Oklahoma State Highway 66

State Highway 66
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	192.7 mi[1] (310.1 km)
Existed:	April 1, 1985[2] – present
Major junctions
West end:	I‑40 Bus. / US-81 in El Reno
East end:	US-60 east of White Oak
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highways Interstate U.S. Turnpikes ← US-66 SH-67 →

State Highway 66 (abbreviated SH-66) is a 192.7-mile (310.1 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, beginning at U.S. Highway 81 in El Reno and ending at U.S. Highway 60 near White Oak. The highway was designated in 1985 as a replacement for the decommissioned US-66. Although most of the highway follows Historic Route 66, the highway follows US-66's final alignment, joining Interstate 44 through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, while older versions of the route follow various city streets through both cities.

The highway has retained its importance for most of its length due to its paralleling Interstate 44 which between Missouri and Oklahoma City (except in the cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City) is a toll road.

SH-66 currently has one spur route, designated SH-66B, in Wellston.

Route description

Western terminus and Oklahoma City area

Former US-66 bridge over the North Canadian River in Oklahoma City

SH-66 shield west of Arcadia

State Highway 66 begins at Business I-40 in El Reno (another old Route 66 segment), concurrent at this point with US-81. From this intersection, the highway heads due east. The highway briefly passes through a rural area after leaving El Reno, before transitioning into the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon. In Yukon, the route runs along Main Street,^[3] and has a short concurrency with SH-4. SH-66 continues east, passing into Oklahoma City, where it becomes N.W. 39th Expressway. SH-66 has an interchange with the Kilpatrick Turnpike on the far west edge of the city. The highway passes just to the north of Lake Overholser. Near where the road crosses over the North Canadian River, the inlet to the lake, it crosses from Canadian County into Oklahoma County.^[4]

N.W. 39th Expressway, still carrying SH-66, forms the main street of both Bethany and Warr Acres, two enclave suburbs of Oklahoma City. The street passes just to the south of Wiley Post Airport and provides access to Southern Nazarene University.^[5] After leaving Warr Acres, the highway re-enters Oklahoma City. SH-66 leaves N.W. 39th Expressway at an interchange with I-44 and SH-3/SH-74 (the Lake Hefner Parkway). SH-66 begins a concurrency with eastbound I-44, and for the remainder of its length, it will stay close to the interstate.^[4]

SH-66 is unsigned through its time on the Oklahoma City freeway system. I-44, while concurrent with SH-66, runs along the north side of Oklahoma City, passing just south of Penn Square Mall, and meets Interstate 235 at a cloverleaf interchange at its northern terminus (north of the interchange, US-77 continues on as a freeway, the Broadway Extension). I-44 and SH-66 begin a concurrency with I-35 near Remington Park. The two interstates and the state highway head north through the northeast part of the city. At Hefner Road, the routes pass near the Frontier City amusement park. The highways then encounter an interchange which is the eastern terminus of the Kilpatrick Turnpike. This interchange is also where I-44 splits off to form the Turner Turnpike.^[5]

I-35 and SH-66 leave Oklahoma City and enter the suburb of Edmond. On the north side of town, SH-66 exits the interstate, while US-77 joins it. SH-66 continues east out of town, providing access to Arcadia Lake. The highway then passes through the town of Arcadia, home of the Round Barn, a Route 66 landmark.^[5] The highway then serves Luther before exiting Oklahoma County.

Lincoln and Creek Counties

On the west side of Lincoln County, SH-66 produces a business loop to Wellston, SH-66B (below). Just beyond this junction, SH-66 serves as the northern terminus of SH-102. The highway continues east, meeting up again with SH-66B on the east side of Wellston. Near this junction, SH-66 has an interchange with the Turner Turnpike (still carrying I-44). The route continues to parallel the turnpike as it comes to an intersection with US-177. East of this junction, SH-66 passes through the town of Warwick, where it crosses the Deep Fork of the Canadian River.^[4]

On the southwest side of Chandler, the county seat of Lincoln County, the route is joined by SH-18. The two routes turn north, passing through the core of the downtown area. On the north side of downtown, SH-66 splits off to the east.^[6] Seven miles (11 km) east of Chandler, the highway passes through the town of Davenport.^[4] The route next encounters Stroud, where SH-66 intersects State Highway 99 and US-377, which may serve as the northern terminus of US-377.

