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. The $88 million third phase expanded Interstate 235 to six overall lanes from N 36th Street to just beyond N 50th Street and replaced 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, additional work (Phase 2B) will add 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. Completion of the overall Off Broadway project is not expected until 2024.
Route Information
North End – Oklahoma City, OK
South End – Oklahoma City, OK
Mileage – 5.36
Cities – Oklahoma City
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
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
The initial sign for the north end of Interstate 235 appears at the parclo interchange (Exit 3) with N 36th Street. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
The oldest section of Interstate 235 leads north into a cloverleaf interchange with IH 44. The Off Broadway construction project through 2024 expands this section of freeway to six lanes and upgrades the forthcoming exchange to include flyovers and higher speed ramps. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
A grassy area remains from the bridge abutment for the removed off-ramp from IH 235 south to Santa Fe Avenue at the quarter mile guide sign for Interstate 44 east. The northbound exit for Santa Fe Avenue and N 50th Street closed during the Off Broadway project. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
Crossing Deep Fork creek, Broadway Extension north enters the unnumbered interchange with Interstate 44. IH 44 along the Northeast Expressway travels wholly within Oklahoma City between IH 40 and IH 35, so no control points are used. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
Interstate 235 ends as traffic departs for IH 44 west toward SH 74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) and NW 39th Street (Historic U.S. 66-270) to the suburb of Bethany. Broadway Extension continues northward as a freeway into the city of Edmond. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
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. The new overpass spans the on-ramp from NW 63rd Street, eliminating a weaving traffic pattern. Sign changes included the addition of control cities for I-44. Photo by Eric Stuve (04/14/13).
Broadway Extension spans Interstate 44 across bridges built in 1962. Work through 2024 replaces these overpasses. Additionally a collector distributor roadway will separate movements from the west side ramps with IH 44 from the IH 235/U.S. 77 southbound mainline here. 05/06/12
East at
Interstate 44 overtakes the Northwest Expressway (Historic U.S. 66) at Western Avenue, one half mile ahead of the cloverleaf interchange (Exits 127A/B) with IH 235 south and U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension). Photo by Eric Stuve (07/10/14).
The on-ramp from Western Avenue adds an auxiliary lane to IH 44 east to Exit 127A for Interstate 235/U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) south. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/10/14).
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 2024.2 Photo by Eric Stuve (02/23/13).
A future flyover ramp will depart from the current Exit 127A ramp to U.S. 77 (Broadway Extension) north to Edmond. Photo by Eric Stuve (02/23/13).
West at
A directional T interchange (Exit 128A) 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 previously overlapped with IH 44 west to make the connection with Broadway Extension north. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).
A c/d lane separates from IH 444 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. The Off Broadway project will build a flyover carrying traffic from IH 235 north to IH 44 west, eliminating the loop ramp and weaving traffic pattern here. Photo by Eric Stuve (10/24/15).
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. 10/20/03
Interstate 235/U.S. 77 travel four miles south to the Oklahoma City Business District and 5.3 miles to combine with IH 35 south. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).
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 Interstate 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 on-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
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 1957-designed cloverleaf interchange2 at Broadway Extension departed one mile east of the IH 44 merge with Northwest Expressway (Historic U.S. 66). The 2014-opened ramp 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 ramp for Interstate 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
South End 
– Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
South at
Interstate 235/U.S. 77 (Centennial Expressway) angle southeast from the N 10th Street off-ramp (Exit 1G), 1.5 miles to meet IH 35/40. Guide signs for the succeeding exit incorrectly displayed Walnut Avenue as Walnut Street. Photo by Eric Stuve (02/23/13).
Exit 1F quickly follows Exit 1G 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 1C) west. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).
Continuing southeast, IH 23/U.S. 77 advances one mile to the systems interchange (Exits 1B/A) with IH 35, IH 40, U.S. 62 and U.S. 270. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).
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 1C) and IH 40/U.S. 270 west to Amarillo (Exit 1B). Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).
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 as a surface boulevard, while IH 40 loops southward closer to the parallel North Canadian River. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).
Left Exit 1A 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. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/05/17).
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). Photo by Eric Stuve (07/26/16).
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. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/26/16).
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. Photo by Eric Stuve (12/24/16).
Interstate 235 begins as Left Exit 1B departs for IH 40 west to Yukon, El Reno and Amarillo, Texas. Photo by Eric Stuve (12/24/16).
South West at
IH 35/U.S. 62 dog legs west along side 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. Photo by Eric Stuve (04/12/13).
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. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/26/16).
The Interstate 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 along side the Bricktown and Midtown areas. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/26/16).
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 150A for Shields Boulevard (old U.S. 77), 2.25 miles west of IH 235 north. Photo by Eric Stuve (05/11/13).
Guide signs posted along the 2012-completed section of IH 40 reference the U.S. 77 overlaps with IH 35 south to Norman (Exit 113) and IH 235 north to Broadway Extension. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
The southbound lanes of IH 235/U.S. 77 pass overhead as Exit 151B 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 to Dallas, Texas. Photo by Eric Stuve (05/11/13).
A loop ramp (Exit 151C) follows for Interstate 235/U.S. 77 north. 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. Photo by Eric Stuve (08/29/15).
South End Throwback
at
Exit 1B for Interstate 40 west previously connected with the Crosstown Expressway wrapping around the south side of Oklahoma City. The 1966-viaduct was demolished following completion of the eight-year project to realign IH 40. Photo by Jeff Morrison (12/28/05).
Traveling east along the former Crosstown Bridge, 1.25 miles ahead of IH 35/235. IH 40 was realigned from the deteriorating six-lane viaduct during an eight year project 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 151B/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 151A) 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 151C loops onto IH 235 and unsigned U.S. 77 north toward Downtown Oklahoma City. The succeeding two off-ramps of 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
Exit 151C loops onto IH 235 and unsigned U.S. 77 north toward Downtown Oklahoma City. The succeeding two off-ramps of IH 40 east use Interstate 35 based exit numbers. 10/20/03
A new ramp (Exit 125C) for Oklahoma City Boulevard departs from just ahead of Exit 1B (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 November 13, 2020.
