Chickasaw Turnpike
| |
---|---|
East end | SH-1 near Roff |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Oklahoma |
Counties | Murray, Pontotoc |
Highway system | |
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The Chickasaw Turnpike, also designated State Highway 301 (SH-301), is a controlled-access toll road in the rural south central region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A two-lane freeway, it stretches for 13.3 miles (21.4 km)[1] from north of Sulphur to just south of Ada. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) owns, maintains, and collects tolls on the turnpike. The first section of the Chickasaw Turnpike opened on September 1, 1991.
The Chickasaw resulted from a compromise between urban and rural legislators. Originally, it was part of a now-canceled plan to connect southern and eastern Oklahoma with a longer turnpike. It was also intended to link Ada to the Interstate system. A four-mile (6.4 km) segment of the turnpike was transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), making it a toll-free road, in 2011.
Route description
The Chickasaw Turnpike takes a southwest-to-northeast route, passing through only two counties,
The Chickasaw Turnpike has only two lanes for the majority of its length; however, there is a short eastbound passing lane. The Chickasaw is the only two-lane turnpike in Oklahoma. Lightly traveled, the road is used by about 2,000 vehicles per day.[4]
History
The Chickasaw Turnpike was originally envisioned as a corridor running from
Governor
Bonds for the first section were approved in 1989.[2] The bonds specifically permitted the turnpike to be transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and become a free road, the only turnpike in Oklahoma eligible for this type of transfer.[7] At the time, however, ODOT director Bobby Green said that his agency could not buy the turnpike due to a lack of funds.[9] The Chickasaw cost nearly $44 million to build (equivalent to $71.3 million in 2023[10]).[4] Its first section opened on September 1, 1991.[2] Originally, the turnpike began at SH-7 west of Sulphur, proceeding northeast to the US-177 junction, then continuing northeast on its present-day alignment.[3]
As part of his 1994 turnpike package, Governor David Walters proposed expanding the Chickasaw Turnpike to four lanes and extending it to Henryetta.[5] The Chickasaw improvements were eventually cut from the package, which ultimately died when a commission overseeing the sale of bonds by state agencies voted against it.[11]
The OTA voted on November 11, 2002, to open discussions about transferring the Chickasaw to ODOT. The transfer would also include a one-time payment of $14 million (equivalent to $22.7 million in 2023
To address these concerns, OTA began a $12.8-million (equivalent to $18.6 million in 2023[10])[15] pavement rehabilitation project on February 9, 2006.[16] Construction constraints required the entire turnpike to be closed in March,[16] causing traffic problems in Sulphur.[15] The turnpike reopened on September 29, 2006.[15] The Oklahoma Transportation Commission, which oversees ODOT, voted on August 6, 2007, to begin feasibility and cost–benefit analysis studies towards accepting the four miles (6.4 km) of the turnpike between SH-7 and US-177.[7] On August 1, 2011, the Transportation Commission voted to transfer the section of the turnpike west of US-177 to ODOT, designating it SH-7 Spur. The commission noted that OTA had raised the new SH-7 Spur to meet ODOT standards, and that expansion of the US-177 interchange to full access was the responsibility of ODOT. This was the first time that a turnpike had been transferred from OTA to ODOT. Transferring the turnpike was considered an inexpensive way to solve the problem of excessive truck traffic in Sulphur.[17]
The Chickasaw Turnpike originally bore no numbered designation. On August 2, 2021, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission unanimously approved a motion to apply the SH-301 designation to the turnpike. ODOT Director Tim Gatz stated in the Transportation Commission meeting that the numbering addition was primarily to aid in navigation using digital mapping and routing applications.[18]
Tolls
As of August 2022[update], passengers of two-axle vehicles (such as cars and motorcycles) pay tolls of $1.50 with PlatePay or 65¢ if
The Chickasaw Turnpike has been fully automated since shortly after it opened.[20] As Governor Bellmon predicted, it has been a consistent money loser since opening.[7] Improvements are funded largely through proceeds from the more profitable Turner and Will Rogers Turnpikes.[5]
As of August 16, 2022[update], the Chickasaw Turnpike is now fully cashless with Pikepass or PlatePay as the option to pay the toll.
Exit list
All exits are unnumbered.
County | Location | mi[21] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SH-7 Spur west | Continuation of roadway | ||||
| 0.0 | 0.0 | US 177 – Sulphur | Current western terminus; eastern terminus of SH 7 spur | |
| 2.8 | 4.5 | Toll plaza | ||
Pontotoc | | 8.2 | 13.2 | Dolberg Road – Roff | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| 13.3 | 21.4 | SH-1 – Ada, Mill Creek | Eastern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
See also
- Oklahoma portal
- U.S. Roads portal
References
- ^ a b Oklahoma Department of Transportation (2013). Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (2013–14 ed.). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Turnpike inset. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (n.d.). "OTA History". Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b Oklahoma Department of Transportation (2007). Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (Centennial ed.). c. 1:1,013,760. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. § L9. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Oklahoma Legislature (November 26, 2002). "Legislative Leader Opposes Transfer of Turnpike to Highway Department" (Press release). Oklahoma Legislature. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Greene, Wayne (October 4, 1993). "Chickasaw Turnpike Lonely Stretch of Road". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ a b Hoberock, Barbara (November 22, 2002). "Turnpike May Take Free Way". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Francis-Smith, Janice (August 8, 2007). "Oklahoma Department of Transportation May Get Piece of Chickasaw". The Journal Record. Oklahoma City. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014.
- ^ "Plan to Transfer Turnpike Advances with OTA Vote". Tulsa World. November 26, 2002. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ Ford, Brian (October 2, 1991). "State Says It Can't Buy Chickasaw Turnpike". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ Hoberock, Barbara (October 4, 1994). "Bond Package for Pikes Killed". Tulsa World. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ Francis-Smith, Janice (November 26, 2002). "Chickasaw Turnpike Becomes Free Road". The Journal Record. Oklahoma City. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ English, Paul (November 27, 2002). "Lawmaker: Turnpike Is No 'Free Road'". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ "Chickasaw Turnpike May Go Free". Shawnee News-Star. November 23, 2002.[page needed]
- ^ a b c Kurys, Andrea (October 6, 2006). "Chickasaw Turnpike Now Open". Ada, OK: KTEN. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ^ a b "Chickasaw Turnpike Construction to Start" (PDF) (Press release). Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. February 8, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ Oklahoma Transportation Commission (August 1, 2011). "Minutes For the Regular Transportation Commission Meeting" (PDF). Oklahoma Transportation Commission. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
- ^ Oklahoma Transportation Commission (August 2, 2021). "ODOT Commission Meeting". Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (n.d.). "Toll/Fares Chart". Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ Hoberock, Barbara (January 13, 1996). "Creek Turnpike to Be Totally Automated". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ Google (April 22, 2013). "Chickasaw Turnpike" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
External links
- Media related to Chickasaw Turnpike at Wikimedia Commons