East of Stroud, SH-66 passes into Creek County. The highway passes through the town of Depew 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Stroud.^[4] The route next passes through Bristow, where it has a brief concurrency with SH-16 and begins a more lengthy one with SH-48. SH-48/66 exit Bristow to the north, with an interchange where they cross the Turner Turnpike. Near unincorporated Bellvue, SH-66 splits away from SH-48 and turns back to the northeast. The highway crosses the Turner Turnpike again (with no interchange this time), then runs through Kellyville. Four miles (6.4 km) northeast of Kellyville, the highway begins a concurrency with SH-33.^[4] SH-33 and SH-66 will remain signed together as they enter the Tulsa metropolitan area.

Tulsa area

SH-33/66 next enter Sapulpa, the county seat of Creek County and a suburb of Tulsa. In Sapulpa, the two highways serve as the western terminus of SH-117. They then come to the intersection of Dewey Avenue and Main Street in downtown Sapulpa, where SH-33 ends. This intersection also serves as the southern terminus of SH-97. SH-66 continues east through the intersection, joined by US-75 ALT. The two highways intersect SH-117A at its northern terminus, and turn left to continue its alignment. US-75 ALT/SH-66 parallel the Turner Turnpike within sight distance for the remainder of their journey in Creek County. Near the Creek–Tulsa County line, the Turner Turnpike ends, and SH-66 merges onto the now toll-free I-44. US-75 ALT ends at the merge.

I-44/SH-66 cut diagonally through the city of Tulsa. In West Tulsa, Interstate 244 branches off to serve the downtown area. I-44/SH-66 follow the Skelly Drive through midtown. The highways interchange with the Okmulgee Beeline, the US-75 freeway before crossing the Arkansas River.^[7] The next freeway interchange is with the Broken Arrow Expressway, carrying US-64 and SH-51, followed by the Mingo Valley Expressway, carrying US-169^[7] I-244 then merges with I-44 at its eastern terminus. I-44/SH-66 cross into Rogers County and the suburb of Catoosa, serving as the southern terminus of SH-167. SH-66 then splits off from I-44, initially following an old alignment of the Interstate where it transitioned into the Will Rogers Turnpike. SH-66 then downgrades to an expressway as it passes through Catoosa, home of the Blue Whale. Northeast of Catoosa, near Verdigris, SH-66 intersects SH-266 at its eastern terminus.

Northeast Oklahoma

The next town that SH-66 serves after leaving the Tulsa area is Claremore, seat of Rogers County. In Claremore, SH-66 has brief concurrencies with SH-20 and SH-88. The highway continues northeast through Rogers County, bypassing Sequoyah to the west and serving as the western terminus of SH-28A in Foyil. The highway passes through Bushyhead 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Foyil, and then intersect SH-28 in Chelsea 5 miles (8.0 km) further northeast.^[4] The route then crosses into Craig County, where it serves the unincorporated place of White Oak. The SH-66 designation then comes to an end at US-60, which Route 66 historically followed into Vinita.

History

The present-day SH-66 was established to fill the void left when US-66 was decommissioned through Oklahoma in the early 1980s. SH-66 was designated as its replacement from El Reno to White Oak on April 1, 1985.^[2][8] The remainder of US-66 in Oklahoma was overlapped by other highways, principally I-40 and US-69, so the SH-66 designation was not applied to these sections of highway.

On July 1, 1991, SH-66 was realigned in the vicinity of Luther.^[2] No further changes to the SH-66 designation have occurred since that time. Planned improvements by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation include reconstruction and widening of SH-66 from two to four lanes from Edmond to the Lincoln County line. ^[9]

SH-66B

While US-66 was still active, the SH-66 designation was given to a loop route through Wellston. This incarnation of SH-66 effectively served as a Wellston business loop for US-66.^[11] This route was first established on June 26, 1934.^[2] SH-66B is 3.26 miles (5.25 km) long.^[10]

