Interstate 235 Oklahoma

Overview

Interstate 235 provides the most direct route through Downtown Oklahoma City. The southern three miles follow the Centennial Expressway, while the rest of the route follows the Broadway Extension. 05/06/12

Following a combination of the Centennial Expressway and Broadway Extension, Interstate 235 through Oklahoma City links I-35/40 by Bricktown with I-44 near Nichols Hills. Extending north from I-35 to the Broadway Extension freeway to Edmond, U.S. 77 overlaps with all of I-235.

Off Broadway and I-235

Rebuilding of the oldest section of Interstate 235, from N 36th Street to I-44, got underway by 2011. Completed at that time was a new ramp from I-44 east to I-235 south. The $10 million project replaced the first of the substandard ramps at the cloverleaf interchange joining the two freeways.

The Off Broadway project commenced on August 22, 2016 with work from N 36th Street to NW 63rd Street. The resurfacing contract was completed ahead of schedule by late September 2016. Succeeding construction was underway on January 2, 2017. Costing $88 million, the third phase expanded Interstate 235 to six overall lanes from N 36th Street to a point just beyond N 50th Street while replacing the BNSF Railroad and N 50th Street overpasses. Finished a year ahead of schedule, all lanes of traffic were opened to traffic on November 9, 2018, with final work completed by month’s end.

Estimated to cost $35 million, work on Phase 2B added flyovers linking Interstate 235 north with I-44 west and from I-44 east to U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north. Subsequent reconstruction of the ramp joining Interstate 44 westbound with Broadway Extension north (Phase 3A) cost $16 million. The overall Off Broadway project was completed by March 2022.

Route Information

North End – Oklahoma City, OK
South End – Oklahoma City, OK
Mileage – 5.36
Cities – Oklahoma City
Junctions –

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-44 east at I-235/US 77 - Oklahoma City, OK

Button copy guide sign for Broadway Extension along Interstate 44 east. 05/25/95

Prior to the completion of I-235 through Oklahoma City, U.S. 77 overlapped with I-44 east from Broadway Extension to Lincoln Boulevard south. An imprint for U.S. 77 appeared on button copy guide signs at the north end of I-235 for a period of time. March 1994 by Cary Todd

History

I-235 through Oklahoma City was established as an Interstate route by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on July 13, 1976. The route was previously submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for inclusion in the Interstate System on November 5, 1975. FHWA responded favorably to the request on May 13, 1976:

we conditionally approve under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 139(a) the addition to the Interstate System of the 1.5-mile northern segment of the Central Expressway in Oklahoma City. We also conditionally approve under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 103(e)(1) the addition to the Interstate System of the 3.2-mile southern segment of the Central Expressway.

The FHWA approval authorized the use of Federal Interstate Funds for constructing the 3.2 miles of the Central Expressway extending south from NW 36th Street to I-35/40. The remainder of the Central Expressway north to then-I-240 was essentially complete to Interstate standards.

The Centennial Expressway section of I-235, from I-35/40 north to NW 36th Street, opened to traffic on April 22, 1989, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the “Oklahoma Land Run.” The section beyond N 36th Street was built in the late 1960s and is considered part of Broadway.¹

U.S. 77 originally navigated through central Oklahoma City along surface streets. Overlapping with U.S. 62, U.S. 77 partitioned along the couplet of Robinson Avenue / Broadway through Downtown to NE 23rd Street east (U.S. 270). 23rd Street took U.S. 62-72-270 east to the State Capitol and Lincoln Boulevard. There U.S. 77 combined with U.S. 66 Business north to Grand Boulevard, the predecessor to Interstate 44 and the Northeast Expressway.

Construction was underway by 1962 for Broadway Extension south from U.S. 66 (Grand Boulevard) topping Park. Upon completion, the freeway spur south from U.S. 66 was unnumbered. What would eventually become a part of I-235 south to I-35 and I-40 was originally referenced as the Capital Freeway. The Capital Freeway was proposed to tie into Lincoln Boulevard south of the Capitol on the 1976 Official Oklahoma Highway Map.

U.S. 77 was initially realigned from using Robinson Avenue southbound to follow just Broadway through Downtown. The relocation from 5th Street SW north to 23rd Street NW was approved by AASHTO on October 28, 1978. The 1981 Official Oklahoma Highway Map shows U.S. 77 changed again, following Reno Avenue east to Lincoln Boulevard north. Upon completion of the Centennial Freeway, U.S. 77 shifted a final time to overlap with all of Interstate 235.

