Interstate-Guide: Interstate 244 Oklahoma

Interstate 244, officially designated the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, cuts a swath through the downtown Tulsa while Interstate 44 bypasses to the southeast. It represents the inner loop of the Tulsa Freeway system with the Oklahoma 11/Gilcrease Expressway composing the existing portions of the outer loop. The 41st Street South freeway connector via Exit 1B is the only portion of the outer loop west of Interstate 244 and Tisdale Parkway ever constructed.

Routing

Interstate 244 branches northeast of Interstate 44 near the eastern terminus of the tolled Turner Turnpike toward downtown Tulsa. The freeway forms the northwest half of the Tulsa Inner Dispersal Loop (IDL) while unsigned Interstate 444 represents the southeastern portion. The freeway carries various routes along its Tulsa routing. Those include U.S. 75 from Exit 2 to Exit 4B, U.S. 64 and Oklahoma 51 from Exit 4B to 5B/C, and U.S. 412 from Exit 5B/C to the eastern terminus. Several stack interchanges can be found along the route.

History

Western Terminus - Interstate 44 - Oakhurst, Oklahoma
Perspective from Interstate 244 west
	The last exit of Interstate 244 westbound departs for 51st Street. This photo looks at the freeway one-half mile before Interstate 244 merges onto Interstate 44 west. The terminus interchange is visible on the horizon. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	The sun takes center stage in this late Fall scene of Interstate 244 westbound approaching Exit 1A for Interstate 44 east. The bridges above carry a freeway connector between Interstate 44 to 51st Street. This extended ramp is part of a never completed Tulsa outer belt freeway. If the highway came to fruition, a freeway would be in place from 51st Street northward to Oklahoma 11, the Gilcrease Expressway. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	Exit 1A returns traffic to Tulsa via Interstate 44 east. For Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 westbound traffic, two mile of freeway remain before the tolled Turner Turnpike portion of the Interstate begins. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).
Perspective from Interstate 44 east
	Having left the Turner Turnpike just two miles back, Interstate 44 prepares to split with Interstate 244 at Exit 222B-55th Place. Oklahoma 66 (former U.S. 66) piggybacks with Interstate 44 throughout the Tulsa metropolitan area. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	Exit 223A sign bridge for the Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 and Interstate 244 eastbound split. The junction between the two highways is a tri-level stack interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/95).

	A late fall scene of the same sign bridge Pictured in the above photograph. Downtown Tulsa is just a four mile drive via Interstate 244 north. Joplin, Missouri meanwhile, is another 112 miles of Interstate 44 to the east. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	Two views of the Interstate 244 split from Interstate 44 eastbound. Interstate 244 travels through the heart of Tulsa, heading north before turning east. Interstate 44 meanwhile skirts the southeastern portions of the city. Top photo taken by Ben Prusia (2001); bottom photo taken by Rick Mattioni (11/00).


	A third view of the Exit 223A sign bridge for Interstate 244 east at the split. Note that the Martin Luther King Junior Expressway sign panel now sits between the two Interstate guide panels instead of to the left of the Interstate 244 panel. Maps indicate that the designation applies to Interstate 244. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).
Perspective from Interstate 44 west
	Westbound Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 at Interstate 244/Exit 223A. Exit 223B serves the aforementioned freeway connector to 51st Street that was intended to be part of the Tulsa belt system. Photo taken by Rick Mattioni (01/01).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 44 and U.S. 412 - eastern Tulsa, Oklahoma
Perspective from Interstate 44 west
	The first indication of the Interstate 244/U.S. 412 split from Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 westbound is this one-half mile sign bridge. Interstate 244 also serves Tulsa International Airport and the Osage Indian Reservation for Interstate 44 motorists. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	The split of Interstate 244/U.S. 412 from Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 westbound. This interchange is supposed to be Exit 236, but is not signed that way for some reason. Notice the odd-looking interstate shields. These appears on most of the guide signs of Interstate 244 throughout its routing. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/01/02).

	A second view of the Interstate 44/244 split and sign bridge. The control points for Interstate 244 include Sand Springs, a western suburb of Tulsa along the U.S. 64/412/Oklahoma 51 Keystone Expressway, and Enid, a city well to the west of Interstate 35 via the same U.S. route pairing. Photo taken by Ben Prusia (2001).
Perspective from Interstate 44 east
	Interstate 244's eastbound lanes cross over Interstate 44 in this photograph. There is no direct access from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 244 west nor is there access from Interstate 244 east to Interstate 44 west. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (11/28/02).

	The merge of the eastbound Interstate 244 lanes onto Interstate 44/Oklahoma 66 east. The beginning of the Will Rogers Turnpike of Interstate 44 is located about five miles to the east. Oklahoma 66 departs one mile before the beginning of the toll highway. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (11/28/02).