Junction list

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Canadian	El Reno	0.0	0.0	I‑40 Bus. / US-81 to I‑40
	Yukon	11.0	17.7	SH-4 north (Cornwell Drive)	Western terminus of SH-4 concurrency
		11.2	18.0	SH-4 south (Ranchwood Boulevard)	Eastern terminus of SH-4 concurrency
	Oklahoma City	13.6	21.9	Kilpatrick Turnpike	Interchange
Oklahoma		20.4	32.8	I‑44 west / SH-3 / SH-74 north (Lake Hefner Parkway) to I‑40 – Lawton, Amarillo	Western terminus of I-44 concurrency; SH-66 west follows exit 123B
		27.6	44.4	I‑35	Southern terminus of I-35 concurrency, I-44 exit 130
		32.2	51.8	I‑44, Kilpatrick Turnpike	Eastern terminus of I-44 concurrency, I-35 exits 138A–B
	Edmond	35.8	57.6	I‑35 north / US-77 (2nd Street) – Wichita, Edmond	eastern terminus of I-35 concurrency; SH-66 east follows exit 141
Lincoln	​	55.2	88.8	SH-66B east	pre-1933 US-66 east
	​	55.5	89.3	SH-102 south to US-62	Northern terminus of SH-102
	Wellston	57.5	92.5	SH-66B west – Wellston	pre-1933 US-66 west
	​	57.9	93.2	I‑44 / Turner Turnpike – Tulsa, Oklahoma City	I-44 exit 158
	Warwick	59.5	95.8	US-177 – Ponca City, Carney, Shawnee
	Chandler	67.3	108.3	SH-18 south – Shawnee, Meeker	western terminus of SH-18 concurrency
		68.2	109.8	SH-18 north (Manvel Avenue) to I‑44 – Cushing	eastern terminus of SH-18 concurrency
	Stroud	81.8	131.6	US-377 / SH-99 to I‑44	Possible northern terminus of US-377
Creek	Bristow	99.3	159.8	SH-16 east / SH-48 south (Main Street)	Western terminus of SH-16 / SH-48 concurrency
		100.0	160.9	SH-16 west – Shamrock	Eastern terminus of SH-16 concurrency
		100.5	161.7	I‑44 / Turner Turnpike – Tulsa, Oklahoma City	I-44 exit 196
	​	103.1	165.9	SH-48 north to SH-33	Eastern terminus of SH-48 concurrency
	Sapulpa	117.3	188.8	SH-33 west to I‑44 – Cushing	Western terminus of SH-33 concurrency
		120.2	193.4	SH-117 east	Western terminus of SH-117
		121.8	196.0	US-75 Alt. south / SH-33 (Main Street) / SH-97 north	Western terminus of US-75 ALT concurrency, eastern terminus of SH-33, southern terminus of SH-97
		122.7	197.5	SH-117A south (Mission Street)	Northern terminus of SH-117A
		124.9	201.0	Creek Turnpike east	interchange
Tulsa	Tulsa	128.7	207.1	I‑44 / US-75 Alt.	Western terminus of I-44 concurrency, northern terminus of US-75 ALT
		129.9	209.1	I‑244	I-44 exit 223A, western terminus of I-244
		131.8	212.1	US-75	I-44 exit 224
		138.5	222.9	US-64 / SH-51	I-44 exit 231
		141.2	227.2	US-169	I-44 exit 234A
		144.0	231.7	I‑244 / US-412	Eastern terminus of I-244, eastern terminus of US-412 concurrency
Rogers	Catoosa	147.7	237.7	I‑44 east (Turnpike) / US-412 east – Claremore, Joplin, Chouteau, Siloam Springs	Eastern terminus of I-44 / US-412 concurrency; SH-66 east follows exit 241
	Verdigris	155.4	250.1	SH-266 west to I‑44 (Turnpike)	interchange
	Claremore	160.9	258.9	SH-88 south (First Street)	western terminus of SH-88 concurrency
		161.0	259.1	SH-20 east (Patti Page Boulevard)	western terminus of SH-20 concurrency
		161.0	259.1	SH-20 west / SH-88 north (Will Rogers Boulevard)	eastern terminus of SH-20 / SH-88 concurrency
	Foyil	171.4	275.8	SH-28A east – Adair	Western terminus of SH-28A
	Chelsea	179.0	288.1	SH-28 east – Adair	Western terminus of SH-28 concurrency
		179.6	289.0	SH-28 west (6th Street) – Alluwe	Eastern terminus of SH-28 concurrency
Craig	​	192.7	310.1	US-60 – Vinita, Nowata, Bartlesville	Eastern terminus of SH-66
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

See also

• U.S. Route 66
• U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma

References

1. 1 2 Google (December 16, 2012). "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 16, 2012. 
   Google (December 18, 2012). "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 18, 2012. 
2. 1 2 3 4 5 Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Memorial Dedication and Revision History, SH 66". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-04-05. 
3. ↑ Google (2010-05-06). "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
5. 1 2 3 Official State Map (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Oklahoma City inset. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
6. ↑ Google (2010-05-07). "Oklahoma State Highway 66" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2010-05-07. 
7. 1 2 Official State Map (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Oklahoma City inset. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
8. ↑ Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (1986 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-05. 
9. ↑ http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/cwp-8-year-plan/cwp_ffy2016-ffy2023/cwp_ffy2016-2023.pdf
10. 1 2 Oklahoma Department of Transportation (December 5). Control Section Maps: Lincoln County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-05-07.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. ↑ Highway Map of Oklahoma (Map) (1966 ed.). Cartography by Diversified Map Co. Skelly Oil Company. § 11C. 

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• SH-66 at OKHighways