U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma

U.S. Route 69 (US 69) is a major north-south U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It extends the corridor formed by U.S. Route 75 in Texas, from Dallas northeast via McAlester and Muskogee to the Will Rogers Turnpike (Interstate 44) near Vinita. From Vinita to the Kansas state line, US-69 generally parallels the turnpike along old U.S. Highway 66.

U.S. Highway 69 marker
U.S. Highway 69
Map
US 69 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length260.82 mi[1] (419.75 km)
Major junctions
South end US 69 / US 75 south of Colbert
Major intersections US 70 in Durant
US 75 in Atoka
US 270 in McAlester
I-40 in Checotah
US 266 in Checotah
US 62 / US 64 in Muskogee
US 412 near Chouteau

I-44 Toll / Will Rogers Turnpike in Big Cabin
US 60 in Vinita
US 59 in Miami
North end US-69 / K-7 north of Picher
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountiesBryan, Atoka, Pittsburg, McIntosh, Muskogee, Wagoner, Mayes, Craig, Delaware, Ottawa
Highway system
  • Oklahoma State Highway System
SH-67 US 70

Route description

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U.S. Highway 69 crosses the Red River to enter Bryan County, Oklahoma concurrent with US-75 3 miles (4.8 km)[2] south of Colbert. The first few miles of highway north of the state line are freeway-grade, featuring three interchanges, including one at State Highway 91. Near Calera, the route downgrades to an expressway. On the west side of Durant, however, US-69/75 becomes a freeway again, beginning with an interchange with U.S. Highway 70, and followed by an interchange with SH-78. The freeway continues northeast, providing access to Armstrong, Caddo, and SH-22 before becoming an expressway once again at the Atoka County line.

In Atoka County, US-69/75 bypass Caney and Tushka to the west before coming to the SH-3/7 junction in the county seat of Atoka, Oklahoma; at this junction, SH-3 joins with the U.S. routes while SH-7 has its eastern terminus. North of this interchange, US-75 and SH-3 split off, leaving US-69 without any concurrent routes for the first time since crossing the Red River. Seven miles (11.3 km)[2] northwest of Atoka, US-69 begins another concurrency, this time with SH-43, near Stringtown. The two routes run along the east shore of Atoka Lake before SH-43 splits off to the west. US-69 then heads through unincorporated Chockie, and then serves as the eastern terminus of SH-131 just south of the Pittsburg County line.

US-69 then crosses into Pittsburg County. US-69 runs just east of Kiowa, where it intersects State Highway 63 at its western terminus. US-69 runs along the east edge of the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, which it provides access to via an interchange near Savanna. It then has an interchange with the Indian Nation Turnpike, after which it enters McAlester. US-69 mostly runs along the east side of McAlester, the county seat of Pittsburg County, with the downtown area being served by U.S. Highway 69 Business. The main route of US-69 has an interchange with US-270/SH-1/SH-31. North of McAlester, US-69 reunites with its business loop at an interchange which also serves as the southern terminus of SH-113. US-69 regains freeway status at this interchange, and begins crossing over several arms of Lake Eufaula. US-69 provides several interchanges for lake access. Other interchanges serve the northern terminus of SH-113 (which has both termini at US-69) and the western terminus of SH-9A. US-69 then crosses the main channel of the Canadian River into McIntosh County.

Soon after crossing into McIntosh Co., US-69 serves the county seat of Eufaula, with exits for US-69's Eufaula business loop and State Highway 9. The freeway then has an exit to the southern terminus of State Highway 150. US-69 then meets Interstate 40 at a cloverleaf interchange and has a pair of interchanges serving Checotah. The route then enters Muskogee County, where it has exits for Oktaha and Wainwright. The freeway then ends near Summit, and US-69 continues north at-grade.[further explanation needed]

US-69 meets the western terminus of State Highway 165 as it enters Muskogee. The route runs along the west side of the city, intersecting U.S. Highway 64 and briefly concurring with US-62. US-69 then crosses the Arkansas River into Wagoner County. Shortly after entering the county, the highway has an interchange with the Muskogee Turnpike, northeast of Tullahassee. In Wagoner, US-69 meets SH-51. It then enters Mayes County.

