Interstate 40 in Oklahoma

Interstate 40
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap I-40 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length	331 mi (533 km)
Existed	1957[1]–present
Major junctions
West end	I-40 at the Texas state line
	US 81 in El Reno Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City I-44 in Oklahoma City I-35 in Oklahoma City I-235 in Oklahoma City I-240 in Oklahoma City Indian Nation Turnpike in Henryetta US 69 in Checotah Muskogee Turnpike near Webbers Falls
East end	I-40 at the Arkansas state line
Location
Counties	Beckham, Washita, Custer, Caddo, Canadian, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, McIntosh, Muskogee, Sequoyah
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Oklahoma State Highway System Interstate US State Turnpikes ← 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 the old Route 66, and east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, 266, and 64.

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

Route description[]

Interstate 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 Metro 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 south side of El Reno as it enters the Oklahoma City metro. It then passes through Yukon before entering Oklahoma City city limits. In west Oklahoma City, I-40 has a junction with Interstate 44. It then runs just south of downtown Oklahoma City on a new ten lane section.^[2] I-40 then interlines with Interstate 35 at the Dallas Junction complex. This forms a concurrency with it for two miles (3 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 Interstate 240 in a partial junction. Afterwards, it passes through the north side of Shawnee. This marks the eastern end of the OKC metro 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. Afterwards, 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[]

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West of Oklahoma City, Interstate 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[]

The I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River/McClellan-Kerr 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 thirty to fifty 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[]

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 wide and was responsible for 8 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 p.m. 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 p.m. near exit 130 (Banner Rd.). ^[7]

2015 shootings[]

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

Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment[]

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 170,000+ vehicles-per-day traveling at 60 miles-per-hour (97 km/h) using at least ten 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[]

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.

Erick I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop that runs from I-40 two miles (3 km) west of Erick to the old alignment of US-66, through Erick, and back to I-40, four miles (6 km) east of Erick.

Sayre I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop that begins two miles (3 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 km) east of US-283.

Elk City I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop that begins at Exit 32, seven miles (11 km) west of Elk City. It runs for ten miles (16 km) through Elk City, rejoining I-40 at Exit 41.

Clinton I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop that begins at Exit 65, runs five miles (8 km) through Clinton, and rejoins I-40 at Exit 69.

Weatherford I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop that exits I-40 at Exit 82B, runs four miles (6 km) through Weatherford, and rejoins I-40 at Exit 82.

El Reno I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-66) is a Business Loop through El Reno. It 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.

Henryetta I-40 Business Loop (formerly US-62/US-75) is a Business Loop that leaves I-40 at Exit 237, runs four miles (6 km) through Henryetta, and rejoins I-40 at Exit 240, the interchange with US-75 and the Indian Nation Turnpike.

Sallisaw I-40 Business Loop is a Business Loop that leaves I-40 at Exit 308, US-59, runs four miles (6 km) through Sallisaw, and rejoins I-40 at Exit 311, US-64.

Exit list[]

