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Oklahoma State Highway 66

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Further information: U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma
State Highway 66 marker
State Highway 66
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length192.7 mi[1] (310.1 km)
ExistedApril 1, 1985[2]–present
Major junctions
West end I-40 BL / US 81 in El Reno
Major intersections
East end US 60 east of White Oak
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
Highway system
  • Oklahoma State Highway System
← US 66→ SH-67

State Highway 66 (abbreviated SH-66) is a 192.7-mile (310.1 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, beginning at U.S. Highway 81 in El Reno and ending at U.S. Highway 60 near White Oak. The highway was designated in 1985 as a replacement for the decommissioned U.S. Highway 66. Although most of the highway follows Historic Route 66, the highway follows US 66's final alignment, joining Interstate 44 through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, while older versions of the route follow various city streets through both cities.

The highway has retained its importance for most of its length due to its paralleling Interstate 44 which between Missouri and Oklahoma City (except in the cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City) is a toll road.

SH-66 currently has one spur route, designated SH-66B, in Wellston.

Route description

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Western terminus and Oklahoma City area

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Former US-66 bridge over the North Canadian River in Oklahoma City
SH-66 shield west of Arcadia

State Highway 66 begins at Business I-40 in El Reno (another old Route 66 segment), concurrent at this point with US-81. From this intersection, the highway heads due east. The highway briefly passes through a rural area after leaving El Reno, before transitioning into the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon. In Yukon, the route runs along Main Street,[3] and has a short concurrency with SH-4. SH-66 continues east, passing into Oklahoma City, where it becomes N.W. 39th Expressway. SH-66 has an interchange with the Kilpatrick Turnpike on the far west edge of the city. The highway passes just to the north of Lake Overholser. Near where the road crosses over the North Canadian River, the inlet to the lake, it crosses from Canadian County into Oklahoma County.[4]

N.W. 39th Expressway, still carrying SH-66, forms the main street of both Bethany and Warr Acres, two enclave suburbs of Oklahoma City. The street passes just to the south of Wiley Post Airport and provides access to Southern Nazarene University.[5] After leaving Warr Acres, the highway re-enters Oklahoma City. SH-66 leaves N.W. 39th Expressway at an interchange with I-44 and SH-3/SH-74 (the Lake Hefner Parkway). SH-66 begins a concurrency with eastbound I-44, and for the remainder of its length, it will stay close to the interstate.[4]

SH-66 is unsigned through its time on the Oklahoma City freeway system. I-44, while concurrent with SH-66, runs along the north side of Oklahoma City, passing just south of Penn Square Mall, and meets Interstate 235 at a cloverleaf interchange at its northern terminus (north of the interchange, US-77 continues on as a freeway, the Broadway Extension). I-44 and SH-66 begin a concurrency with I-35 near Remington Park. The two interstates and the state highway head north through the northeast part of the city. At Hefner Road, the routes pass near the Frontier City amusement park. The highways then encounter an interchange which is the eastern terminus of the Kilpatrick Turnpike. This interchange is also where I-44 splits off to form the Turner Turnpike.[5]

I-35 and SH-66 leave Oklahoma City and enter the suburb of Edmond. On the north side of town, SH-66 exits the interstate, while US-77 joins it. SH-66 continues east out of town, providing access to Arcadia Lake. The highway then passes through the town of Arcadia, home of the Round Barn, a Route 66 landmark.[5] The highway then serves Luther before exiting Oklahoma County.

Lincoln and Creek Counties

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On the west side of Lincoln County, SH-66 produces a business loop to Wellston, SH-66B (below). Just beyond this junction, SH-66 serves as the northern terminus of SH-102. The highway continues east, meeting up again with SH-66B on the east side of Wellston. Near this junction, SH-66 has an interchange with the Turner Turnpike (still carrying I-44). The route continues to parallel the turnpike as it comes to an intersection with US-177. East of this junction, SH-66 passes through the town of Warwick, where it crosses the Deep Fork of the Canadian River.[4]

On the southwest side of Chandler, the county seat of Lincoln County, the route is joined by SH-18. The two routes turn north, passing through the core of the downtown area. On the north side of downtown, SH-66 splits off to the east.[6] Seven miles (11 km) east of Chandler, the highway passes through the town of Davenport.[4] The route next encounters Stroud, where SH-66 intersects State Highway 99 and US-377, which may serve as the northern terminus of US-377.

