Interstate 235 (I-235) in Oklahoma is also known as the Centennial Expressway or the I-235 Central Expressway. The spur route of I-35 is a 5.4-mile-long (8.7 km) north–south alignment in central and north-central Oklahoma City. It connects northbound to U.S. Highway 77 (US-77) to suburban Edmond and southbound at I-44 on to I-35 and the I-40 Crosstown Expressway near downtown Oklahoma City. US-77 is concurrent with I-235 for the entire route. South of its junction with I-40, I-235 becomes I-35.
.svg) Interstate 235 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Expressway | ||||
 I-235 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Auxiliary route of I-35 | ||||
| Maintained by ODOT | ||||
| Length | 5.36 mi[1] (8.63 km) | |||
| Existed | 1989[citation needed]–present | |||
| NHS | Entire route | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |      I-35 / I-40 / US 62 / US 77 / US 270 in Oklahoma City[2] | |||
| North end |   I-44 / US 77 / SH-66 in Oklahoma City[3] | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Oklahoma | |||
| Counties | Oklahoma | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Route description
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I-235's route, which is concurrent with US-77 along its entire length, forms the eastern edge of Automobile Alley, the Deep Deuce residential neighborhood, and the Bricktown Entertainment District, all of which are in the eastern section of downtown Oklahoma City. Its southern terminus is at a three-level interchange with I-35/I-40/US-62/US-270. From there, the interstate continues northward with several interchanges with local streets before terminating at I-44/SH-66. From there, the freeway continues northward as the Broadway Extension (US-77).
History
editThe I-235 designation was approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on July 13, 1976.[4] Only 3.66 miles (5.89 km) were complete in 1978.[5] It finally opened in 1989.
Beginning in the mid-1990s, a massive Capital Improvement Project program was started to widen and reconstruct US-77 between Edmond on the Broadway Extension and the North 36th Street exit on I-235. The project included widening to six or eight lanes, reconfiguring several interchanges, and installing a new BNSF Railway bridge over I-235.[6]
The interchange with I-44/SH-66 was reconstructed from a cloverleaf interchange to a four-level interchange that eliminated two cloverleaf ramps. The other two cloverleafs were widened and reconstructed and two new flyover ramps were added. The four-level interchange is the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The $105 million project lasted three years and was opened on March 3, 2022.[7] An additional $16 million is being provided to reconstruct the I-44 to US-77 ramp and provide a direct connection to North Lincoln Boulevard. The project is expected to be started in 2023.[6]
Exit list
editThe entire route is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County.
| mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | 0.00 |    I-35 south / US 77 south / US 62 west – Dallas | Southern terminus; southern end of US-77 concurrency; I-35 exit 126, I-40 exit 151B | |
| 125C | Oklahoma City Boulevard | Exit number based on I-35 mileposts; northbound left exit only; access to Downtown Oklahoma City | ||
| 1A |   I-35 north / I-40 / US 62 east / US 270 east – Wichita, Ft. Smith | Southbound left exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 1B | I-40 / US 270 west – Amarillo | |||
| 0.43 | 0.69 | 1C | Sheridan Avenue – Downtown | Northbound exit only |
| Oklahoma City Boulevard | Southbound exit only | |||
| 0.65 | 1.05 | 1D |  Lincoln Boulevard – Oklahoma Health Center, State Capitol | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| 1.13 | 1.82 | 1E | Harrison Avenue / N. 10th Street | No southbound exit; access to Oklahoma City National Memorial |
| 1F | N. 6th Street / Walnut Avenue | No northbound exit | ||
| 1.40 | 2.25 | 1G | N. 10th Street – Oklahoma Health Center | Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
| 2.32 | 3.73 | 2 | N. 23rd Street / Santa Fe Avenue | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| 2.64 | 4.25 | 2 | N. 23rd Street / Broadway Avenue – State Capitol | Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
| 3.53 | 5.68 | 3 | N. 36th Street | |
| 5.05 | 8.13 | 4 | I-44 (SH-66) / Santa Fe Avenue / N. 50th Street – Lawton, Tulsa | Signed as exits 4A (west) and 4B (east); exits unnumbered southbound; I-44 west exit 127, east exits 127A-B; northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| 5.36 | 8.63 | — |  US 77 north – Edmond | Northern terminus; northern end of US-77 concurrency |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
edit- ^ "Route Log - Auxiliary Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 2". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ^ "Interstate 235 (Oklahoma)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Interstate 235 (Oklahoma)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
- ^ Rhodes, H. J. (July 15, 1976). "Letter to V. O. Bradley, Director of the Oklahoma State Highway Department" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 8. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ Interstate System Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. March 1978.
- ^ a b "Motorists now 'On Broadway' after I-235/I-44 opening celebration". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 14, 2023."OFF Broadway and I-235". Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 14, 2023."I-235 Broadway Extension Corridor Widening and I-44 Interchange". Haskell Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023."Oklahoma opens four-level I-235/I-44 interchange". Equipment World. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Ogle, Abigail (March 4, 2022). "Oklahoma opens state's first four-level highway". KOCO. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
External links
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