H. E. Bailey Turnpike

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The H.E. Bailey Turnpike is a toll road in southwestern Oklahoma. The route, opened April 23, 1964, is a four-lane limited access highway, and consists of two sections, which connect Oklahoma City to Lawton and Wichita Falls, Texas. Since 1987, it has been signed as a part of Interstate 44.

The 61.4 mile northern section begins at the junction of I-44 and US 62 north of Newcastle, and ends at multiplexed US 62, US 277 and US 281 8 miles north of Lawton. The exits through the Lawton/Fort Sill metropolitan area are toll free including the main gate of Fort Sill, where I-44 is also locally designated as the Pioneer Expressway. The tolled Turnpike resumes six miles south of Lawton at State Highway 36 (Faxon/Geronimo exit), and the southern section continues for 25.0 miles to US 70, 6 miles north of the Texas state line.

A two-axle vehicle currently pays $4.00 ($3.80 with Pikepass) to drive the full length of the Turnpike. Full toll plazas on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike are located at near the intersection with the H.E. Bailey Norman Spur, southwest of Chickasha and under the overpass at at SH 5 (Walters exit). Unattended ramp toll plazas are located at US 62 (Chickasha/Anadarko exit - northbound exit and southbound entrance only), SH 17 (Elgin/Fletcher exit - northbound exit and southbound entrance only) on the I-44 portion of the turnpike and at SH 76 (Blanchard/Tuttle) on the Norman Spur (see below). Motorists are warned when they reach the toll plazas with signs reading SLOW TOLL GATE and STOP PAY TOLL.

Aside from the mainline, the Turnpike also consists of a 8.2 mile extension near Newcastle also referred to as the Norman Spur, which connects I-44 and SH 4 to SH 9 and provides a route to Norman. Entering from SH 4, a two-axle vehicle currently pays $0.50 ($0.45 with Pikepass) to drive the full length of the spur.

The speed limits on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike are set at a minimum of 40 MPH and maximum of 75 MPH.

There are two concession areas on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, both in the center of the turnpike between the eastbound and westbound lanes. One is located northeast of Chickasha and the other is located a mile north of the Walters toll plaza. Phillips 66 gasoline is sold at both locations and each site includes an EZ-GO convenience store and a McDonald's restaurant. The Walters concession area also includes an official state tourist information center. There are also rest areas along the turnpike with picnic tables and trash barrels but no restroom facilities.

Listing of entrances/exits on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and Norman Spur include:

1 Norman Spur
2 I-44: Newcastle to north of Lawton
3 I-44: Lawton-Fort Sill metropolitan area (16-mile free road)
4 I-44: South of Lawton to Randlett
5 I-44: Randlett to Texas state line (six-mile free road)
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Norman Spur

--US 62 and SH 9, BLANCHARD/NEWCASATLE --SH 76, BLANCHARD/TUTTLE

--I-44 (main turnpike line), OKLAHOMA CITY/LAWTON; and SH 4, TUTTLE/MUSTANG.

[edit] I-44: Newcastle to north of Lawton

--US 62, NEWCASTLE (OKC terminus)

--H.E. Bailey Spur, NORMAN; and S.H. 4, TUTTLE/MUSTANG

--US 62, CHICKASHA/ANADARKO

--US 81, CHICKASHA/DUNCAN

--SH 65/Whitfield Road, STERLING/FLETCHER/CYRIL (partial interchange, exit westbound and entrance eastbound only)

--SH 17, ELGIN/FLETCHER

--US 62 East/US 277-281 North, ELGIN/APACHE/ANADARKO (partial interchange, exit eastbound and entrance westbound only - LAST FREE EXIT for eastbound travelers on I-44).

For the next 16 miles through the Lawton/Fort Sill area, I-44 is designated as a free road. The toll road resumes about six miles south of Lawton at State Highway 36.

[edit] I-44: Lawton-Fort Sill metropolitan area (16-mile free road)

--SH 49, MEDICINE PARK/CARNEGIE (Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge)

--FORT SILL KEY GATE

--FORT SILL GATE 2 (Gate closed, no longer accessible)

--US 62 West, CACHE/ALTUS & ROGERS LANE

--CACHE ROAD & U.S. 281 BUSINESS (2nd Street-Downtown Lawton)

--GORE BOULEVARD (Downtown Lawton-Cameron University-Fort Sill Indian Hospital)

--SH 7, LEE BOULEVARD/DUNCAN

--US 281 Business (11th Street-Lawton Municipal Airport)

[edit] I-44: South of Lawton to Randlett

--SH 36, FAXON/GERONIMO (LAST FREE EXIT for westbound travelers on I-44)

--SH 5, WALTERS (toll plaza underneath overpass)

--US 70, RANDLETT (LAST FREE EXIT for eastbound traffic on I-44).

[edit] I-44: Randlett to Texas state line (six-mile free road)

--SH 36, GRANDFIELD

For the next 21 miles from Randlett across the Red River bridge at Burkburnett, Texas to US 287 near downtown Wichita Falls, I-44 continues as a free road.