Oklahoma State Highway 99

State Highway 99
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	241.5 mi[3] (388.7 km)
Existed:	1927-01-19 (as SH-48)[1] Became SH-99 on 1938-05-17[2] – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 377 at the Texas state line
North end:	K-99 at the Kansas state line
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highways Oklahoma turnpike system ← SH-98 SH-100 → ← SH-325 US-377 US-385 →

Northbound in Seminole, Oklahoma

State Highway 99, also referred to as SH-99 or OK-99, is a north–south state highway through central Oklahoma. It runs from the Texas border at Lake Texoma to the Kansas border near Lake Hulah. It is 241.5 miles (388.7 km) long. The highway overlaps US-377 for over half its length.

SH-99 links up with K-99 after crossing the border into Kansas. This road continues for 233 miles (375 km) to the Nebraska border, where it becomes Nebraska Highway 99, which lasts an additional 14 miles (23 km). Thus, SH-99 is part of a triple-state highway numbered "99", which lasts a total of 488 miles (785 km).

State Highway 99 began as State Highway 48, a short highway connecting Ada to Holdenville. This highway was gradually expanded until it became a border-to-border route. In 1938, it was renumbered to match K-99, which was renumbered from K-11 the same day.

Route description

US-377/SH-99

US-377 crosses Lake Texoma on a bridge from Grayson County, Texas into Marshall County, Oklahoma. This is the southern terminus of SH-99, which will concur with US-377 all the way to the U.S. highway's northern terminus in Stroud. The highways' first junction in Oklahoma is with State Highway 32 7 miles (11 km) south of Madill. Five miles north of this intersection, US-377/SH-99 serve as the northern terminus for SH-99C, a child route of SH-99. The routes then head into Madill, where they form a brief concurrency with US-70 and SH-199. US-377/SH-99 head northeast out of town and enter Johnston County.^[4]

West of Tishomingo, US-377/SH-99 pick up SH-22, which follows them east to the county seat. The same junction in Tishomingo where SH-22 splits away is also the northern terminus of SH-78. Eight miles (12.9 km) north of Tishomingo, the routes share a short concurrency with SH-7. US-377/SH-99 go 18 miles (29 km) without another highway junction, which is with SH-99A, a spur to unincorporated Harden City.^[4]

The two highways interchange with SH-3, a freeway at this point, near Ahloso. US-377/SH-99 merge onto the freeway, which becomes the Richardson Loop around the west side of Ada. At the southwest corner of the loop, SH-1 joins. Two miles (3.2 km) further north, an interchange serves as the western terminus of SH-19; also at this interchange, SH-3 splits into SH-3E and SH-3W, the latter of which exits the highway to concur with SH-19. At the next interchange, SH-1 splits off, and the freeway downgrades to expressway.^[4]

The highway crosses the Canadian River into Seminole County north of Byng. Just after the bridge, US-377/SH-3E/99 intersect SH-39 and SH-56; this is their eastern and western termini respectively. Near Bowlegs, SH-59 joins the concurrency, splitting off again after 3 miles (4.8 km). As the road enters Seminole, it has an interchange with US-270, where SH-3E splits off. SH-9 also is accessible by interchange in Seminole. US-377/SH-99 encounter another spur of the latter, SH-99A, in unincorporated Little. The routes then have an interchange at I-40, Exit 200.^[4]

US-377/SH-99 cross over the North Canadian River and cross a panhandle of Pottawatomie County before entering Lincoln County. Just north of the county line, the routes pass through Prague. The two routes do not encounter another highway for 19 miles (31 km), after which lies the town of Stroud, the northern terminus of US-377.