In Mayes County, the highway has an interchange with US-412 south of Chouteau. US-69 creates a spur to Sportsman Acres, SH-69A. The route then intersects SH-20 in Pryor and SH-28 in Adair. US-69 leaves Mayes County and enters Craig County south of Big Cabin. As the route approaches Big Cabin, signage affixed to the side of parked truck trailers warns of a speed zone, due to Big Cabin's former speed trap status.[3] The trap was shut down by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety on August 1, 2005.[3] Just north of the town, US-69 has the first of three interchanges with Interstate 44, the Will Rogers Turnpike. After crossing the turnpike, the route begins a concurrency with US-60 into Vinita. The two U.S. routes serve as the southern terminus of SH-2 there. East of town, another access point to the turnpike is offered. SH-82's northern terminus lies 4 miles (6.4 km) east of this.[2]

 
U.S. Rte 69 at East 1st St, Picher, Oklahoma, looking south.

US-60/69 cut the northwest corner of Delaware County, entering just west of the northern terminus of State Highway 85. The routes then cross into Ottawa County, passing through Afton, before US-59 joins the concurrency. Just north of this, US-60 splits off at an interchange which also serves as the third entry to the Will Rogers Turnpike. Near Narcissa, US-59/69 passes the east end of SH-25. US-59 then splits off to follow SH-10 westbound, while SH-10 eastbound follows US-69 into Miami. The two routes concur briefly before splitting near downtown Miami, where US-69 forms a one-way couplet. After reuniting north of downtown, US-69 serves as a major arterial through the city, before leaving town and arcing northeast through North Miami and Commerce. US-69 then spawns U.S. Highway 69 Alternate to Quapaw and Baxter Springs, Kansas. The main route turns north, running through the Tar Creek Superfund site and abandoned community of Picher, before leaving Oklahoma and entering the state of Kansas.

History

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U.S. Highway 69 in Oklahoma generally follows the old Texas Road.

All of US-69 between the US-60 junction west of Vinita and the western terminus of US-69 ALT is part of the former route of Route 66.

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 requires the United States Secretary of Transportation to designate U.S. 69 between the Texas state line and Checotah (I-40) as an Interstate highway upon request from ODOT.[4][5]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[6]kmExit[7]DestinationsNotes
BryanRed River0.000.00 
 
US 75 south (US 69 south) – Denison
Texas state line
0.71.11Old River Road, South Franklin Street
Colbert2.23.52  SH-91 – Colbert, Denison Dam
4.06.44North Franklin Street, Leavenworth TrailNorth end of freeway; Formerly signed Platter
Calera8.914.38CaleraNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; south end of freeway
9.715.610Main Street - Calera
10.817.411ARose Hill Road, South 9th AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; former US-69B/US-75B north
11.318.211CCalera Service RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Durant11.718.811BChoctaw Road – Choctaw Nation ResortSouthbound exit signed as exits 11A-B and also includes Rose Hill Road and South 9th Avenue
12.5–
12.8
20.1–
20.6
12  US 70 – Madill, HugoSigned as exits 12A (east) and 12B (west)
14.924.014West Main StreetFormer US-70
15.625.115University Boulevard, Westside DriveSouthbound exit only
15  University Boulevard, Bryan DriveNorthbound exit only; access to AllianceHealth Durant
16.626.716Washington Avenue
18.029.018 
 
  SH-48 north / SH-78 – Durant
SH-78 south is former US-69B/US-75B south
19.230.919Ury DriveFormerly signed Armstrong, Durant State Fish Hatchery
22.836.723County Road N3760Formally signed Stockyard
Caddo27.243.827  SH-22 – Caddo, KeneficNorth end of freeway
AtokaAtoka46.374.5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SH-3 east / SH-7 west / SH-3 Byp. west (13th Street)
Southern end of SH-3 concurrency; eastern terminus of SH-7
47.276.0 
 
 
 
US 75 north / SH-3 west – Coalgate, Ada
Northern end of US-75/SH-3 concurrency
Stringtown54.587.7 
 
SH-43 east – Daisy
Southern end of SH-43 concurrency
59.695.9 
 
SH-43 west – Coalgate
Northern end of SH-43 concurrency
70.0112.7 
 
SH-131 west – Wardville
PittsburgKiowa74.5119.9 
 
SH-63 east (8th Street) – Pittsburg, Haileyville
Savanna82.7133.182U.S. Army Ammunition PlantInterchange
85.7–
85.9
137.9–
138.2
   Indian Nation Turnpike – Henryetta, Tulsa, Antlers, HugoIndian Nation Turnpike exit 63
McAlester87.8141.387 
 
 
US 69 Bus. north – McAlester
No northbound entrance
89.7144.489Village BoulevardSouth end of expressway
90.3145.390Peaceable Road, Comanche Avenue
91.5–
91.7
147.3–
147.6
91    US 270 / SH-1 / SH-31 – McAlester, Krebs, WilburtonSigned as exits 91A (east) and 91B (west)
92.2148.492Electric Avenue
93.4150.393Hereford LaneNorth end of expressway
96.4155.196 
 
