Kickapoo Turnpike

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 ({{convert|0.5|mi|m|disp=out}}) later.{{cite letter|first=Tim J.|last=Gatz|recipient=The Hon. Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation|subject=Re: Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) funding for Interstate 40 / Douglas Interchange and related interstate widening in Oklahoma County.|date=September 25, 2017|url=http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/federal-grants/infra/2018/oklahoma-county-i-40-and-douglas/letters-of-support/Oklahoma-Turnpike-Authority-I-40-and-Douglas.pdf|accessdate=April 12, 2018|format=PDF}} There are four other interchanges between its termini: SE 29th Street, Reno Avenue, NE 23rd Street (US-62), and Britton Road. A toll plaza is on the turnpike in the vicinity of Hefner Road and NE 122nd Street.{{cite web|title=Eastern OK County Corridor|url=http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7181a5_264ee00fd4b640c48bb0d482cd2ec5c7.pdf|website=Driving Forward OK|publisher=Oklahoma Turnpike Authority|accessdate=April 12, 2018|format=PDF|date=March 30, 2018}} 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).

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.{{cite news|last1=Greco|first1=Jonathan|title=Gov. Mary Fallin, OTA announce launch of 'Driving Forward' turnpike plan|url=http://www.koco.com/article/gov-mary-fallin-ota-announce-launch-of-driving-forward-turnpike-plan/4306688|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=KOCO|publisher=Hearst Television, Inc.|date=October 29, 2015}} On June 6, 2016, the tollway was approved by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, under the working title Eastern Oklahoma County Turnpike.{{cite news|title=ODOT Greenlights EOC Turnpike|url=https://lutherregister.news/2016/06/08/odot-greenlights-eoc-turnpike/|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=Luther Register|date=June 8, 2016}} In September 2019, "Kickapoo Turnpike" was announced as the tollway's official name.{{cite news |title=The Kickapoo Turnpike Honors Oklahoma Native American Tribe |url=https://www.news-star.com/news/20190926/kickapoo-turnpike-honors-oklahoma-native-american-tribe |accessdate=September 28, 2019 |work=Shawnee News-Star |publisher=GateHouse Media |date=September 26, 2019}}

The first piece of the turnpike to be constructed was the interchange with I-44, at the northern end of the route. Construction on this interchange began in January 2018.{{cite news|title=Turnpike Construction Begins |url=https://lutherregister.news/2018/01/18/turnpike-construction-begins/|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=Luther Register|date=January 18, 2018}} 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,{{cite news|title=Southern portion of Kickapoo Turnpike opens|url=https://theoklahoma100.com/business/2021/01/05/southern-portion-of-kickapoo-turnpike-opens/16972|accessdate=March 12, 2022|work=The Oklahoma 100|date=January 5, 2021}} 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).

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.{{cite news|last1=Adger|first1=Patrina|title=Luther residents speaking out against proposed turnpike|url=http://www.koco.com/article/luther-residents-speaking-out-against-proposed-turnpike/4307677|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=KOCO|publisher=Hearst Television, Inc.}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Horton|first1=Ryan|title=Lawsuit filed over turnpike|work=Choctaw Times|date=August 24, 2016|page=1}} 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."{{cite news|title=The Turnpike Wins at the State Supreme Court

|url=http://lutherregister.news/2016/12/13/the-turnpike-wins-at-the-state-supreme-court/|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=Luther Register|date=December 13, 2016}}

On August 2, 2021, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved the designation of the Kickapoo Turnpike as part of an extension of Interstate 240 (I-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 would have needed to be approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to take effect.{{cite AV media |people=Oklahoma Transportation Commission|date=2 August 2021|title="ODOT Commission Meeting"|url=https://video.ibm.com/recorded/130758563|access-date=2 August 2021}} The plan was recycled into adding a I-335 designation instead of extending I-240

A southern extension of the Turnpike to I-35 is planned.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=David |title=Proposed Turnpike Extension Causes Concern For Some Norman Residents |url=https://www.news9.com/story/62195c2f878aa607277650e1/proposed-turnpike-extension-causes-concern-for-some-norman-residents |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=www.news9.com |language=en}} As a result, AASHTO approved an application from ODOT to assign it the interstate designation I-335 in November 2023.{{AASHTO minutes |year=2023A |page=5 |access-date=22 January 2024 |link= |quote=}} This was recycled from the original plan from August 2021 where they were going to extend the existing I-240. 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 extended nor be part of the turnpike and the future interstate will not connect to its parent route until the southern extension is completed.{{cite news |last1=Humphrey |first1=Spencer |title=Multiple OKC-area highways, turnpikes to be designated as interstates in coming month |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/multiple-okc-area-highways-turnpikes-to-be-designated-as-interstates-in-coming-month/ |access-date=March 10, 2024 |work=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |date=March 7, 2024 |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310030444/https://kfor.com/news/local/multiple-okc-area-highways-turnpikes-to-be-designated-as-interstates-in-coming-month/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite news|author1=Staff Reports|title=Turnpike toll increase takes effect March 1|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/turnpike-toll-increase-takes-effect-march/article_8b1d543a-2def-5bec-825c-8137c69c15ce.html|accessdate=April 13, 2018|work=Tulsa World|publisher=BH Media Group|date=February 22, 2017}}