North End – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

North at

Replaced in 2022, the initial sign for the north end of Interstate 235 appears at the parclo interchange (Exit 3) with N 36th Street. 10/04/21

Completed in 2022, the Off Broadway construction project expanded what was the oldest section of Interstate 235 to six lanes and upgraded the cloverleaf interchange with IH 44 to include flyovers and higher speed ramps. 05/09/22

Exit 4 A links IH 235 with Santa Fe Avenue and IH 44 west toward SH 74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) and NW 39th Street (Historic U.S. 66-270) to the suburb of Bethany. 05/09/22

The Off Broadway project removed an exit ramp connecting IH 235 south with Santa Fe Avenue between a truss bridge for the BNSF Railroad and Deep Fork creek. IH 44 along the Northeast Expressway travels wholly within Oklahoma City between IH 40 and IH 35. 05/09/22

Interstate 235 ends as traffic departs for IH 44/SH 66 east to IH 35 and Tulsa. Broadway Extension continues northward as a freeway into the city of Edmond. 05/09/22

South at

An early phase of the Off Broadway project for IH 44/235 added a new flyover for Interstate 44 west from U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) south. 05/09/22

Eliminating a weaving traffic pattern, the overpass for IH 44/SH 66 west built during the Off Broadway project spans the entrance ramp from NW 63rd Street. 05/09/22

A collector distributor roadway was added as part of the Off Broadway to separate movements from the west side ramps with IH 44 from the IH 235/U.S. 77 southbound mainline. 05/09/22

Guide signs for IH 44 omit SH 66, which overlaps with the freeway east to IH 35 north to Edmond. 05/09/22

Interstate 44 joins the Oklahoma City area with Tulsa, Joplin, Missouri and St. Louis to the northeast. 05/09/22

East at

Interstate 44 overtakes the Northwest Expressway (Historic U.S. 66) at Western Avenue ahead of the cloverstack interchange (Exits 127 A/B) with IH 235 south and U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension). 05/09/22

The entrance ramp from Western Avenue adds an auxiliary lane along IH 44/SH 66 east to Exit 127 A for IH 235/U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) south. 05/09/22

A new wider ramp with a higher design speed opened to traffic from IH 44 east to Broadway Extension south on January 18, 2014. Completed three months ahead of schedule, the $9 million construction project was an early phase of the Off Broadway project underway from 2016 through 2022.² 05/09/22

The flyover ramp at Exit 127 B replaced a grade level loop ramp to U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north to Edmond. 05/09/22

West at

A directional T interchange (Exit 128 A) connects Interstate 44 with the north end of Lincoln Boulevard (old U.S. 66 Business / U.S. 77), a half mile ahead of IH 235/U.S. 77. 05/09/22

Broadway Extension continues 6.3 miles north as a commuter freeway into the city of Edmond. U.S. 77 follows Broadway north along a commercial arterial to 2nd Street and the University of Central Oklahoma. 05/09/22

IH 235/U.S. 77 travel four miles south to the Oklahoma City Business District and 5.3 miles to combine with IH 35 south. 05/09/22

North End Throwback

North at

A lane drop occurred at forthcoming Exit 3 for N 36th Street on the 1.75 mile approach to Interstate 44 on I-235/U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north. Construction through 2018 expanded the northbound freeway to three through lanes. 10/20/03

A folded diamond interchange joined IH 235/U.S. 77 with N 36th Street, as the freeway made an S-curve through the exchange. Subsequent construction straightened out the freeway and reconfigured Exit 3 into a parclo interchange. 10/20/03

Broadway Extension shifts northeast to pass under N 50th Street to what was a partial trumpet interchange with an access road linking IH 235 with parallel Santa Fe Avenue north of NE 50th Street. The overpass and southbound off-ramp to Santa Fe Avenue were demolished by 2013 to make way for a new off-ramp from IH 44 east to IH 235 south. 10/20/03

South at

Construction through 2012 elevated the westbound entrance ramp to IH 44 from U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) south to pass over the oncoming ramp from NW 63rd Street. The new ramp departs from the freeway 0.6 miles further north, ahead of the NW 63rd Street overpass. 05/06/12

U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) south at the previous ramp departure for Interstate 44 (Historic U.S. 66) west. Prior construction through October 31, 2002 widened Broadway Extension south toward IH 44/235. 05/06/12

Broadway Extension previously spanned Interstate 44 across bridges built in 1962. Work completed in 2022 replaced these overpasses. Sign changes included the addition of control cities for IH 44. 05/06/12

The first sign referencing Interstate 235 south along Broadway Extension was this overhead posted at the off-ramp for Santa Fe Avenue and N 50th Street. This exit permanently closed to accommodate a new high speed ramp from IH 44 east to IH 235 south, opened in 2013. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).

