		Exit 170 on I-40; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Harrah3.96.3134SE 29th Street – McLoud
6.09.7136E. Reno Avenue
8.213.2138 US 62 (NE 23rd Street) – Choctaw, Harrah
13.221.2144E. Britton Road – Jones
​Toll plaza
Luther19.0–
19.6		30.6–
31.5		149A-B I-44 (Turner Turnpike) – Tulsa, Oklahoma CityNorthern terminus; signed as exits 149A (west) and 149B (east); I-44 exit 149
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c Knittle, Andrew (April 14, 2016). "Eastern Oklahoma County residents find out final route for disputed turnpike". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Publishing Company. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ^ Oklahoma Turnpike Authority celebrates opening of Kickapoo Turnpike with virtual ceremony, Fox 25 Oklahoma City, Oct 14, 2020
  3. ^ a b Gatz, Tim J. (September 25, 2017). "Re: Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) funding for Interstate 40 / Douglas Interchange and related interstate widening in Oklahoma County" (PDF). Letter to The Hon. Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Eastern OK County Corridor" (PDF). Driving Forward OK. Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  5. ^ Greco, Jonathan (October 29, 2015). "Gov. Mary Fallin, OTA announce launch of 'Driving Forward' turnpike plan". KOCO. Hearst Television, Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "ODOT Greenlights EOC Turnpike". Luther Register. June 8, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "The Kickapoo Turnpike Honors Oklahoma Native American Tribe". Shawnee News-Star. GateHouse Media. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "Turnpike Construction Begins". Luther Register. January 18, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Southern portion of Kickapoo Turnpike opens". The Oklahoma 100. January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Adger, Patrina. "Luther residents speaking out against proposed turnpike". KOCO. Hearst Television, Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  11. ^ Horton, Ryan (August 24, 2016). "Lawsuit filed over turnpike". Choctaw Times. p. 1.
  12. ^ "The Turnpike Wins at the State Supreme Court". Luther Register. December 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  13. ^ Oklahoma Transportation Commission (2 August 2021). "ODOT Commission Meeting". Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  14. ^ Griffin, David. "Proposed Turnpike Extension Causes Concern For Some Norman Residents". www.news9.com. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  15. ^ Humphrey, Spencer (March 7, 2024). "Multiple OKC-area highways, turnpikes to be designated as interstates in coming month". KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Staff Reports (February 22, 2017). "Turnpike toll increase takes effect March 1". Tulsa World. BH Media Group. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Toll Rates". Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

External links

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