Stroud and the end of US-377

In Stroud, SH-99 has two highway junctions, one of which is the northern terminus of US-377. In central Stroud, the highway meets SH-66, formerly the celebrated Route 66. An interchange with Interstate 44, the Turner Turnpike, is 0.4 miles (0.64 km) north of the SH-66 junction.^[5]

Signage in Stroud is unclear on where the northern terminus of US-377 is, implying that it continues north of SH-66 to at least I-44. However, signage along the turnpike and at the end of the offramps only refers to SH-99.^[6][7]

ODOT sources differ on where the northern terminus of the highway is. According to the Control Section Map Book, the north end of US-377 is at SH-66.^[8] Another map published by ODOT of Stroud implies that the route extends north of the ramps to and from I-44 to at least the bridge over the turnpike.^[9] The inset strip map of the Turner Turnpike on the ODOT state map omits US-377 entirely.^[4]

North of Stroud

Seventeen miles north of Stroud, the now-independent SH-99 meets State Highway 33, which it overlaps for two miles (3 km) to the town of Drumright. SH-99 bypasses Drumright to the northwest, after which it meets up with an old alignment leading back to Drumright and SH-33, now numbered SH-99B but unsigned.^[10] After turning back north, it crosses the Cimarron River at Oilton, and has an interchange with the Cimarron Turnpike between Jennings and Hallett.

It is then concurrent with US-64 for six miles (10 km) before passing through Cleveland, where it crosses the Arkansas River. Throughout its final 55 miles (89 km), in Osage County, the highway passes through a relatively sparse region, though it meets State Highway 20 in Hominy and overlaps SH-11 south of Pawhuska (the county seat) and US-60 north of the city. Its final junction is with SH-10 ten miles (16 km) south of the Oklahoma–Kansas border.

History

The original SH-48

1924-standard SH-48 and SH-99 shields

State Highway 99 traces its roots back to the first State Highway 48, which was first established on January 19, 1927.^[1] This highway connected Ada to Holdenville; it roughly followed present-day SH-99 until just north of the Canadian River, after which it turned east on the route of today's SH-56. The highway ended at the original SH-3, present-day US-270, west of Holdenville.^[11] The 1928 state highway map shows the highway extended to SH-9 (now US-62) near Prague along the present-day SH-99 alignment, with the Canadian River crossing as a toll bridge.^[12] By January 1, 1929, the route had been realigned to pass through Konawa.^[13]

In 1931, SH-48 was greatly expanded. The route was extended northward to US-66 in Stroud.^[14] At its southern end, it was extended along a new alignment, which began at SH-19 southeast of Ada and ran through Tishomingo and Madill to end at the Red River northwest of Denison, Texas, where it met Texas State Highway 91. Also that year, a second section of SH-48 was established, taking over a large portion of what was then SH-25; the remainder of the route was integrated into US-60.^[14]

On March 1, 1932, a new section of road was designated as State Highway 48, connecting Stroud to SH-33 west of Drumright.^[1] As a result, the SH-48 designation was able to follow existing roads to link up with its previously-disconnected northern section. Thus, SH-48 became a border-to-border highway, linking Texas and its SH-91 to K-11 at the Kansas state line.^[15]

Renumbering and realignments

On May 17, 1938, both Kansas and Oklahoma renumbered K-11 and OK-48 respectively to bear the number "99", providing continuity between the states.^[2] At this time, SH-99 followed the same basic corridor of the present-day route from Madill north to Kansas. The SH-48 designation would only remain disused for just under three years, resurfacing for a route only 13 miles (21 km) east of SH-99 in February 1941.^[1]

In January 1944, Denison Dam was placed into operation, creating Lake Texoma. As a result, a portion of SH-99 between Madill and Texas was inundated.^[16] On May 5, 1958, the route was realigned to once again reach Texas;^[2] it now crossed a bridge further upstream, connecting to Texas State Highway 10,^[17] which was subsequently renumbered to TX-99.^[18]

The existing route of SH-99 (concurrent with SH-3) veered west by about 4 miles (6.4 km) to serve the town of Konawa before cutting back northeast to continue the highway's previous heading.^[4][19] This was remedied on December 9, 1968, when the highway was changed to a straighter alignment bypassing Konawa. The old road heading west into Konawa became part of SH-39.^[2]

Another bypass occurred in 1977, this time in Drumright. SH-99 was changed to bypass the town on February 7, 1977, and the old alignment that was not part of SH-33 became SH-99B.^[2] However, the highway remained signed along SH-33 through Drumright until at least 2003.^[5]

