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Regional Boards => Central States => Topic started by: bugo on April 07, 2020, 08:55:44 AM

Title: I-240: OK 118?
Post by: bugo on April 07, 2020, 08:55:44 AM
This excerpt from the 1956 Oklahoma County Control Section Map published by the Oklahoma Department of Highways shows what became I-240 as a control section of a route called 118. The map seems to indicate that part of what is now I-240 was open east of where I-35 is now. Was this section of I-240 opened before the other sections that are shown as P&S? Was this road ever signed as an OK 118?

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49745862096_c537bd498a_o.png)
Title: Re: I-240: OK 118?
Post by: rte66man on April 07, 2020, 01:48:03 PM
That part of 240 sits on top of SE 74th Street but I don't recall that ever being a state highway.  Since this was hand-drawn, maybe it's a mistake.
Title: Re: I-240: OK 118?
Post by: Scott5114 on April 08, 2020, 06:16:36 PM
I don't think it's a mistake–114 and 119 were both commissioned in 1957 (according to uncited information on Wikipedia), so the 118 number fits as being added as part of a block of designations from that time period.

I don't know that 118 was necessarily signed–if I remember correctly, only the part of I-240 west of I-35 was part of the original 1956 Interstate system, and the part east of I-35 was added later. That would explain why I-240 was P&S (it was actually funded). It could be that ODOT had planned to extend I-240 east, and 118 was a placeholder designation until that could be added in a later Interstate funding bill.
Title: Re: I-240: OK 118?
Post by: rte66man on April 08, 2020, 09:31:14 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 08, 2020, 06:16:36 PM
I don't think it's a mistake–114 and 119 were both commissioned in 1957 (according to uncited information on Wikipedia), so the 118 number fits as being added as part of a block of designations from that time period.

I don't know that 118 was necessarily signed–if I remember correctly, only the part of I-240 west of I-35 was part of the original 1956 Interstate system, and the part east of I-35 was added later. That would explain why I-240 was P&S (it was actually funded). It could be that ODOT had planned to extend I-240 east, and 118 was a placeholder designation until that could be added in a later Interstate funding bill.

You are correct about the eastern part of I-240. IIRC, it was added in the late 60's.