Kickapoo Turnpike

The Kickapoo Turnpike is a 21-mile (34 km) toll road currently under construction in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The northern section from US-62 to Interstate 44 (Turner Turnpike) opened to traffic on October 14, 2020. The southern segment from Interstate 40 to US-62 remains under construction and is scheduled to open in 2021.[2]

Kickapoo Turnpike
Route information
Maintained by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
Length21 mi[1] (34 km)
StatusUnder construction; northern section (US-62 to I-44) open to traffic
Existed2020–present
Major junctions
South endSE 89th Street in Oklahoma City
 
North end I-44 / Turner Turnpike in Luther
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highway System
← Indian Nation Turnpike→ Kilpatrick Turnpike

Route description

The turnpike is set to begin just east of Luther Road, at an at-grade intersection with SE 89th Street, on the Oklahoma–Cleveland county line. It will then head north and feature a southbound-only interchange with I-40 a half-mile (800 m) later.[3] There are four other interchanges set to be built between its termini: SE 29th Street, Reno Avenue, NE 23rd Street (US-62), and Britton Road.[1] A toll plaza is to be constructed on the turnpike in the vicinity of Hefner Road and NE 122nd Street.[4] The Kickapoo Turnpike will end at a trumpet interchange with I-44 (Turner Turnpike) in Luther, just east of I-44 exit 146 (the Luther/Jones interchange).[3]

History

The turnpike project originally was given the name "Northeast Oklahoma County Loop." The road itself was proposed on October 29, 2015, by Gov. Mary Fallin, as part of the state's Driving Forward initiative.[5] On June 6, 2016, the tollway was approved by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, under the working title Eastern Oklahoma County Turnpike.[6] In September 2019, "Kickapoo Turnpike" was announced as the tollway's official name.[7]

Construction

The first piece of the turnpike to be constructed is the interchange with I-44, at the northern end of the route. Construction on this interchange began in January 2018, and the entire turnpike is expected to be complete by 2021.[8] Phase 1 of the Kickapoo opened on October 13, 2020. Phase 1 stretches from the Turner Turnpike to US 62 or 23rd Street in Harrah. Phase 2 will connect the rest of the Turnpike to Interstate 40, projected to open at the start of 2021, and linking I-40 directly to Interstate 44 on the eastern side of the Oklahoma City metro. The cost of constructing the Kickapoo Turnpike has been estimated to be more than $440 million (2018 dollars).[4]

Opposition

In January 2016, a group calling itself Citizens Opposed to the Eastern Oklahoma County Loop-Turnpike-Interstate was reported to have created a Facebook page in opposition to the proposed turnpike.[9] Following months of meetings and protests, Neal McCaleb, interim director for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA), released a statement saying that, because of public input and the work of engineering professionals, the estimated number of homes that would eventually be lost to construction had been reduced by 22 percent, from 103 houses to 80.

In August 2016, a lawsuit was filed against the OTA, claiming that the agency, in issuing $900 million in bonds to be used for multiple toll road projects, was in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution, which stipulates that laws passed may address only one subject.[10] On December 13, 2016, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the OTA, stating that the agency had properly authorized the bond issue and given "valid notice of this application."[11]

Tolls

On March 1, 2016, toll rates on all turnpikes in Oklahoma increased for the first time since June 2009. The rate hike was implemented to help fund the Driving Forward initiative, which includes improvements and/or extensions to five other Oklahoma toll roads, as well as the construction of the Kickapoo Turnpike from scratch.[12]

Exit list

The entire route is in Oklahoma County.

Locationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Oklahoma City0.000.00SE 89th StreetSouthern terminus; at-grade intersection; road to continue into Cleveland County as McDonald Road
130A-B I-40 / US 270 / SH-3Southbound exit and northbound entrance; Signed as Exit 130B (I-44 West) and Exit 130A (I-44 East)
Harrah134SE 29th Street – McLoudNorthbound exit and southbound entrance pay toll
136E Reno AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance pay toll
138 US 62 (NE 23rd Street) – Choctaw, HarrahNorthbound exit and southbound entrance pay toll
144E Britton Road – JonesNorthbound exit and southbound entrance pay toll
​Toll plaza
Luther2134149A-B I-44 / Turner Turnpike – Tulsa, Oklahoma CityTrumpet interchange; northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Tolled

References
  1. Knittle, Andrew (April 14, 2016). "Eastern Oklahoma County residents find out final route for disputed turnpike". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Publishing Company. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. Oklahoma Turnpike Authority celebrates opening of Kickapoo Turnpike with virtual ceremony, Fox 25 Oklahoma City, Oct 14, 2020
  3. Gatz, Tim J. (September 25, 2017). "Re: Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) funding for Interstate 40 / Douglas Interchange and related interstate widening in Oklahoma County" (PDF). Letter to The Hon. Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. "Eastern OK County Corridor" (PDF). Driving Forward OK. Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  5. Greco, Jonathan (October 29, 2015). "Gov. Mary Fallin, OTA announce launch of 'Driving Forward' turnpike plan". KOCO. Hearst Television, Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. "ODOT Greenlights EOC Turnpike". Luther Register. June 8, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  7. "The Kickapoo Turnpike Honors Oklahoma Native American Tribe". Shawnee News-Star. GateHouse Media. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  8. "Turnpike Construction Begins". Luther Register. January 18, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  9. Adger, Patrina. "Luther residents speaking out against proposed turnpike". KOCO. Hearst Television, Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  10. Horton, Ryan (August 24, 2016). "Lawsuit filed over turnpike". Choctaw Times. p. 1.
  11. "The Turnpike Wins at the State Supreme Court". Luther Register. December 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  12. Staff Reports (February 22, 2017). "Turnpike toll increase takes effect March 1". Tulsa World. BH Media Group. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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