Designation as US-377

The Oklahoma Department of Highways had proposed portions of State Highway 99 for inclusion in the United States Numbered Highways system several times. One such application made in 1953 suggested that the entirety of SH-99 become a U.S. Route, while another suggested a northern terminus at US-64 near Cleveland. On June 18, 1964, AASHTO accepted an extension of US-377 from Texas to US-70 in Madill. The Department of Highways, and later the Department of Transportation, submitted an application to extend US-377 from Madill to US-64 in Cleveland eight times between December 1964 and 1980.^[20]

In 1991, ODOT signed the route to Stroud along SH-99 without AASHTO approval.^[6]

Spurs

SH-99 has two lettered spurs:

• SH-99A is a designation for two distinct highways:
  • A connector highway from US-377/SH-99 to the unincorporated town of Harden City. It was originally known as SH-61A [1].
  • A highway that runs from SH-3E to SH-48 near Bearden.
• SH-99B is a 1.09 miles (1.75 km)-long highway in Drumright, connecting SH-33 north to SH-99, forming the east edge of a loop around town.^[10] It is a former alignment of SH-99.
• SH-99C connects US-377/SH-99 in Madill to SH-32 near Lake Texoma.
• SH-99D was a loop north of Hominy, Oklahoma serving the nearby state prison, Connors Correctional Center. The loop was decommissioned in the 1990s, and the bridge over Bird Creek is no longer passable [2].

Junction list

County	Location	Mile[5]	Destinations	Notes
Marshall	Willis	0.0	US 377	Texas state line; southern terminus of SH-99
		9.3	SH-32
		14.3	SH-99C	Northern terminus of SH-99C
	Madill	16.1	US-70 / SH-199	US-70 joins northbound and splits southbound
		16.6	US-70 / SH-199	US-70 splits northbound and joins southbound
Johnston		29.3	SH-22	SH-22 joins northbound and splits southbound
	Tishomingo	30.4	SH-22 / SH-78	SH-22 splits northbound and joins southbound; northern terminus of SH-78
		39.0	SH-7	SH-7 joins northbound and splits southbound
		39.9	SH-7	SH-7 joins southbound and splits northbound
Pontotoc		57.6	SH-99A	Western terminus of SH-99A
	Ahloso	65.7	SH-3	Parclo interchange, SH-3 joins northbound and splits southbound
	Ada	68.3	SH-3	Interchange, SH-3 splits northbound and joins southbound
		71.0	SH-1	SH-1 joins northbound and splits southbound
		72.7	SH-1 / SH-3E	SH-3E joins northbound and splits southbound, SH-1 splits northbound and joins southbound
Seminole		83.7a[›]	SH-39 / SH-56	Western terminus of SH-56, eastern terminus of SH-39
	Bowlegs	98.2	SH-59	SH-59 joins northbound and splits southbound
		100.9	SH-59	SH-59 splits northbound and joins southbound
	Seminole	103.4	US-270 / SH-3E	SH-3E splits northbound and joins northbound
		105.0	SH-9
	Little	112.0	SH-99A
		114.4	I-40	Interchange, I-40 exit 200
Pottawatomie	No major junctions
Lincoln	Prague	121.9	US-62
	Stroud	140.6	SH-66	Possible northern terminus of US-377
		141.0	I-44/Turner Tpk.	Possible northern terminus of US-377
Payne		157.2	SH-33	SH-33 joins northbound and splits southbound
Creek	Drumright	159.1	SH-33	SH-33 splits northbound and joins southbound, SH-99 bypasses Drumright
		161.4[10]b[›]	SH-99B	Northern terminus of SH-99B
		169.6	SH-51
Pawnee	Hallett	176.8	US-412/Cimarron Tpk.	Interchange
		181.4	US-64	US-64 joins northbound and splits southbound
	Cleveland	187.6	US-64	US-64 splits northbound and joins southbound
Osage	Hominy	197.4	SH-20
		212.2	SH-11	SH-11 joins northbound and splits southbound
	Pawhuska	216.6	US-60 / SH-11	US-60 joins northbound and splits southbound, SH-11 splits northbound and joins southbound
		221.6	US-60	US-60 splits northbound and joins southbound
	Bigheart	231.7	SH-10	Western terminus of SH-10
		241.5	K-99	Kansas state line, northern terminus of SH-99
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