East at

Ramps within the cloverleaf interchange built in 1957<sup>2</sup> at Broadway Extension departed one mile east of IH 44 where it converges with Northwest Expressway (Historic U.S. 66). The ramp for IH 235 opened in 2014 departs a half mile further west. 05/06/12

A ground level sign preceded the substandard ramps for IH 235/U.S. 77 south toward Downtown Oklahoma City and U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north to Edmond. 05/06/12

A collector distributor lane separated from the Interstate 44 eastbound mainline for IH 235/U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension). 05/06/12

The old southbound exit for IH 235/U.S. 77. This area of pavement was demolished to accommodate the eventual wider loop ramp from Broadway Extension south to IH 44 east. 05/06/12

West at

U.S. 77 historically overlapped with IH 44 west to make the connection with Broadway Extension north. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).

The Off Broadway project built a flyover carrying traffic from IH 235 north to IH 44 west, eliminating the loop ramp and weaving traffic pattern at the previous cloverleaf interchange. 10/20/03

A c/d lane separated from IH 235 west for the ramps to U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north to Edmond and IH 235/U.S. 77 south to the Oklahoma State Capitol. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).

South End – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

South at

I-235/U.S. 77 (Centennial Expressway) angle southeast from the N 10th Street off-ramp (Exit 1 G), 1.5 miles to meet IH 35/40. Guide signs for the succeeding exit incorrectly displayed Walnut Avenue as Walnut Street. 10/04/21

Exit 1 F quickly follows Exit 1 G for Walnut Avenue south at NE 6th Street and Harrison Avenue. Sign changes made here by 2017 corrected the Walnut Street error and added an overhead for Oklahoma City Boulevard (Exit 1 C) west. 10/04/21

Continuing southeast, IH 235/U.S. 77 advances one mile to the systems interchange (Exits 1 B/A) with IH 35, IH 40, U.S. 62 and U.S. 270. 10/04/21

Four lanes of traffic on IH 235 south elevate across Lincoln Boulevard (old U.S. 62-77) and a railroad line southeast ahead of back to back ramps for Oklahoma City Boulevard (Exit 1 C) and IH 40/U.S. 270 west to Amarillo (Exit 1 B). 10/04/21

Interstate 40 was realigned southward from the aging Crosstown Expressway viaduct over a multiyear project completed in 2012. Oklahoma City Boulevard follows the original freeway right of way, while IH 40 loops southward closer to the parallel North Canadian River. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).

Left Exit 1 A takes motorists from the Centennial Expressway south to IH 40/U.S. 270 east to Tinker Air Force Base and Shawnee and IH 35 leading back north. The IH 235/U.S. 77 mainline defaults onto Interstate 35 south to Moore and Norman. 10/04/21

North East at

Interstate 35 shifts northwesterly from the SE 20th Street overpass toward the North Canadian River and the directional interchange (Exit 126) with IH 40 and the Centennial Expressway (IH 235). 10/04/21

Advancing north with four lanes, ramps for Interstate 40 west to Amarillo and the continuation of IH 35 north onto IH 40/U.S. 270 east depart nearly simultaneously from the end of the North Canadian River span. 10/04/21

Interstate 35 makes a TOTSO movement along side U.S. 62 to combine with IH 40 and unsigned U.S. 270 east for less than a mile. U.S. 77 continues north along IH 235, though signs here omit the route. 10/04/21

Interstate 235 begins as Left Exit 1B departs for IH 40 west to Yukon, El Reno and Amarillo, Texas. 10/04/21

U.S. 270 overlaps with I-40 west from Oklahoma City to El Reno before turning northwest toward Woodward. 10/04/21