East of Stroud, SH-66 passes into Creek County. The highway passes through the town of Depew 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Stroud.[4] The route next passes through Bristow, where it has a brief concurrency with SH-16 and begins a more lengthy one with SH-48. SH-48/66 exit Bristow to the north, with an interchange where they cross the Turner Turnpike. Near unincorporated Bellvue, SH-66 splits away from SH-48 and turns back to the northeast. The highway crosses the Turner Turnpike again (with no interchange this time), then runs through Kellyville. Four miles (6.4 km) northeast of Kellyville, the highway begins a concurrency with SH-33.[4] SH-33 and SH-66 will remain signed together as they enter the Tulsa metropolitan area.

Tulsa area

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SH-33/66 next enter Sapulpa, the county seat of Creek County and a suburb of Tulsa. In Sapulpa, the two highways serve as the western terminus of SH-117. They then come to the intersection of Dewey Avenue and Main Street in downtown Sapulpa, where SH-33 ends. This intersection also serves as the southern terminus of SH-97. SH-66 continues east through the intersection, joined by US-75 ALT. The two highways intersect SH-117A at its northern terminus, and turn left to continue its alignment. US-75 ALT/SH-66 parallel the Turner Turnpike within sight distance for the remainder of their journey in Creek County. Near the Creek–Tulsa County line, the Turner Turnpike ends, and SH-66 merges onto the now toll-free I-44. US-75 ALT ends at the merge.

I-44/SH-66 cut diagonally through the city of Tulsa. In West Tulsa, Interstate 244 branches off to serve the downtown area. I-44/SH-66 follow the Skelly Drive through midtown. The highways interchange with the Okmulgee Beeline, the US-75 freeway before crossing the Arkansas River.[7] The next freeway interchange is with the Broken Arrow Expressway, carrying US-64 and SH-51, followed by the Mingo Valley Expressway, carrying US-169[7] I-244 then merges with I-44 at its eastern terminus. I-44/SH-66 cross into Rogers County and the suburb of Catoosa, serving as the southern terminus of SH-167. SH-66 then splits off from I-44, initially following an old alignment of the Interstate where it transitioned into the Will Rogers Turnpike. SH-66 then downgrades to an expressway as it passes through Catoosa, home of the Blue Whale. Northeast of Catoosa, near Verdigris, SH-66 intersects SH-266 at its eastern terminus.

Northeast Oklahoma

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The next town that SH-66 serves after leaving the Tulsa area is Claremore, seat of Rogers County. In Claremore, SH-66 has brief concurrencies with SH-20 and SH-88. The highway continues northeast through Rogers County, bypassing Sequoyah to the west and serving as the western terminus of SH-28A in Foyil. The highway passes through Bushyhead 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Foyil, and then intersect SH-28 in Chelsea 5 miles (8.0 km) further northeast.[4] The route then crosses into Craig County, where it serves the unincorporated place of White Oak. The SH-66 designation then comes to an end at US-60, which Route 66 historically followed into Vinita.

History

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The present-day SH-66 was established to fill the void left when US 66 was decommissioned through Oklahoma in the early 1980s. SH-66 was designated as its replacement from El Reno to White Oak on April 1, 1985.[2][8] The remainder of US 66 in Oklahoma was overlapped by other highways, principally I-40 and US-69, so the SH-66 designation was not applied to these sections of highway.

On July 1, 1991, SH-66 was realigned in the vicinity of Luther.[2] No further changes to the SH-66 designation have occurred since that time. Planned improvements by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation include reconstruction and widening of SH-66 from two to four lanes from Edmond to the Lincoln County line.[9]

As part of a project to widen I-235 and US-77 to accommodate the increase amount of traffic, its interchange with I-44/SH-66 was reconstructed from a cloverleaf interchange to a four-level interchange that eliminated two cloverleaf ramps. The other two cloverleafs were widened and reconstructed and two new flyover ramps were added. The four-level interchange is the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The $105 million project lasted three years and was opened on March 3, 2022.[10] An additional $16 million is being provided to reconstruct the I-44 to US-77 ramp and provide a direct connection to North Lincoln Boulevard. The project is expected to be started in 2023.[11]