• ^ a: Mileages starting at this intersection and continuing north use Stuve mileages adjusted by +0.9 to account for the realignment between Ada and Byng.^[21]
  
• ^ b: Mileages starting at this intersection and continuing north use Stuve mileages adjusted by +0.3 to account for both the Ada–Byng alignment and the Drumright bypass.^[22][23]
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Memorial Dedication and Revision History, SH 48". http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/legal/sh48.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Memorial Dedication and Revision History, SH 99". http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/legal/sh99.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
3. ^ Length computed from that given from Stuve's OKHighways, adjusted to account for realignments made after the page's last update. See junction list for more information.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Official State Map (Map) (2008 ed.). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/2008.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Stuve, Eric. "OK-99". OKHighways. http://www.okhighways.com/ok99.html. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Sanderson, Dale. "End of US-377". USEnds. http://www.usends.com/70-79/377/377.html. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
7. ^ McMahon, Martin. "Oklahoma Terminus: US 377". Roadklahoma. http://roads.tulok.net/roads/u377.html. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
8. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 2008 Control Section Maps (Map). p. Lincoln 41. http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/control-maps/lincoln.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
9. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. City of Stroud (Map). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/incorp-city/stroud.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-24. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 2008 Control Section Maps (Map). p. Creek 19. http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/control-maps/creek.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
11. ^ Oklahoma State Highway Department. Oklahoma State Highway System (Map) (1927 ed.). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1927.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
12. ^ Oklahoma State Highway Department. Oklahoma State Highway System (Map) (1928 ed.). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1928.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
13. ^ Oklahoma State Highway Department. Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (Map) (January 1, 1929 ed.). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1929.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Oklahoma State Highway Department. Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (Map) (December 31, 1931 ed.). http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1931.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
15. ^ Oklahoma Department of Highways. Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (Map) (June 1932 ed.). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1932.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
16. ^ Oklahoma Department of Highways. Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (Map) (June 1944 ed.). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1944.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
17. ^ Oklahoma Department of Highways. Oklahoma 1961 Road Map (Map). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1961.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
18. ^ Oklahoma Department of Highways. Oklahoma-1964 (Map). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1964.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
19. ^ Oklahoma Department of Highways. Map Showing Condition of the State Highway System (Map) (April 1939 ed.). http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/state-maps/pdfs/1939.pdf. 
20. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "Memorial Dedication and Revision History, US 377". http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/legal/us377.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
21. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – Oklahoma State Highway 99 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=OK-3+W&daddr=N+Mississippi+Ave+to:J+a+Richardson+Loop+to:34.941666,-96.682719&hl=en&geocode=FcPhEQIdc3g9-g%3BFYO5EgId7-48-g%3BFXHYEgIdqaM8-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=18&sll=34.942087,-96.681581&sspn=0.002647,0.005681&ie=UTF8&ll=34.759102,-96.643124&spn=0.0849,0.181789&z=13. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
22. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – Oklahoma State Highway 99 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Broadway+St%2FOK-33+E%2FOK-99+N&daddr=35.987452,-96.5839+to:OK-99+N&hl=en&geocode=FXAYJQIdkjU9-g%3B%3BFeVwJQIdvD4--g&mra=dme&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=14&sll=35.99391,-96.593857&sspn=0.041805,0.090895&ie=UTF8&z=14. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
23. ^ Google, Inc. Google Maps – Oklahoma State Highway 99 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Broadway+St%2FOK-33+E%2FOK-99+N&daddr=36.000299,-96.606903+to:OK-99+N&hl=en&geocode=FXAYJQIdkjU9-g%3B%3BFeVwJQIdvD4--g&mra=dme&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=14&sll=35.99391,-96.593857&sspn=0.041805,0.090895&ie=UTF8&z=14. Retrieved 2009-12-23.