Interstate 235 Oklahoma

Overview

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.

Mileage by State

Oklahoma

5.36 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

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, OK

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

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

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

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

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

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

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

East at

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

West at

Ramps within the cloverleaf interchange built in 1957² 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

South End  ‐ Oklahoma City, OK

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

North East at

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

South West 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

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

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

at

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).

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

References

1. Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). Celebrate the Interstate: America's Interstate Highway System Turns 50! Retrieved from http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/okinterstate50/
2. "New ramp at I-235 and I-44 to open in Oklahoma City." The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), January 18, 2014.