Interstate 40 (I-40) is an

Interstate Highway The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

that runs across the state from

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

. West of

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

, it parallels and replaces old U.S. Highway 66 (US-66), and, east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62,

US-266 U.S. Route 266 (US 266) is a , east–west U.S. Numbered Highway in Okmulgee, McIntosh, and Muskogee counties in Oklahoma, United States, that connects U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 75 (US 62/US 75) in Henryetta with U.S. Route 64 (US 62) in W ...

, and US-64. I-40 is the longest Interstate highway in Oklahoma. Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City, Clinton, Weatherford, Oklahoma City and its suburbs (

El Reno El Reno is a city in and county seat of Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 16,989, marking a change of 1.55% from 16,729, recorded in the 2010 census. The city was begun shortly after the 18 ...

Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

Del City Del City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 21,822 at the United States Census, 2020. Del City is located near two major interstate highways, both of wh ...

, and

Midwest City Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,371, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The city was developed in r ...

Shawnee The Shawnee are an Algonquian-speaking indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands. In the 17th century they lived in Pennsylvania, and in the 18th century they were in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, with some bands in Kentucky a ...

, Okemah,

Henryetta Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,927 at the 2010 census, down 9.6 percent from the figure of 6,096 recorded in 2000. History Hugh Henry established a ranch on Creek Nation land in 1885. He so ...

, Checotah, and Sallisaw.

Route description

I-40 enters Oklahoma near Texola in Beckham County. It crosses the

North Fork of the Red River The North Fork Red River, sometimes called simply the "North Fork", is a tributary of the Red River of the South about long, heading along the eastern Caprock Escarpment of the Llano Estacado about southwest of Pampa, Texas.United States Board ...

near Sayre and runs through southern Elk City. It then cuts across northwest

Washita County Washita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,629. Its county seat is New Cordell. The county seat was formerly located in Cloud Chief. The county was created in 1891. History ...

before entering Custer County. There, it passes through Clinton and Weatherford. After leaving Weatherford, I-40 then runs across northern Caddo County. After that, it enters the

Oklahoma City metropolitan area The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is an urban region in the Southern United States. It is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Oklahoma and contains the state capital and principal city, Oklahoma City. It is often known as the Okla ...

Canadian County Canadian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 154,405, making it the fifth most populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is El Reno. The county is named for the Canadian Ri ...

I-40 runs through the southside of

as it enters the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It then passes through

before entering Oklahoma City city limits. In west Oklahoma City, I-40 has a junction with

I-44 Interstate 44 (I-44) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. Although it is nominally an east–west road as it is even-numbered, it follows a more southwest–northeast alignment. Its western terminus is in Wichita Fal ...

. It then runs just south of downtown Oklahoma City on a new 10-lane section. I-40 then interlines with I-35 at the Dallas Junction complex. This forms a concurrency with it for . After the Dallas Junction, I-40 then passes through

and

on the Tinker Diagonal. This provides access to

Tinker Air Force Base Tinker Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, surrounded by Del City, Oklahoma City, and Midwest City. The base, origina ...

in east Oklahoma City. In far eastern Oklahoma City, I-40 meets I-240 in a partial junction. Afterward, it passes through the northside of

. This marks the eastern end of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In

, I-40 serves as the northern terminus of the

Indian Nation Turnpike The Indian Nation Turnpike, also designated State Highway 375 (SH-375), is a toll road in southeastern Oklahoma, United States, running between Hugo and Henryetta, Oklahoma, a distance of . It is the longest tollway in the state. Route descrip ...

. In McIntosh County, it crosses the northernmost arm of Lake Eufaula. Afterward, it meets

US-69 U.S. Route 69 (US 69) is a major north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus (as well as ...

south of Checotah. Near Webbers Falls, I-40 is the southern terminus of the Muskogee Turnpike. It then crosses the Arkansas River before passing through southern Sallisaw. The Interstate crosses into Arkansas north of Moffett.

History

West of Oklahoma City, I-40 parallels and replaces Old US-66. US-66 was decommissioned in Oklahoma in 1985.

Bridge collapse

The I-40 bridge over the

McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System The McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) is part of the United States inland waterway system originating at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and running southeast through Oklahoma and Arkansas to the Mississippi River. The total ...

near Webbers Falls was struck by a barge on May 26, 2002, causing the bridge to collapse and resulting in the death of 14 people. Westbound I-40 traffic was detoured through

Gore Gore may refer to: Places Australia * Gore, Queensland * Gore Creek (New South Wales) * Gore Island (Queensland) Canada * Gore, Nova Scotia, a rural community * Gore, Quebec, a township municipality * Gore Bay, Ontario, a township on Manitouli ...

and Webbers Falls along

SH-10 Route 10, or Highway 10, can refer to routes in the following countries: International * European route E10 * European route E010 Argentina * La Pampa Provincial Route 10 Australia Queensland * Smith Street Motorway (Queensland) * Scenic ...