 
 
 
US 69 Bus. south / SH-113 north – Indianola, McAlester
South end of freeway
99.8160.6100Shady Grove RoadFormerly Coal Creek Road
102.8165.4103Rock Creek Road
105.3169.5106Nale Road, Crowder
Canadian110.7178.2109  SH-113 – Canadian, Indianola, Arrowhead State Park
114.7184.6113 
 
 
 
SH-9A east to SH-9 – Carlton Landing, Stigler
McIntosh118.2190.2 
 
 
US 69 Bus. north – Eufaula
northbound exit and southbound entrance
Eufaula120.9194.6  SH-9 – Eufaula, Wetumka
121.4195.4 
 
 
US 69 Bus. south – Eufaula
125.8202.5  SH-150 / Texanna Road – Lake Eufaula State Park
128.6207.0Onapa Road
132.6–
133.1
213.4–
214.2
  I-40 (US 69 Bus. north) – Oklahoma City, Fort SmithI-40 exits 264 A–B
Checotah133.9215.5  US 266 – Checotah
135.9218.7 
 
 
US 69 Bus. south – Checotah, Rentiesville
Muskogee141.6227.9Oktaha, Rentiesville
144.2232.1Wainwright
150.6242.4SummitAt-grade intersection; north end of freeway; former US-69 south
Muskogee152.9246.1 
 
 
 
US 64 east to SH-165 (Peak Boulevard) – Tahlequah
Interchange; southern end of US-64 concurrency
155.9250.9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 62 west / US 64 west / SH-16 west / US 62 Bus. east / US 64 Bus. east (Okmulgee Avenue)
Northern end of US-64 concurrency, southern end of US-62/SH-16 concurrency
156.9252.5 
 
 
 
US 62 east / SH-16 east (Shawnee Bypass) – Tahlequah
Northern end of US-62/SH-16 concurrency
Wagoner161.7260.2 
 
SH-51B west – Porter
161.9260.6  SH-351 (Muskogee Turnpike) – Tulsa, Fort SmithSH-351 exit 26
Wagoner170.3274.1  SH-51 – Coweta, Wagoner
MayesChouteau185.0–
185.2
297.7–
298.1
  US 412 – Tulsa, Locust GroveInterchange
190.9307.2 
 
SH-69A east – MidAmerica Industrial Park
Pryor195.2314.1  SH-20 (Graham Avenue)
Adair204.7329.4  SH-28 (Main Street) – Chelsea, Langley
CraigBig Cabin214.4345.0  I-44 (Will Rogers Turnpike)I-44 exit 283
218.7352.0 
 
US 60 west – Chelsea
Southern end of US-60 concurrency
Vinita222.5358.1 
 
SH-2 north (Wilson Street)
Southern terminus of SH-2
223.5359.7  I-44 (Will Rogers Turnpike)I-44 exit 289
227.9366.8 
 
SH-82 south – Langley
Delaware232.4374.0 
 
SH-85 south – Bernice
Northern terminus of SH-85
Ottawa239.7385.8 
 
US 59 south – Grove
Southern end of US-59 concurrency
240.4386.9 
 
US 60 east
Interchange; northern end of US-60 concurrency
240.6387.2  I-44 (Will Rogers Turnpike) – Tulsa, JoplinI-44 exit 302
Narcissa246.3396.4 
 
SH-25 west (150 Road) – Bluejacket
Eastern terminus of SH-25
250.6403.3 
 
 
 
US 59 north / SH-10 west – Welch, Lenapah
Northern end of US-59 concurrency, southern end of SH-10 concurrency
Miami252.4406.2 
 
SH-125 south (Main Street) – Fairland, Grove
Northern terminus of SH-125; does not intersect US-69 south ('A' Street SW)
252.5406.4 
 
SH-10 east (Steve Owens Boulevard)
Northern end of SH-10 concurrency
259.0416.8 
 
 
 
SH-69A south to I-44
Northern terminus of SH-69A
259.6417.8 
 
 
US 69 Alt. north – Quapaw
260.82419.75 
 
 
 
US-69 north / K-7 north – Columbus
Kansas state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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KML is not from Wikidata
  1. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "State Highway System: Log of U.S. Highway 62" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  2. ^ a b c 2007 Centennial State Map (Map). Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
  3. ^ a b Morgan, Rhett (2005-07-22). "Speed trap snaps on town". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  4. ^ Public Law 102-240, §1074, Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 1914, 2013.
  5. ^ "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, as Amended, §1074". U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Stuve, Eric. "U.S. 69". OKHighways. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  7. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Plan of Proposed State Highway Traffic Signing" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  U.S. Route 69
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