H. E. Bailey Turnpike

H.E. Bailey Turnpike
H.E. Bailey Turnpike highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by OTA
Existed	April 23, 1964[1]–present
History	Norman Spur completed October 19, 2001
Component highways	I-44 mainline SH-4 Norman Spur
Western segment
Length	25.0 mi US 281 near Lawton
Major intersections	US 277 in Chickasha US 277 / SH-9 in Chickasha
East end	US 277 / SH-9 near Blanchard
Location
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highway System Interstate US State Turnpikes

The H. E. Bailey Turnpike is an 86.4-mile (139.0 km)

Ideas for connecting Lawton and Oklahoma City started in 1953. The state highways between Oklahoma City and Lawton, were dangerously narrow, which included many 'cramped, death-trap' bridges. The route was not part of any federal interstate highway system plans, so only a turnpike was feasible.^[7] Oklahoma Senate Bill 454, which amended House Bill 933 that authorized creation of the Will Rogers Turnpike, allowed creation of a southwest turnpike and a proposed turnpike connecting Oklahoma City toward Wichita, Kansas, which was later constructed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and became Interstate 35.^[1]

Both HB 933 and SB 454 were submitted as State Question 359 and 360 and passed on January 26, 1954. In July 1960, an economic feasibility study was completed for the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and in November 1961, $56 million in bonds were issued for the turnpike's construction.^[1] The north section of the H. E. Bailey from southwest Oklahoma City to north Lawton was completed on March 1, 1964. The south section from south Lawton to the Texas border was completed on April 23, 1964.^[1]

In 1982, as part of Oklahoma's 75th statehood "Diamond Jubilee" celebrations, I-44 was signed through Oklahoma City to the Red River encompassing the turnpike.^[3][8] On October 19, 2001, the H. E. Bailey Norman Spur connecting I-44 to State Highway 9 was opened.^[1][9]

The route's namesake, H. E. Bailey, served as the city manager of Oklahoma City from 1941 to 1944, and later as the director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.^[10]

Originally, the portion of the turnpike south of Lawton was designed to parkway-like standards, with a slightly mounded grassy median and no left shoulders. It has since been completely upgraded to a cable barrier bordered by left shoulders.

In 2021, the Norman Spur became part of SH-4.^{[citation needed]}

The turnpike was converted to cashless tolling via PlatePay and PikePass in Summer 2022. This was done to remove the need for toll plazas, which were seen as inefficient and prone to traffic accidents.^[11] The project, along with a project to rehabilitate the pavement between Lawton to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, is being done in order to raise the speed limit from 75 mph to 80 mph.^[12]

A two-axle vehicle currently pays $6.25 ($4.50 with

Law enforcement along the H. E. Bailey Turnpike is provided by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop YC, a special troop assigned to the turnpike.^[16]

The turnpike has two service areas with both located in the median of the highway. The Walters Service Area is located north of exit number 20. The Chickasha Service Area is located north of exit number 83. Both service areas offer food, gas, and a convenience store.^[5]

The OTA is currently planning to improve Whitfield Road interchange (exit 62) near

Exit list

Mainline

County	Location	mi	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
US 281 continue south toward Wichita Falls, TX
	​	5	US 281 north – Waurika, Randlett	Last free exit eastbound; western end of I-44 concurrency
	US-281) – Walters	Walters toll plaza is located just before the interchange in both directions
US 281 south / SH-36 west – Geronimo, Faxon, Frederick	Last free exit westbound; eastern end of I-44 concurrency
	​	30.6	49.2	East End of Western Section US 281 north continue into Lawton
	Lawton	30.6– 46.2	49.2– 74.4	Pioneer Expressway (free highway through Lawton)
	​	46.2	74.4	West End of Eastern Section US 281 south continue into Lawton
	​	46.6	75.0	46	US 281 north – Elgin, Apache, Anadarko	Last free exit eastbound; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western end of I-44 concurrency
	US 277 – Fletcher, Elgin, Sterling
	​	62.0	99.8	62	Fletcher, Cyril, Sterling	Whitfield Road; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; future full interchange
Grady	​	66.1	106.4	Chickasha Toll Plaza
	​	72	116	72	US 277 / SH-19 – Cement	Future interchange
	US-277) – Duncan, Chickasha
		83.0	133.6	83	US-277/SH-9) – Chickasha, Anadarko
	​	86	138	86	SH-92	Future interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	​	93	150	93	Amber	Future interchange
	​	97.3	156.6	Newcastle Toll Plaza
	​	99.1	159.5	—	H. E. Bailey Norman Spur
	​			—	SH-4 north – Yukon, Mustang, Tuttle
US 277 south – Newcastle, Blanchard	Last free exit westbound; eastern end of I-44 concurrency
	East End of Turnpike I-44 / US 62 continue toward Oklahoma City
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Electronic toll collection       Incomplete access       Unopened

H. E. Bailey Norman Spur/Toll SH-4

H. E. Bailey Norman Spur
Length	8.2 mi[2] (13.2 km)
Existed	2001–present

Note: Mile numbers on the Norman Spur, Toll SH-4, are posted 100 more than the mile they represent. For example, Mile 4 is posted as Mile 104. SH-4 was designated on the route in 2021. All exits are unnumbered.

County	Location	mi[19]	km	Destinations	Notes
Grady	​	0.00	0.00	SH-4 north – Tuttle, Mustang, Yukon	Continuation north; western end of SH-4 concurrency
				Oklahoma City, Chickasha, Lawton
		1.0	1.6	Toll plaza
McClain	Blanchard	3.6	5.8	SH-76 – Blanchard
	US 277 / SH-9 west) – Blanchard, Newcastle	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
	Newcastle	7.8	12.6	SH-9 east – Norman	Eastern terminus; eastern terminus of SH-4
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Electronic toll collection       Incomplete access

See also

• Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
• Pikepass