The John Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma is to benefit from a $375 million improvement project, part of a wider programme of works to improve key highway links in the state. The 50km John Kilpatrick Turnpike opened to traffic in 1991 and is the busiest route in Oklahoma, carrying an average of around 76,000 vehicles during the week, spiking at up to 99,000 vehicles/day on Fridays.
The highway, I-344, carries a high percentage of heavy trucks and provides a key route for goods transportation. There has been an increase in truck traffic using the Kilpatrick Turnpike since bridges along the route were improved some years ago. The highway upgrade work will see the road being widened to boost capacity, with new interchanges being built to improve traffic flow.
The route runs around Oklahoma City from the Interstate 44/Turner Turnpike and Interstate 35 to Interstate 40 between the Mustang and Sara roads. The west side of this four-lane toll road, between Wilshire/Northwest Expressway and Highway 66, has seen the highest growth in traffic volumes during the past 10 years.
The project is being managed by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and forms part of its 15-year ACCESS Program, which is now expected to cost over $8 billion. This represents a considerable increase from the $5 billion envisaged when the ACCESS program was conceived. The jump in the pricetag has attracted criticism but has been affected by factors such as the increase in the cost of materials and labour following the Covid 19 pandemic. The work will be paid for through tolls and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has pointed out that its toll rates are lower than many other US states.