, US-64, and SH-100, while eastbound traffic was diverted through Porum and

Stigler Stigler is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Franz Stigler (1915–2008), Luftwaffe pilot who escorted an American bomber back to safety in 1943 * George Stigler (1911–1991), Nobel Prize–winning U.S. economist, associated wi ...

along SH-2, SH-9, and US-59. Delays of 30 to 50 minutes on the westbound detour were typical, although trains passing through Gore could lengthen wait times by 15 minutes. The eastbound detour added and two hours to the typical trip. Some travelers chose to avoid the area entirely; one

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

trucking firm detoured trucks via Springdale, adding to the trip. The detour significantly impacted the town of Gore. Local firefighters directed traffic there 24 hours a day, with daytime temperatures approaching . Businesses in Gore reported loss of revenue due to the traffic; one

gas station A filling station, also known as a gas station () or petrol station (), is a facility that sells fuel and engine lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold in the 2010s were gasoline (or petrol) and diesel fuel. Gasoline ...

reported a 30% decline in revenue while traffic was detoured through town.

2013 tornado

On the evening of May 31, 2013, a very large and powerful

multiple-vortex tornado A multiple-vortex tornado is a tornado that contains several vortices (called subvortices or suction vortices) revolving around, ''inside'' of, and as part of the main vortex. The only times multiple vortices may be visible are when the tornado i ...

occurred over rural areas of central Oklahoma, passing around

El Reno, Oklahoma El Reno is a city in and county seat of Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 16,989, marking a change of 1.55% from 16,729, recorded in the 2010 census. The city was begun shortly after the 1 ...

. This is known to be the largest tornado ever recorded at wide and was responsible for eight fatalities and 151 injuries. Four of those fatalities were storm chasers, the first known deaths in storm chasing history. This tornado crossed over I-40 at around 6:33 pm CDT after hitting peak strength and maximum width and did a 270-degree counterclockwise loop north of the Interstate, clipping SH-66 before traveling on and along the Interstate, approaching

at a very slow speed. The tornado dissipated at 6:43 pm near exit 130 (Banner Road).

2015 shootings

On December 17, 2015, a Pasadena, Texas, man allegedly shot and killed two people on I-40 near Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was arrested by police in Clinton, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment

The original I-40

Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway The Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway, aka I-40 Crosstown, is a roughly stretch of Interstate 40 in Oklahoma, Interstate 40 (I-40) just south of Downtown Oklahoma City, running along the Oklahoma River between Agnew Avenue and the I-40/I-35/I-2 ...

was built in 1966 mostly as an elevated route; however, this former stretch was too narrow for existing traffic and was frequently in disrepair. In response, the I-40 Crosstown Expressway has been relocated a few blocks south of the original route and the original bridge torn down. The project was completed in February 2012. The new I-40 Crosstown Expressway has been designed to carry more than 170,000 vehicles per day traveling at using at least 10 lanes for traffic and has breakdown lanes for disabled vehicles and future lane expansion. When the new crosstown opened in 2012, nearly 95% of non–rush hour traffic was considered 'through traffic' (i.e., not transferring to or from downtown streets). A landscaped boulevard (Oklahoma City Boulevard) was completed in 2019, replacing the original I-40 Crosstown Bridge right-of-way through

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business distric ...

Oklahoma City, similar to the

I-30 i30, I30, i-30 or I-30 may refer to: *Interstate 30, an Interstate Highway in the southern United States *, an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine during World War II * (1940-1968), a Royal Australian Navy ''Tribal''-class destroyer *I30, a 9000 serv ...

reconstruction through downtown

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

Business routes and old alignments

I-40 has eight

business route A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route connected to a ''parent'' numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or ...

s in Oklahoma, six of which are old alignments of

US-66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

. A number of other old alignments of US-66 are also present west of Oklahoma City. * Interstate 40 Business (I-40 Bus., formerly US-66) in Erick is a

business loop A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route connected to a ''parent'' numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or ...

that runs from I-40 west of Erick to the old alignment of US-66, through Erick, and back to I-40 east of Erick. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Sayre is a business loop that begins south of Sayre at US-283, runs north into the city, and then leaves Sayre to the east, rejoining I-40 east of US-283. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Elk City is a business loop that begins at exit 32 west of Elk City. It runs for through Elk City, rejoining I-40 at exit 41. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Clinton is a business loop that begins at exit 65, runs through Clinton, and rejoins I-40 at exit 69. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in Weatherford is a business loop that exits I-40 at exit 82B, runs through Weatherford, and rejoins I-40 at exit 82. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-66) in

is a business loop that exits I-40 at exit 119, runs through El Reno, and rejoins I-40 at exit 125, the interchange with US-81. * I-40 Bus. (formerly US-62/

US-75 U.S. Route 75 is a major north–south United States Numbered Highways, U.S. Highway that extends in the central United States. The highway's northern terminus is in Noyes, Minnesota, at the Canada–United States border, Canadian border, wh ...

) in

is a business loop that leaves I-40 at exit 237, runs through Henryetta, and rejoins I-40 at exit 240, the interchange with US-75 and the Indian Nation Turnpike. * I-40 Bus. in Sallisaw is a business loop that leaves I-40 at exit 308 ( US-59) runs through Sallisaw, and rejoins I-40 at exit 311, US-64.

Exit list

Auxiliary route

I-40 has one auxiliary route in Oklahoma: *: A bypass of the southside of Oklahoma City

References

External links