County	Location	mi	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Beckham	Texola	0.00	0.00		I-40 west – Amarillo	Continuation into Texas
		0.50	0.80	1	Texola
	​	5.05	8.13	5	I-40 BL east (Honeyfarm Road) – Erick
	Erick	7.35	11.83	7	SH-30 – Erick, Sweetwater
	​	11.65	18.75	11	I-40 BL west – Erick
	​	14.30	23.01	14	Hext Road
	Sayre	20.76	33.41	20	I-40 BL east / US 283 (S. 4th Street) – Mangum
		23.33	37.55	23	SH-152 (Main Street) – Cordell
		25.01	40.25	25	I-40 BL west (N. 4th Street)
		26.90	43.29	26	Cemetery Road
	Elk City	32.50– 32.91	52.30– 52.96	32	I-40 BL east / SH-34 south – Carter, Mangum, Elk City	Western end of SH-34 concurrency
		34.89	56.15	34	Merritt Road
		38.79	62.43	38	SH-6 (S. Main Street) – Altus
		40.49	65.16	40	E. 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
Washita	Canute	46.91	75.49	47	Canute
	​	50.52	81.30	50	Clinton Lake Road
	Foss	53.25	85.70	53	SH-44 – Foss, Altus
Custer	​	57.20	92.05	57	Stafford Road
	​	60.90	98.01	61	Haggard Road
	​	62.37	100.37	62	Parkersburg Road
	Clinton	64.83	104.33	65	I-40 BL east (Gary Boulevard)	No eastbound entrance
		65.45	105.33	65A	10th Street / Neptune Drive	Historic US 66
		66.10	106.38	66	US 183 (S. 4th Street) – Cordell
	​	68.94	110.95	69	I-40 BL west – Clinton	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	​	71.69	115.37	71	Custer City Road
	Weatherford	79.80	128.43	80	SH-54 – Thomas, Mountain View
		80.50	129.55	80A	I-40 BL east (SW Main Street) – Southwestern Oklahoma State University	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		81.76	131.58	81	Washington Avenue / E. Main Street	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance, at E. Eads Avenue
		81.99	131.95	82	I-40 BL west (E. Main Street)	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		84.05	135.27	84	Airport Road
Caddo	​	88.52– 88.97	142.46– 143.18	88	SH-58 – Hydro, Carnegie
	​	95.00	152.89	95	Bethel Road
	Hinton	101.43	163.24	101	US 281 / SH-8 – Hinton, Anadarko
Canadian	​	104.48	168.14	104	Methodist Road
	Geary	108.14	174.03	108	– Geary, Watonga
	​	115.15	185.32	115	US 270 west – Calumet	Western end of US-270 concurrency
	​	119.11	191.69	119	I-40 BL east – El Reno
	El Reno	123.40	198.59	123	Country Club Road
		125.50	201.97	125	I-40 BL west / US 81 – El Reno, Chickasha
		127.48	205.16	127	Radio Road
	​	130.47	209.97	130	Banner Road
	Oklahoma City	132.48	213.21	132	Cimarron Road – C.E. Page Airport
	Oklahoma City–Yukon line	134.55	216.54	135	Frisco Road	Construction began in 2020
	Yukon	135.69	218.37	136	Garth Brooks Boulevard	Former SH-92
	Oklahoma City	136.89	220.30	137	Cornwell Drive / Czech Hall Road	Eastbound exit and entrance on Czech Hall Road, westbound exit and entrance from Northwest 10th Street
		138.07	222.20	138A	SH-4 (Mustang Road / Yukon Pkwy)	Signed as exit 139B westbound
		138.95	223.62	138B	Kilpatrick Turnpike	Signed as exit 139A westbound
		140.21	225.65	140	Morgan Road
Oklahoma		142.18	228.82	142	Council Road
		143.17	230.41	143	Rockwell Avenue
		144.16	232.00	144	MacArthur Boulevard
		145.16	233.61	145	Meridian Avenue
		146.16	235.22	146	Portland Avenue	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		146.60	235.93	147	I-44 / SH-3 – Lawton, Tulsa	Signed as exits 147A (westbound I-44) & 147B (eastbound I-44); I-44 exits 120A-B
		147.15	236.81	147C	May Avenue – Fair Park	Merged with exit 148A upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		147.72	237.73	148A	Agnew Avenue / Villa Avenue / May Avenue	May Ave. not signed eastbound
		147.95	238.10	148B	Oklahoma City Boulevard east	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway alignment
		148.16	238.44	148C	Pennsylvania Avenue	Formerly exit 148B (that was eastbound exit and westbound entrance only) on old alignment
				148C	Virginia Avenue	Closed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		149.20	240.11	149	Western Avenue	Formerly also served Reno Avenue and Sheridan Avenue on exit 149A of old alignment
				149B	Classen Boulevard	Closed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was westbound exit and eastbound entrance
				150A	Walker Avenue – Downtown Oklahoma City	Closed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit and westbound entrance
				150B	Harvey Avenue	Closed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit only
		150.15	241.64	150A	Shields Boulevard	No eastbound exit
