Interstate 240 Oklahoma

Interstate 240 forms a southerly bypass of central Oklahoma City for I-40 west to El Reno and east to Shawnee. The freeway also provides connectivity with Interstate 44 leading southwest to Lawton and I-35 south to Dallas. I-240 serves commuters to Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) and the south suburbs including Moore.

The agenda for the August 2, 2021 Oklahoma Transportation Commission Meeting included a spate of state highway system numbering revisions. Among the approvals, designating Interstate 240 in place of SH 152 for 4.8 miles between I-44 and the John Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City. I-240 was also added along 30.97 miles of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike to Northwest Oklahoma City and I-35/44 near Arcadia Lake, and along the Kickapoo Turnpike for 18.71 miles between I-40 near Newalla in eastern Oklahoma City and I-44 (Turner Turnpike) at Luther.

A 1.4 mile long overlap with I-44 will link the SH 152 segment and the current west end of I-240. Overlaps will also include 13.7 miles along the I-44 (Turner Turnpike) and 5.81 miles along I-40 to link the various segments, forming a 93 mile long loop.

This item is necessitated to give the traveling public a more definitive loop to follow around the Greater Oklahoma City Area and to better identify the un-numbered Turnpikes.

Although approved by the State Transportation Commission, the changes require approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Pending concurrence by the FHWA. AASHTO subsequently approved the 75.48 mile long extension of I-240 at the Fall 2021 Route Numbering Committee Meeting.

State Highway System Number Revisions (Agenda Item Number 131) proposed by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission at the meeting of September 11, 2023 did not reference the previously approved extension of Interstate 240. Instead, a new set of designation changes for the Oklahoma City area were outlined:

• Overlapping I-240 along I-44 for 1.4 miles between the current west end and the exchange with SH 152
• Replacing SH 152 between I-44 and the John Kilpatrick Turnpike with a 4.8 mile long western extension of I-240
• Designating the John Kilpatrick Turnpike as Interstate 344 for 30.97 miles from I-240/SH 152 to I-35/44 in north Oklahoma City
• Designating the Kickapoo Turnpike for 18.71 miles between I-40 and I-44 (Turner Turnpike) as Interstate 335

Agenda Item No. 131 references:

This item is necessitated to give the traveling public a more definitive route numbering to follow around the Greater Oklahoma City Area and to better identify the un-numbered Turnpikes in the City of Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) submitted applications for the establishment of I-335 and I-344 for the AASHTO 2023 Fall Meeting. Both were approved. However while the request for I-344 referenced the proposed extension of I-240, a formal application for redefining Interstate 240 was not included.

I-35/I-240 Interchange improvements

Formerly named Crossroads Renewal 240, construction on the project upgrading the cloverleaf joining I-240 and I-35 into a multi level exchange started in June 2016. The four phase project runs through 2023 2026 2028. Completed in May 2017, Phase 1 work reconstructed the Southwest Expressway east from Santa Fe Avenue / Exit 3 B to past Shields Boulevard. The $12 million phase included interim ramp changes at Shields Boulevard.

Phase 1A rebuilt the frontage road along the southwest quadrant of the exchange joining I-35 and I-240. It also permanently closed the entrance ramp to I-240 east from Shields Boulevard and the southbound off-ramp from I-35 to SE 82nd Street. Started in June 2017, the $10.6 million project was completed in Summer 2018.

Costing over $75 million, the contract for Phase 1B was awarded by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission in January 2023. Redesigning the remaining frontage roads, construction for Phase 1B got underway on June 2, 2023.

Phase 2 will construct the flyovers from I-35 north to I-240 west and from I-35 south to I-240 east. It will also replace the eastbound span for Interstate 240 over I-35. Phase 3 will complete work along Interstate 240 east between Shields Boulevard and Eastern Avenue, while Phase 4 upgrades the westbound direction along the same stretch. Phase 4 also includes work on a new bridge for I-240 over I-35. Previously estimated to cost $90.64 million, Phases 2, 3 and 4 were scheduled for fiscal year 2023 in the ODOT Eight year Construction Work Plan. They are scheduled to begin in 2025.

A section of Northeast Expressway, between Eastern and Lincoln Boulevards, was the first four lane highway to open in Oklahoma. It was completed in October 1950.² The urban Interstate numerology approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on November 10, 1958 assigned Interstate 440 along a loop formed by the Will Rogers Expressway and U.S. 66 between I-40 (Stanley Draper Expressway) and I-35 (Northeast Expressway). Interstate 240 was assigned to the completed portion of the Southeast Expressway, from I-35 (South Central Expressway) east to I-40 beyond the Oklahoma City urban area. The southwest quadrant of I-240 along the Southwest Expressway and Will Rogers Expressway was referenced as Tentative Future Interstate Highway 240. Because the loop was incomplete, separate numbers were designated.

The Oklahoma Department of Highways eventually requested the renumbering of I-440 as part of an extended I-240 in a letter to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) dated December 3, 1974.

In our original submission for Interstate Status, the Southwest Quadrant of Oklahoma City was denied; therefore, the routes were divided as I-240 and I-440. The Southwest Quadrant was later approved. These routes have a common interchange with I-40 and the signing would be simplified with the use of just one intersecting number. This change was recommended by the Federal Highway Administration, and this revision has been submitted to them for their formal approval. Construction on these routes is nearing completion.

The exit numbering system along Interstate 240 was originally based off the mileage for I-40. I-240 was completed in 1975 and on June 17 of that year AASHTO  approved a request from the Oklahoma State Highway Commission for the renumbering of I-440 as part of Interstate 240. Reasons cited for the change:

To combine Interstate Routes 240 and 440 as 240 simplify the route marking.

The two numbers originated when the southwest quadrant of route 240 was denied in its original submission. Route 240 is near completion; segments of 440 are under construction. This revision has been recommended by the Federal Highway Administration and by the State Traffic Engineer.

Further changes for I-240 were made, with Interstate 44 overtaking both the original 10.8 mile long I-440 section, and the western leg of I-240 as part of its extension from the Turner Turnpike near Edmond south to Lawton and Wichita Falls, Texas. The elimination of I-240 over the newly designated I-44 was approved by FHWA and by AASHTO on June 28, 1982.

AASHTO and FHWA has approved the extension of Interstate Route 44 from its old terminus at I-35 in N.E. Oklahoma City southwesterly to Wichita Falls, Texas. Within the Oklahoma City area, the extension of I-44 over I-240 creates a myriad of problems related to the signing of duplicate Interstate Routes within an urbanized area.

The problem of duplicate signing and its related confusion to the motoring public warrants the elimination of overlapping routes. Therefore, it is recommended that the designation of I-240 be removed from that portion of I-44 beginning at the US 62 – I-240 interchange and extending north and east to its junction with I-35.

I-44 leading south from I-240 to the H.E. Bailey Turnpike north end at Newcastle was designated as U.S. 62 from 1965 to 1982. I-240 from U.S. 62 to U.S. 66 opened on March 23, 1976. From 1978 to 1980, U.S. 66 was detoured along Portland Avenue north to NW and NE 63rd Streets east and Kelley Avenue south while Interstate 240 was constructed.³

Sources:

1. Celebrate the Interstate: America’s Interstate Highway System Turns 50! http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/okinterstate50/ Oklahoma Department of Transportation, web site.
2. “Interstate Highway System Celebrates Silver Anniversary.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), November 15, 1981.
3. Darrell Brunson, email: “The H.E. Bailey Turnpike & I-44 at OKC,” August 13, 2017.

Page updated February 2, 2024.