US 59 expressway in LeFlore County, Oklahoma now open

[bugo]

The US 59 4 laning project from the Arkansas River south to OK 9 is almost complete.  Both SB lanes are open and one NB lane is open.  It appears that it is 99% complete.  This replaces a nasty stretch of 2 lane highway.  The new road (twinned) is concrete.  The old highway (SB lanes) has been completely reconstructed.  This makes US 59 4 lanes between I-40 and OK 9.  The only 2 lane section that remains between Sallisaw and Poteau is the OK 9 overlap.

Here is a video of the road while it was under construction:

[okroads]

Has U.S. 59 been rerouted at the OK 9 West junction yet?

[US71]

Hmmm...I may have to check this out this week.

[bugo]

Has U.S. 59 been rerouted at the OK 9 West junction yet?

No.  The 4 lane ends maybe 1/4 mile north of OK 9.  The OK 9 intersection is going to be moved eastward and US 59 is going to have a sweeping curve and will be the through route.

[rte66man]

Couple of questions:
(1) - wasn't the SB stretch just north of the Arkansas River rebuilt after the original rebuild had to be torn out?
(2) - what happened to the Wildhorse BBQ stand on the north side of Wildhorse Mtn?

rte66man

[US71]

(2) - what happened to the Wildhorse BBQ stand on the north side of Wildhorse Mtn?

rte66man

Wildhorse is still there on an old alignment of 59 (I think it's "Wildhorse Rd"). ODOT took out some hills & curves between Sallisaw and the Arkansas River when it was upgraded to 4 Lanes. I think there are also signs pointing to the place.

[bugo]

Couple of questions:
(1) - wasn't the SB stretch just north of the Arkansas River rebuilt after the original rebuild had to be torn out?

Most of the new expressway over Wildhorse Mountain is on a new alignment.  The expressway north and south of the mountain is a twinned highway.  I'm not sure if the SB or NB lanes are original.

(2) - what happened to the Wildhorse BBQ stand on the north side of Wildhorse Mtn?

It's still open, on an old alignment of US 59 signed "Wildhorse Mountan BBQ Road."  The BBQ joint has an old US 59 sign hanging on the wall inside.

[RoadWarrior56]

I had driven on old US 59 south of Poteau back in the mid 80's.  I thought it was an incredibly scenic drive, one of my all time favorites.  BTW, what is the name of the song in the video and who performs it?

[RoadWarrior56]

I stand corrected.............I was referring to US 259, not US 59.  That section of 259 north of Broken Bow to its terminus at US 59 was a very scenic drive.

[bugo]

I had driven on old US 59 south of Poteau back in the mid 80's.  I thought it was an incredibly scenic drive, one of my all time favorites.  BTW, what is the name of the song in the video and who performs it?

Evanescence - "Imaginary."

[bugo]

I stand corrected.............I was referring to US 259, not US 59.  That section of 259 north of Broken Bow to its terminus at US 59 was a very scenic drive.

59 is pretty scenic too.  259 is stunning.