{{As of|2022|01|25|df=US}}, it costs $3.95 with PlatePay ($1.90 with Pikepass) to drive the entire length of the turnpike.{{cite web|title=Toll Rates|url=https://www.pikepass.com/toll/TollCalculator.aspx|publisher=Oklahoma Turnpike Authority}}

Exit numbers branch off of I-44's mileage markers. {{jcttop|exit|state=OK|length_ref=}}

{{OKint|exit

|county=McClain

|location=Purcell

|type=future

|mile=

|road={{jct|state=OK|I|35}}

|notes=Proposed southern terminus; South Extension Turnpike continues beyond I-35 towards {{jct|state=OK|SH|74|noshield=yes}}

}}

{{jctbridge|exit

|river=Canadian River

|type=future

|mile=

|bridge=Bridge

}}

{{OKint|exit

|county=Cleveland

|cspan=7

|location=none

|type=future

|mile=

|road={{jct|state=OK|US|77}}

|notes=Proposed interchange{{cite web | url=https://www.accessoklahoma.com/south-extension-turnpike | title=South Extension Turnpike | publisher=Oklahoma Turnpike Authority | date=2022 | accessdate=April 15, 2024 | website=Access Oklahoma}}

}}

{{OKint|exit

|location1=Noble

|location2=Norman

|type=future

|mile=

|road=Etowah Road

|notes=Proposed interchange

}}

{{OKint|exit

|location=Norman

|lspan=3

|type=future

|mile=

|road={{jct|state=OK|SH|9}}

|notes=Proposed interchange

}}

{{OKint|exit

|type=future

|mile=

|road=Alameda Drive

|notes=Proposed interchange

}}

{{OKint|exit

|type=future

|mile=

|road=East-West Connector west

|notes=Proposed interchange; proposed northern terminus of South Extension Turnpike

}}

{{OKint|exit

|location=Oklahoma City

|lspan=4

|type=future

|mile=

|road=South Choctaw Road

|notes=Proposed interchange{{cite web | url=https://www.accessoklahoma.com/east-west-connector | title=Outer Loop: East-West Connector | publisher=Oklahoma Turnpike Authority | date=2022 | accessdate=April 15, 2024 | website=Access Oklahoma}}

}}

{{OKint|exit

|type=future

|mile=

|road=South Peebly Road

|notes=Proposed interchange

}}

{{OKint|exit

|county1=Cleveland

|county2=Oklahoma

|mile=0.00

|road=SE 89th Street

|notes=Current southern terminus; at-grade intersection

}}

{{OKint|exit

|county=Oklahoma

|cspan=7

|type=incomplete

|mile=0.5

|mile2=1.3

|road={{jct|state=OK|I|40|name1={{jct|state=OK|US|270|SH|3|noshield=yes}}|city1=Oklahoma City|location2=Fort Smith}}

|exit=130

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; full interchange to be constructed in future; signed as exits 130B (east) and 130A (west); exit 170 on I-40; proposed eastern terminus of East-West Connector

}}

{{OKint|exit

|location=Harrah

|lspan=4

|mile=3.9

|exit=134

|road={{Jct|state=OK|road|SE 29th Street|city1=McLoud}}

|notes=

|type=etc}}

{{OKint|exit

|mile=6.0

|exit=136

|road=East Reno Avenue

|notes=

|type=etc}}

{{OKint|exit

|mile=8.2

|exit=138

|road={{jct|state=OK|US|62|name1=NE 23rd Street|city1=Choctaw|city2=Harrah}}

|notes=

|type=etc}}

{{OKint|exit

|mile=13.2

|exit=144

|road={{Jct|state=OK|road|East Britton Road|city1=Jones}}

|notes=

|type=etc}}

{{OKint|exit

|location=none

|type=etc

|mile=

|place=Toll Gantry

}}

{{OKint|exit

|location=Luther

|mile=19.6

|exit=149

|road={{jct|state=OK|I|44|name1=Turner Turnpike|city1=Tulsa|city2=Oklahoma City}}

|notes=Northern terminus; signed as exits 149B (east) and 149A (west); exit 149 on I-44 / Turnpike

}}

{{jctbtm|exit|keys=etc,incomplete,proposed}}

{{reflist}}

{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}

• [http://www.pikepass.com Oklahoma Turnpike Authority]

{{Portal|Oklahoma|U.S. Roads}}

{{3di|35}}

{{Oklahoma Turnpikes}}

Category:Toll roads in Oklahoma

Category:Transportation in Oklahoma City

Category:Transportation in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma