US-412 highway upgrades and bypass (a.k.a. AR-612) in NWA: the thread

[Scott5114]

Couldn't they just keep the Cimarron Turnpike Spur OK 312? Given the spur is a connector between US 412 (future Interstate 42) and US 177, the spur doesn't need an Interstate designation.

They could just not use numbers at all, too. Or not build roads to begin with.

I-35 doesn't need an Interstate designation. They could just call it "Earwoo".

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe an Interstate 342 designation would make more sense if the spur were extended to OK 51, but that is unlikely. And what the hell is an "Earwoo"?

[Scott5114]

Maybe an Interstate 342 designation would make more sense if the spur were extended to OK 51, but that is unlikely. And what the hell is an "Earwoo"?

Why would that make it make any more sense? Either way it's still a freeway spur that connects an Interstate to a city not on an Interstate. It would make more sense as an Interstate spur than I-180 (any of them).

You people make up numbering rules that don't even exist and then get mad when DOTs don't follow them.

An Earwoo is like a Beanwinter, but you couldn't call I-35 that because it's north-south.

[rte66man]

New Interstates can no longer be tolled? Since when?

The OTA may have a green light to sign all of the Cimarron Turnpike as I-42. As far as I can tell they've removed the last bits of narrow grassy median and replaced it with concrete and cable barriers. They've had to do a bit of shoulder work in some spots and replace a couple of bridges. Overall I think that turnpike is ready for the number change.

I wonder if the Cimarron Turnpike Spur is under consideration for an I-x42 designation. The spur has had similar improvements made to it.

I wouldn't expect the Cherokee Turnpike to pick up an I-42 designation anytime soon. It doesn't connect directly with any other existing Interstate highways. US-412 would need to be upgraded to Interstate standards from I-44 in Catoosa over to the West end of the Cherokee Turnpike before the turnpike could be signed as I-42. Or the bypass around Siloam Springs would have to be built and connector made to the East end of the Cherokee Turnpike.

I think I-42 will get signed into Tulsa from the West before the Cherokee Turnpike is able to be signed as I-42. A good bit of work is needed on US-412 from the East end of the Cimarron Turnpike over to Sand Springs. Most of that work is modernizing on/off ramps. Nearly all of that segment of US-412 is existing freeway, except for one at-grade intersection just past the Keystone Dam exit.

That part is on the 8-Year plan for 2030 at a cost of $20 million.

[kphoger]

They could just call it "Earwoo".

I already do.

[Strider]

I wonder what will happen to I-244 when I-42 is signed through Tulsa. Will it be co-signed "I-42/I-244" or...?

[Road Hog]

I stand corrected on the interstate ban on tolled roads then. I was of the understanding that any tolled road not grandfathered-in, like in Oklahoma and several Eastern states, could not get a shield because of federal regulations.

[Bobby5280]

I wonder what will happen to I-244 when I-42 is signed through Tulsa. Will it be co-signed "I-42/I-244" or...?

My guess is I-244 will be shortened so it ends when meeting I-42 in the downtown IDL.

Technically, it could be possible for the I-244 designation to extend farther North along the LL Tisdale Parkway and then go East over the Gilcrease Expressway. But a proper freeway to freeway interchange would be needed at what is currently a traffic signal intersection. And the Gilcrease Expressway would have to be fully completed and brought up to Interstate standards. That would be one way how to get I-244 back close to its parent I-44 route. In that scenario I wouldn't know what to do with numbering the Western half of the Gilcrease Expressway. It's weird as hell for it to have a OK-344 designation while we now have an I-344 in OKC.

Now that I-344 is signed on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in OKC it would seem like I-235 could be extended North from I-44 up to the I-344 interchange.

[The Ghostbuster]

They would have to renumber Interstate 244's exit numbers if they don't go with an Interstate 42/244 duplex. Here in Wisconsin, they maintained the Interstate 894 designation when it became part of an Interstate 43 extension in 1987, and was overlapped in its entirety by the designation of Interstate 41 in 2015.

[Scott5114]

They would have to renumber Interstate 244's exit numbers if they don't go with an Interstate 42/244 duplex.

[laughs in Nevadan] Look upon my local 2di, ye mighty, and despair...

[Great Lakes Roads]

I wonder what will happen to I-244 when I-42 is signed through Tulsa. Will it be co-signed "I-42/I-244" or...?

My guess is I-244 will be shortened so it ends when meeting I-42 in the downtown IDL.

Technically, it could be possible for the I-244 designation to extend farther North along the LL Tisdale Parkway and then go East over the Gilcrease Expressway. But a proper freeway to freeway interchange would be needed at what is currently a traffic signal intersection. And the Gilcrease Expressway would have to be fully completed and brought up to Interstate standards. That would be one way how to get I-244 back close to its parent I-44 route. In that scenario I wouldn't know what to do with numbering the Western half of the Gilcrease Expressway. It's weird as hell for it to have a OK-344 designation while we now have an I-344 in OKC.

Now that I-344 is signed on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in OKC it would seem like I-235 could be extended North from I-44 up to the I-344 interchange.

IIRC from an ODOT commission meeting, I-42 is expected to overlap/run concurrent with both I-244 and I-44 through Tulsa (along with US 412).

[Strider]

I wonder what will happen to I-244 when I-42 is signed through Tulsa. Will it be co-signed "I-42/I-244" or...?

My guess is I-244 will be shortened so it ends when meeting I-42 in the downtown IDL.

Technically, it could be possible for the I-244 designation to extend farther North along the LL Tisdale Parkway and then go East over the Gilcrease Expressway. But a proper freeway to freeway interchange would be needed at what is currently a traffic signal intersection. And the Gilcrease Expressway would have to be fully completed and brought up to Interstate standards. That would be one way how to get I-244 back close to its parent I-44 route. In that scenario I wouldn't know what to do with numbering the Western half of the Gilcrease Expressway. It's weird as hell for it to have a OK-344 designation while we now have an I-344 in OKC.

Now that I-344 is signed on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in OKC it would seem like I-235 could be extended North from I-44 up to the I-344 interchange.

IIRC from an ODOT commission meeting, I-42 is expected to overlap/run concurrent with both I-244 and I-44 through Tulsa (along with US 412).

So, there will be a I-42/I-244 overlap. I know I-42 and I-44 will run together for a few miles. I was more interested in I-244 section and wondered. Thanks for responding!