South West at

IH 35/U.S. 62 dog legs west alongside IH 40/U.S. 270 for 0.8 miles from a directional T interchange (Exit 126) to IH 235/U.S. 77. U.S. 62 navigates throughout the Oklahoma City metro area along the Interstate system. Entering IH 35 from NE 23rd Street to the east, U.S. 62 follows the freeway south to IH 240, and the Southwest Expressway west to IH 44 and Newcastle. 05/09/22

Traveling west between Reno Avenue and the North Canadian River, simultaneous off-ramps depart for both IH 235/U.S. 77 north to the Oklahoma State Capitol and eastern reaches of Downtown and for the continuation of IH 35 south to Ardmore, Denton and Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas. 05/09/22

The IH 35 southbound mainline reduces to a one lane TOTSO ramp from the left as three lanes continue west along IH 40/U.S. 270 around the south side of Downtown Oklahoma City. IH 235 (Centennial Expressway) angles northeast alongside the Bricktown and Midtown areas. 05/09/22

East at

The new eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 to the south of Downtown Oklahoma City opened to traffic on January 5, 2012. These replaced a narrow viaduct (Crosstown Bridge) located further north. The freeway passes by Wheeler Park ahead of Exit 150 A for Shields Boulevard (old U.S. 77), 2.25 miles west of IH 235 north. 10/04/21

Guide signs posted along the section of IH 40 completed in 2012 reference the U.S. 77 overlaps with IH 35 south to Norman (Exit 113) and IH 235 north to Broadway Extension. 10/04/21

The Centennial Expressway passes between the Downtown Business District and Lincoln Boulevard (old U.S. 62-77) leading north to OU Medical Center, and the State Capitol. 10/04/21

The southbound lanes of IH 235/U.S. 77 pass overhead as Exit 151 B departs for IH 35/U.S. 77 south and U.S. 62 west. IH 35 joins Downtown Oklahoma City with Moore, Norman and Ardmore on the 202 mile drive south to Dallas, Texas. 10/04/21

A loop ramp (Exit 151 C) follows for IH 235/U.S. 77 north. 10/04/21

South End Throwback

Exit 1 B for Interstate 40 west previously connected with the Crosstown Expressway wrapping around the south side of Oklahoma City. The viaduct built in 1966 was demolished following completion of the eight year project realigning IH 40. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).

Traveling east along the former Crosstown Bridge, 1.25 miles ahead of IH 35/235. Work relocated IH 40 off the deteriorating six lane viaduct started in 2005. The freeway shifted southward along an at-grade alignment with up to ten lanes of capacity. 10/20/03

One half mile ahead of Exits 151 B/C for IH 35 and U.S. 62-77 south to Moore and IH 235/U.S. 77 north to the State Capitol and Edmond on the Crosstown Expressway east. 10/20/03

A loop ramp (Exit 151 A) departed from IH 40/U.S. 270 east to Lincoln Boulevard north just ahead of Interstate 235. Lincoln Boulevard was realigned to accommodate the new IH 40 alignment. 10/20/03

Interstate 40 originally traveled due east from Walker Avenue east into the directional T interchanges with IH 35 south and IH 235 north. The freeway approaches from the North Canadian River to the southwest now. 10/20/03

Exit 151 C loops onto IH 235 and unsigned U.S. 77 north toward Downtown Oklahoma City. The succeeding two ramps from IH 40 east use Interstate 35 based exit numbers. 10/20/03

North at

These advance signs for IH 40 and IH 235 at the SE 15th Street overpass were installed during the mid 1990s during early work to reconstruct and expand Interstate 35 in south Oklahoma City. 10/20/03

Button copy signs posted ahead of the North Canadian River and directional T interchange with Interstate 40. 10/20/03

These signs for IH 35 north, IH 40 and U.S. 62 east were carbon copied to use Clearview font. U.S. 77 and U.S. 270 are still omitted at the exchange. 10/20/03

A new ramp (Exit 125 C) for Oklahoma City Boulevard departs from just ahead of Exit 1 B (old Exit 126) for IH 40 west now. Oklahoma City Boulevard was built in the footprint of the old Crosstown Expressway west into Bricktown. Amarillo lies 256 miles to the west. 10/20/03

Sources:

Celebrate the Interstate: America’s Interstate Highway System Turns 50! ~~http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/okinterstate50/~~ Oklahoma Department of Transportation web page.
“New ramp at I-235 and I-44 to open in Oklahoma City.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), January 18, 2014.

Page updated June 30, 2022.