I-344 I-240 I-335 Signage

[Bobby5280]

6500K lighting yields more accurate colors than warmer lamps at 4500K or lower.

[swake]

While the warm lighting is generally more aesthetically pleasing, I think the more blue-shifted lighting  actually makes visibility better. Blue light in a home context is generally castigated for causing wakefulness by being close enough to daylight for the body's purposes, but of course this is a feature rather than a bug in a driving context.

Blue lighting is harmful to wildlife. But then you are in the desert.

[Scott5114]

While the warm lighting is generally more aesthetically pleasing, I think the more blue-shifted lighting  actually makes visibility better. Blue light in a home context is generally castigated for causing wakefulness by being close enough to daylight for the body's purposes, but of course this is a feature rather than a bug in a driving context.

Blue lighting is harmful to wildlife. But then you are in the desert.

The desert has plenty of wildlife. (Though I'm not too fussed about anything bad happening to the scorpions. We found one on inspection day in the house we're buying, so that's going to be something I get to deal with. Guess I'd better figure out where to get some diatomaceous earth. We also saw a bee in the backyard, which is fine with me. They like to build giant hives under the rocks at the edges of town, so I'm guessing she came from one of those.)

[Rothman]

So, I-335 and I-344 are signed, but not I-240 along I-44 or west of it.  That's frustrating.  I'm probably going to be in OKC in July.

[Rothman]

Looks like the old Kilpatrick Tpk signs are now historic, here the last GSV showed them in May 2024 on OK-74 northbound.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MHAcfjAYUrJp6ZkGA

Based on my field observations today, many of them are still there, so see them while you can! But yes, they will soon be gone most likely.

How is I-335 signed on its south end?  Any indication of where it actually ends?

[Scott5114]

Looks like the old Kilpatrick Tpk signs are now historic, here the last GSV showed them in May 2024 on OK-74 northbound.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MHAcfjAYUrJp6ZkGA

Based on my field observations today, many of them are still there, so see them while you can! But yes, they will soon be gone most likely.

How is I-335 signed on its south end?  Any indication of where it actually ends?

Everything south of I-40 is a two-lane road, so I'd hope it's not signed as an Interstate, though who knows with OTA...

GSV shows there is a Kickapoo Turnpike shield going northbound from S.E. 89th Street, so it might be worth looking to see what, if anything, happened to that.

[CoreySamson]

From what I saw, all Kickapoo Turnpike shields have been replaced with I-335 shields, as I did not see a single Kickapoo shield. There was no pull through sign for I-335 going SB on I-335 at I-40 when I drove it. I would assume that I-335 currently ends at I-40.

But there were plenty of Kilpatrick Turnpike pull-through signs at major interchanges in OKC. Essentially everything OTA is responsible for is done while ODOT has not started yet.

[Henry]

Looks like the old Kilpatrick Tpk signs are now historic, here the last GSV showed them in May 2024 on OK-74 northbound.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MHAcfjAYUrJp6ZkGA

Based on my field observations today, many of them are still there, so see them while you can! But yes, they will soon be gone most likely.

How is I-335 signed on its south end?  Any indication of where it actually ends?

Everything south of I-40 is a two-lane road, so I'd hope it's not signed as an Interstate, though who knows with OTA...

GSV shows there is a Kickapoo Turnpike shield going northbound from S.E. 89th Street, so it might be worth looking to see what, if anything, happened to that.

Well, OTA had better hope that the southern extension is not cancelled, or they will be screwed in a very major way.

[Alex]

Well, OTA had better hope that the southern extension is not cancelled, or they will be screwed in a very major way.

If I-335 never meets I-35, it will not be a unique situation in the Interstate system. Instead the scenario will be similar to I-278 or I-678 in New York, where connections with the parent route were never completed.

[The Ghostbuster]

The Google Maps Street View of Interstate 40 was updated last month in both directions. At the interchange with the Kickapoo Turnpike, the signs in both directions still sign the roadway as Kickapoo Turnpike, not Interstate 335. The signs at the John Kilpatrick Turnpike interchange similarly are signed only as Kilpatrick Turnpike, not Interstate 344. None of the other Street Views are recent enough to show Interstate 335 or Interstate 344 signs posted.

[Rothman]

The Google Maps Street View of Interstate 40 was updated last month in both directions. At the interchange with the Kickapoo Turnpike, the signs in both directions still sign the roadway as Kickapoo Turnpike, not Interstate 335. The signs at the John Kilpatrick Turnpike interchange similarly are signed only as Kilpatrick Turnpike, not Interstate 344. None of the other Street Views are recent enough to show Interstate 335 or Interstate 344 signs posted.