		150.00	241.40	150B	Robinson Avenue	Westbound exit only; formerly exit 150C on old alignment; location of Skydance Bridge
		150.94	242.91	151A	Oklahoma City Boulevard west	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
				151A	Lincoln Boulevard	Closed upon I-40 Crosstown realignment; was eastbound exit only
		151.35	243.57	151B	I-35 south / US 62 west (US-77 south) – Dallas	Western end of I-35/US-62 concurrency
				151C	I-235 north (US-77 north) – Edmond, State Capitol, Oklahoma Health Center	Signed as exit 126 westbound, due to I-35 concurrency
		152.35	245.18	127	Eastern Avenue / M. L. King Avenue	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit number follows I-35
		152.90	246.07	153	I-35 north / US 62 east to I-44 – Tulsa, Wichita	Eastern end of I-35/US-62 concurrency
	Del City	153.68	247.32	154	Reno Avenue / Scott Street
		154.63	248.85	155A	Sunnylane Road – Del City
		155.29	249.92	155B	SE 15th Street – Del City, Midwest City
	Midwest City	155.84	250.80	156A	Sooner Road
		156.38	251.67	156B	Hudiburg Drive	No eastbound entrance
		156.87	252.46	157A	SE 29th Street – Midwest City	Eastbound exit only
		157.12	252.86	157B	Air Depot Boulevard – Tinker Gate
		157.61	253.65	157C	Town Center Drive – Eaker Gate
		158.65	255.32	159A	Hruskocy Gate
		159.14	256.11	159B	Douglas Boulevard – Lancer Gate, Liberator Gate, Marauder Gate
	Oklahoma City	162.36	261.29	162	Anderson Road
		164.02	263.96	165	I-240 west (SH-3) – Lawton, Dallas	Western end of SH-3 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		165.72	266.70	166	Choctaw Road
		168.77	271.61	169	Peebly Road
		170.55	274.47	170	Kickapoo Turnpike north – Tulsa	Westbound exit still under construction; Kickapoo Tpk. exit 130
		171.75	276.40	172	Newalla Road – Harrah
Pottawatomie	McLoud	175.71	282.78	176	SH-102 north (Mcloud Road)	Western end of SH-102 concurrency
		177.78	286.11	178	SH-102 south – Dale, Bethel Acres	Eastern end of SH-102 concurrency
	​	180.85	291.05	181	US 270 / SH-3W east / SH-3 end / SH-3E begin / 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
	Shawnee	184.85	297.49	185	Kickapoo Street – Shawnee
		185.84	299.08	186	SH-3E east / SH-18 – Shawnee, Meeker	Eastern end of SH-3E concurrency
	​	191.84	308.74	192	SH-9A south – Earlsboro
Seminole	​	199.49	321.05	200	US 377 / SH-99 – Prague, Seminole
	​	211.55	340.46	212	SH-56 – Cromwell, Wewoka
Okfuskee	​	216.49	348.41	217	SH-48 – Holdenville, Bristow
	Okemah	221.02	355.70	221	US 62 west / SH-27 – Okemah, Wetumka	Western end of US-62 concurrency
	​	227.04	365.39	227	Clearview Road
	​	231.06	371.86	231	US 75 south – Wetumka, Weleetka	Western end of US-75 concurrency
Okmulgee	Henryetta	237.10	381.58	237	I-40 BL east – Henryetta
		239.67	385.71	240A	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	​	247.15	397.75	247	Tiger Mountain Road
	​	254.44	409.48	255	Pierce Road
	​	258.42	415.89	259	SH-150 (Lake Eufaula Road)
	​	261.46	420.78	262	Lotawatah Road to US 266
	Checotah	264.20	425.19	264	US 69 – Eufaula, McAlester, Dallas	Signed as exits 264A (south) and 264B (north)
		265.07	426.59	265	– Checotah
	​	269.42	433.59	270	Texanna Road – Porum Landing
Muskogee	​	277.83	447.12	278	US 266 / SH-2 – Muskogee, Warner, Porum
	​	283.69	456.55	284	Ross Road
	Webbers Falls	285.70	459.79	286	Muskogee Turnpike west – Muskogee, Tulsa
		286.78	461.53	287	SH-100 north – Webbers Falls, Gore
Arkansas River				I-40 Bridge
Sequoyah	Carlisle	290.84	468.06	291	SH-10 north (Carlisle Road) – Gore
	​	296.94	477.88	297	SH-82 – Vian, Tahlequah
	​	302.59	486.97	303	Dwight Mission Road
	Sallisaw	307.14	494.29	308	I-40 BL east / US 59 – Sallisaw, Poteau
		309.85	498.66	311	I-40 BL west / US 64 – Sallisaw, Stilwell
	Muldrow	320.17	515.26	321	SH-64B north – Muldrow
	Roland	324.40	522.07	325	US 64 – Roland, Fort Smith
	​	330.10	531.24	330	SH-64D south – Dora, Fort Smith	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
	​	330.20	531.41		I-40 east – Little Rock	Continuation into Arkansas
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Tolled       Unopened

Auxiliary route[]

I-40 has one auxiliary route in Oklahoma:

• I-240: A bypass of the south side of Oklahoma City

See also[]

• U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma

References[]

External links[]

Route map:

• I-40 at OKHighways.com
• I-40 at AARoads

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 40 in Oklahoma.

Interstate 40
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