When was I-44 (through NW OKC) completed?

[Pete]

Does anybody remember when the section of I-44 that runs along the old Route 66 corridor and out to I-35 in the NW part of town was completed?

Seems like the section near Penn Square was finished around 1977? Does that sound right?

[ms7168]

I can tell you this much. I left Oklahoma in April 1980 and returned in October 1981. When I left they were working on it. When I returned it was open and completed. So I would say sometime in late 1980 or early 1981.

[NikonNurse]

I used to play on the highway before it was opened....the stretch that runs beside Will Rogers Park..It was late 70's early 80s...

[OKCnBA]

I seem to remember a TV commercial in the early 80s by one of the auto dealerships at 39th & May, where they declared "Disaster has struck at 39th & May", or some such, using that as a pitch for yet another auto dealership sale. Might have been 1981?

[DelCamino]

I remember coming down for college orientation, summer of '78, trying to find the House of Chan at 1-44 and Penn, and it was complete then.

[Kerry]

According this story it was built in the 1950s

http://newsok.com/article/3163129/?print=1

[mburlison]

It was done before 79, I remember my last year at OSU it was great to go from NW 23rd and Ann Arbor area to I-35 without it taking more time to do that than the rest of the way to Stillwater. Gosh I don't miss that mess at all ! I can remember the berms for the I-44 / I-40 interchange, before the ramps and pavement came in, a lot of people rode their bikes out there... took lots of years to get the right of ways and move houses and all for the stretch between I-40 and NW Expressway. Remember how NW Expressway area of I-44 was at same grade as the Expressway, then they 'went under' when they started building the Hefner Parkway. That area of I-44 along those on and off ramps used to be treacherous in ice weather w/ those huge bar ditches on either side (before the Hefner Parkway). House of Chan was mentioned, back in its heydey, that was sure nice place to go... I saw that Lady that used to own it a few years ago at the Lotus Mandarin at Sunnylane & SW 29th. (Off topic, but if you like the Lotus Mandarin, one of their former cooks owns/operates the Tapei Kitchen at 50th and NW Macarthur).

[venture]

All you ever wanted to know:

Interstate 44 @ Interstate-Guide.com

Kerry - I-44 use to end where it joins I-35 in North OKC...it was extended much later.

[MikeOKC]

Broadway Extension to I-35 was open years earlier than the highway that runs westbound from Broadway to old Grand Blvd and south to I-40. That portion opened in the late '70s, early '80s.

[Pete]

Just found an article in the Oklahoman archives that states the west portion (from near Airport road to NW 39th) opened in 1976.

It also said the bridges over Belle Isle Lake (Penn Square Area) were to be finished by 1977 and that the whole probject (from 39th & Drexel to I-35) would be complete in 1981.

If I recall correctly, even though there was highway between Broadway Extension and I-35, it was not up to interstate standards and that was part of the project that lasted until 1981.

[Kerry]

I am glad you found some documentation - I have worn Google out.

[bluedogok]

Just found an article in the Oklahoman archives that states the west portion (from near Airport road to NW 39th) opened in 1976.

It also said the bridges over Belle Isle Lake (Penn Square Area) were to be finished by 1977 and that the whole probject (from 39th & Drexel to I-35) would be complete in 1981.

If I recall correctly, even though there was highway between Broadway Extension and I-35, it was not up to interstate standards and that was part of the project that lasted until 1981.

That sounds about right, I know my dad worked on the I-44/I-35 interchange and it was the last segment completed. I remember playing around where the road goes through around 16th when I was in Jr. High and it was open by the time that I started high school in 1979.

[Martin]

what did this look like before? i'm guessing that the roadbed has been there for years as part of route 66, but was at grade... did it take the same path? did it have intersections with stopsigns/stoplights? were many buildings/houses removed? set me straight!

-M

[Generals64]

In 1982-83 I worked at 63rd/N.W. Highway. In May of '83 they closed off the area at 39th st. and began the expansion. Watched them move the houses around there and had to go at the 39th st. exit to get to work. A lot of the excess dirt was used for the Broadway extension (235) and they started dumping it in late '83....

[metro]

According this story it was built in the 1950s

http://newsok.com/article/3163129/?print=1

According to posters in this thread, it was built in the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Sounds like the project engineers must have been driving a DeLorean at 88mph!

[Pete]

what did this look like before? i'm guessing that the roadbed has been there for years as part of route 66, but was at grade... did it take the same path? did it have intersections with stopsigns/stoplights? were many buildings/houses removed? set me straight!

Yes, this was always the old Route 66 and most of it looked like 39th west of Portland. I believe it was divided but had lots of lights.

And yes, there was some destruction to make way for the expanded interstate, mainly between Drexel and what was then the Classen Circle.

As mentioned, the portion from Broadway Extension to I-35 was much more highway-like but still had a few lights and was not up to interstate standards.

[Martin]

interesting... i have a tough time picturing that area without the huge expressway.

i was born in '77, so the only major addition that sticks out in my mind is i-235.

-M

[jbrown84]

I had no idea that it was the path of the old Route 66. Where did it run past Belle Isle? Obviously the bridge is new.

[ms7168]

They elevated it. The old road is still there beneath the bridge. Was kind of neat the way they did it.

[jbrown84]

I thought it was a big concrete ditch beneath the bridge.