I believe Corey's info is more recent.

[Bobby5280]

Well, OTA had better hope that the southern extension is not cancelled, or they will be screwed in a very major way.

I think the chances are pretty good the Kickapoo Turnpike (and I-335) will be extended down to I-35. The East-West Connector Turnpike to run East-West between Moore and Norman is in the design phase. AFAIK the biggest court battles over that are done. OTA isn't going to just build that turnpike to have it dead end somewhere near Lake Thunderbird. I-335 will at least connect into that. According to the Access Oklahoma web site the first few miles of the Kickapoo Turnpike extension going South of I-40 are in the design phase as well. The "Y" interchange between the two turnpikes and the South extension are still slated as "future projects".

I think the only thing that could mess up the South Extension to I-35 near Purcell is funding shortfalls. There aren't many obstacles in that rural area to obstruct the plan.

[Rothman]

Just going to take 15 years or so...

[jdingus]

I drove to OKC today from Henryetta and I-40 BGS have I-335 North to Edmond Westbound and I-335 North Tulsa Eastbound.

They must have changed them in the last 2 or 3 days. Cause they were still Turnpike Shields last Saturday.

[rte66man]

Southbound Broadway Extension (US77) has the new I-344 shields on the BGS's. I go by when it is dark, but I'll try to grab one tomorrow.

[Bobby5280]

With I-344 signed along the Kilpatrick Turnpike I figure it's only a matter of time before the I-235 designation gets extended North from I-44 up to the Kilpatrick Turnpike.

[The Ghostbuster]

I agree that it should, but I doubt 235 will be extended. Also, I think the 240 extension was unnecessary, and that they should have left it OK 152.

[Rothman]

I agree that it should, but I doubt 235 will be extended. Also, I think the 240 extension was unnecessary, and that they should have left it OK 152.

More Interstate = more opps to use 90% NHPP funding...at the expense of 80% NHPP funding...

[jdingus]

344 is signed on the BGS on the Turnpike.

335 is fully signed

240 has yet to be signed.

[SoonerCowboy]

344 is signed on the BGS on the Turnpike.

335 is fully signed

240 has yet to be signed.

I still think I-240 should end at I-44 and since the JKT is I-344 then it should continue I-344 to I-44 even if that portion is not a toll road.

Any word on what the bypass around the airport will be signed?

[Bobby5280]

I think there is still a chance I-344 could be extended along the proposed Tri City Connector turnpike that would start at Airport Road and go South around the West and South side of Will Rogers Airport and then end at I-44.

Of course, if OTA has to keep raising toll prices due to ballooning projected costs of ACCESS Oklahoma projects, we may end up seeing one or more of these proposed turnpikes get cancelled.

[Scott5114]

Of course, if OTA has to keep raising toll prices due to ballooning projected costs of ACCESS Oklahoma projects, we may end up seeing one or more of these proposed turnpikes get cancelled.

OTA will just end up charging everyone $100, because what are they gonna do about it?

[Bobby5280]

If tolls get high enough the act of shunpiking becomes more financially sensible. If the OTA wanted to charge me $100 to use the H.E. Bailey Turnpike on a road trip between Lawton and OKC I'd damned sure take US-62 instead.

I think at least some people at OTA understand that scenario. If they push toll rates too high they'll have fewer vehicles using those roads and then they won't be getting the desired increase in toll revenue. Everyone knows highway tolls are very unpopular with most residents in Oklahoma. I've known people here who've driven well out of their way, killed a lot more and burned through more fuel to avoid tolls when the toll rates were a lot cheaper. I guess they're shunpiking out of principal.

Currently the PikePass toll rates are a bargain compared to most toll roads elsewhere in the nation. Most people in Oklahoma either don't know or don't care about that fact. They just want the toll gates removed (despite the likelihood that would unleash one hell of a gasoline tax price hike). A 15% bump in toll rates on January 1 followed by 6% bumps every other year will erode that bargain price. If the OTA keeps hiking prices after that they'll really be pushing their luck. The general public is already pretty angry about price inflation for so many other things.

[jdingus]

Living in N Tx for a time. I would pay around $30 round trip on tolls for 34 miles round trip. We don't have it as bad here.

[Scott5114]

If tolls get high enough the act of shunpiking becomes more financially sensible. If the OTA wanted to charge me $100 to use the H.E. Bailey Turnpike on a road trip between Lawton and OKC I'd damned sure take US-62 instead.

I mean, they could always do something like jack the non-Pikepass rates up on the Turner and Will Rogers, especially for higher axle numbers. Then the out-of-staters are paying for it.