SH-66B

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State Highway 66B marker
State Highway 66B
LocationWellston
Length3.26 mi[12] (5.25 km)
ExistedJune 26, 1934[2]–present

While US 66 was still active, the SH-66 designation was given to a loop route through Wellston. This incarnation of SH-66 effectively served as a Wellston business loop for US 66.[13] This route was first established on June 26, 1934.[2] SH-66B is 3.26 miles (5.25 km) long.[12]

Junction list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
CanadianEl Reno0.00.0
 I-40 BL / US 81 to I-40 – Lucky Star Casino, Downtown, Lake, Golf Course, Sports Complex		Western terminus; road continues as I-40 Bus. west/US-81 north (former US 66 west)
Yukon11.017.7
 SH-4 north (Cornwell Drive)		Western end of SH-4 concurrency
11.218.0
 SH-4 south (Ranchwood Boulevard)		Eastern end of SH-4 concurrency
Oklahoma City13.621.9
 I-344 Toll (Kilpatrick Turnpike)		Interchange
Oklahoma20.432.8—
 I-44 west / SH-3 – Lawton		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; west end of freeway
—

 SH-3 west / SH-74 north (Lake Hefner Parkway)		Left exit eastbound; Lake Hefner Pkwy. exit 123B
—

 I-44 west to I-40 – Lawton, Amarillo		Western end of I-44 concurrency; I-44 exit 123B
124N. May AvenueExit numbers follow I-44
125AN. Penn AvenueFull name is "Pennsylvania"
125CNorthwest ExpresswayNo Eastbound exit
125BClassen BoulevardNo Westbound entrance
126Western AvenueWestbound exits onto NW Grand Blvd
127
 I-235 / US 77 south – Oklahoma City, Downtown

 US 77 north (Broadway Extension) – Edmond		Split into exits 127A (south) and 127B (north) eastbound; westbound entrance includes direct entrance ramp from N. 63rd Street
128ALincoln Boulevard – State Capitol
128BKelley Avenue
129M.L. King Avenue
27.644.4130

 I-35 west to I-40 – Oklahoma City, Dallas		Western end of I-35 concurrency; I-35 exit 133; no exit number westbound
134Wilshire BoulevardExit numbers follow I-35
135Britton Road
136Hefner Road
137NE 122nd Street
32.251.8138A

 I-44 Toll east (Turner Turnpike) – Tulsa		Eastern end of I-44 concurrency
138B

 I-344 Toll west (Kilpatrick Turnpike)
138CSooner RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Edmond138DMemorial Road
139SE 33rd Street
140SE 15th Street
35.857.6
 I-35 / US 77 north – Wichita

 US 77 south (2nd Street west) – Edmond		Eastern end of I-35 concurrency; I-35 exit 141
Lincoln​55.2–
55.5		88.8–
89.3
 SH-102 south / SH-66B east		Northern terminus of SH-102; western terminus of SH-66B; SH-66B was pre-1933 US-66 east
Wellston57.592.5
 SH-66B west – Wellston		Pre-1933 US-66 west
​57.993.2
 I-44 Toll / Turner Turnpike – Tulsa, Oklahoma City		I-44 exit 158
Warwick59.595.8 US 177 – Ponca City, Carney, Shawnee
Chandler67.3108.3
 SH-18 south – Shawnee, Meeker		western end of SH-18 concurrency
68.2109.8


 SH-18 north (Manvel Avenue) to I-44 Toll – Cushing		eastern end of SH-18 concurrency
Stroud81.8131.6

 US 377 / SH-99 (8th Avenue) to I-44 Toll
CreekBristow99.3159.8

 SH-16 east / SH-48 south (Main Street)		Western end of SH-16 / SH-48 concurrency
100.0160.9
 SH-16 west – Shamrock		Eastern end of SH-16 concurrency
100.5161.7
 I-44 Toll / Turner Turnpike – Tulsa, Oklahoma City		I-44 exit 196
​103.1165.9

 SH-48 north to SH-33		Eastern end of SH-48 concurrency
Sapulpa117.3188.8


 SH-33 west to I-44 Toll – Cushing		Western end of SH-33 concurrency
120.2193.4
 SH-117 east		Western terminus of SH-117
121.8196.0



 SH-33 ends / US 75 Alt. south (S. Main Street) / SH-97 north (N. Main Street)		Eastern end of SH-33 concurrency; eastern terminus of SH-33; southern terminus of SH-97; northern terminus of US-75 Alt.
122.7197.5
 SH-117A south (Mission Street)		Northern terminus of SH-117A
124.9201.0

 SH-364 / Creek Turnpike east		Interchange
Tulsa128.7207.1

 I-44 Toll west / Turner Turnpike		Western end of I-44 concurrency, eastern terminus of Turner Tpk.; I-44 exit 221
222A49th West AvenueExit numbers follow I-44
222B55th PlaceEastbound exit only
222C56th StreetWestbound exit only
129.9209.1223A
 I-244 east (Red Fork Expressway) – Downtown Tulsa		Western terminus of I-244; I-244 exit 1A
223B51st StreetAccess via Gilcrease Expressway; no eastbound exit
Tulsa223C33rd West Avenue
224Union AvenueC/D lanes provide access to US-75 and Elwood Ave.
131.8212.1 US 75 – Okmulgee, BartlesvilleCloverleaf interchange; accessible to and from C/D lanes
225Elwood AvenueEastbound access is part of exit 224 accessible from C/D lanes originating at Union Ave. exit
226ARiverside Drive
226BPeoria Avenue
227Lewis Avenue
22851st Street / Harvard Avenue
229Yale Avenue
23041st Street / Sheridan Road
138.5222.9231
 US 64 / SH-51 to US 169 – Muskogee, Broken Arrow, Downtown Tulsa
232E. 31st Street / Memorial DriveEastbound exit is part of exit 231
233E. 21st StreetSigned as exit 233B westbound
141.2227.2234A US 169 – Owasso, Broken ArrowNo eastbound exit to US-169 south
234BGarnett RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
235E. 11th Street
236129th East Avenue
144.0231.7236B
 I-244 / US 412 west (Crosstown Expressway) – Sand Springs, Enid		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western end of US-412 concurrency; eastern terminus of I-244
Tulsa–Rogers
county line		Tulsa–Catoosa line238161st East Avenue
240
 SH-167 north (193rd East Avenue)		No eastbound entrance
Catoosa147.7237.7—
 I-44 / US 412 east – Claremore, Joplin, Chouteau, Siloam Springs		East end of freeway section; no westbound access to I-44/US-412 east; eastern end of I-44/US-412 concurrency; former SH-33 east; I-44 east exit 241
Rogers—

 I-44 Toll / Will Rogers Turnpike east – Claremore, Joplin		Former tolled interchange; closed upon I-44/Will Rogers Tpk. realignment; had no eastbound exit; former Will Rogers Tpk. exit 241
Verdigris155.4250.1

 SH-266 to I-44 Toll (Turnpike) – Port of Catoosa		Interchange
Claremore160.9258.9
 SH-88 south (First Street)		western end of SH-88 concurrency
161.0259.1
 SH-20 east (Patti Page Boulevard)		western end of SH-20 concurrency
161.0259.1

 SH-20 west / SH-88 north (Will Rogers Boulevard)		eastern end of SH-20 / SH-88 concurrency
Foyil171.4275.8
 SH-28A east – Adair		Western terminus of SH-28A
Chelsea179.0288.1
 SH-28 east – Adair		Western end of SH-28 concurrency
179.6289.0
 SH-28 west (6th Street) – Alluwe		Eastern end of SH-28 concurrency
Craig​192.7310.1
 US 60 east		Eastern terminus; no direct access to US-60 west; road continues as US-60 east (former US 66 east)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
    "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Memorial Dedication and Revision History, SH 66". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  5. ^ a b c Official State Map (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Oklahoma City inset. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  6. ^ "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  7. ^ a b Official State Map (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Oklahoma City inset. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  8. ^ Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (1986 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  9. ^ "FFY-2016 through FFY-2023 Construction Work Plan" (PDF). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  10. ^ Ogle, Abigail (4 March 2022). "Oklahoma opens state's first four-level highway". KOCO. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ^ "I-235 Broadway Extension Corridor Widening and I-44 Interchange". Haskell Company. Retrieved 14 March 2023."Oklahoma opens four-level I-235/I-44 interchange". Equipment World. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Control Section Maps: Lincoln County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  13. ^ Highway Map of Oklahoma (Map) (1966 ed.). Cartography by Diversified Map Co. Skelly Oil Company. § 11C.
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