Ultimate Interstates:Corridor 45

Corridor 45 Overview

Eastern Kansas Detail Map

Quad State Detail Map

Central Oklahoma Detail Map

Pittsburg, KS Bypass

Ultimate Interstate 45 is a proposed interstate corridor that extends I-45 north from Dallas, Texas to Overland Park, Kansas via the Tulsa Metro area.

Current I-45 Status and Development

Interstate 45 is a major Interstate Highway that is currently located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. Considering I-45's rather short length as a transcontinental interstate corridor (due to its x5 numbering) it is of vital importance since it connects the major metropolitan areas Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston/Galveston. Discussion in the past of extending I-45 northward has not taken alot of traction however existing corridor development to the north would make upgrading the corridor northward more favorable, Much of US-75 north of Dallas is already grade separated expressway and at or near interstate standards. Moving up into Oklahoma however, there are some sections of US-75 and US-69 that are not yet at interstate standards but there are many upgraded expressway and freeway sections that would allow for possible up conversion to interstate standards with some bypasses needed around some cities. Further north in Kansas some sections would need to be constructed on new terrain while others would improve existing 2 and 4 lane highways. North of Fort Scott however, the US-69 highway is already at interstate standards.

Indyroads Recommended Routing

The recommended routing as shown in the maps would extend I-45 northward along unsigned I-345 (replacing it) and would continue north along US-75 toward the Oklahoma Border where it picks up US-69 (in Denison, TX). The route would then continue to follow US-69/75 northward to Atoka, OK. From there the highway would continue along the US-69 routing through McAlester and Muskogee, OK ultimately reaching I-44 (Will Rogers Turnpike) near Big Cabin, OK. The route would follow along I-44 for approximately 30 miles to Miami, OK. From there the route would follow along or near OK-69A towards Picher, OK and Baxter Springs, KS, following near US-69 ALT and then north along or near US-69 toward Pittsburg and Ft Scott, KS bypassing both cities. From there it would continue up the US-69 freeway north to Overland Park, KS terminating at I-35 in Lenexa, KS.

Auxiliary Routes

Ultimate Interstate 145 is an auxiliary interstate route that would connect Tulsa, OK to I-45 near McAlester, OK using the northern section of the Indian Nation Turnpike (OK-75) and continuing north along the US-75 freeway/expressway into Tulsa, OK terminating at I-244.

Purpose and Need

Ideally offering this connection would provide a better through route to Kansas City, St. Louis, and the northern plains cities that currently must use the existing I-35 corridor. Additionally, many cities along the corridor would benefit from the positive economic impact of having a major north south interstate corridor passing through. This corridor, in conjunction with the other planned interstate corridors, such as I-69, I-49, and I-42 (OK-AR)) would improve interconnectability as well providing alternatives for long distance traffic to have more direct access to some destinations, while bypassing other congested metro areas resulting in energy savings and less pollution.

Alternate Routings

Alternate routings are represented by the dotted blue or magenta lines.

• Alternative Routing 1
  • Follows Ultimate Interstate 145 from McAlester to Tulsa (Indian Nation Tpk/US-75)
  • Follows I-44 and rejoins Ultimate Interstate 45 at Miami, OK
• Alternative Routing 2
  • Follows Ultimate Interstate 145 from McAlester to Tulsa (Indian Nation Tpk/US-75)
  • Follows US-169 north of Tulsa to Iola, KS then heads west near US-54 and rejoins Ultimate Interstate 45 at Ft Scott, KS
• Alternative Routing 3
  • Follows Ultimate Interstate 145 from McAlester to Tulsa (Indian Nation Tpk/US-75)
  • Follows along US-169 north of Tulsa into Kansas then terminates at I-35 near Olathe, KS
• Alternative Routing 1A
  • Follows Ultimate Interstate 145 from McAlester to Tulsa (Indian Nation Tpk/US-75)
  • Diverts to a possible alternate routing near Okmulgee, OK traversing along a new expressway alignment to the Creek Turnpike (OK-364) near Broken Arrow, OK
  • From there it Follows the Creek Turnpike (OK-345) northward until it reaches I-44 east of Tulsa.
  • From there it Follows I-44 and rejoins Ultimate Interstate 45 at Miami, OK

Proposed Improvements

Pittsburg Bypass

US-HWY 69 is being studied for improvements to the highway in Crawford County. Studies include US-69 from 4 miles south of Fort Scott to US-400 south of Pittsburg. These studies consist of two segments.

The first segment will upgrade the current 4-lane expressway to full freeway standards by grade separating all crossings and placing interchanges and frontage roads at key points along the way.

The second segment is studying the construction of a freeway bypass route from Alma south to the Crawford/Cherokee county line. This bypass consists of 4 main alternatives and was almost scheduled to move on with the west alternative, however due to feedback from the cities of Alma, Frontenac, and Pittsburg Kansas citing concerns about the impact of the western alignment of the route, the state is going back to the study phase to consider different possible alternatives. the cities are concerned about possible negative economic impacts of moving the highway further away. These cities prefer a more centralized alternative instead. The map to the right shows the 4 potential alternatives considered. However, it remains to be seen in the next 2 years what will come out of the study going forward.

Fort Scott to Arma

Upgrades were completed along US69 from the K-7 junction south of Fort Scott to Arma constructing the 2-lane segment into a 4-lane expressway with at grade intersections spaced 1 mile apart. Plans also call for the eventual upgrade of the corridor to full freeway standards with limited access grade separation and property access maintained by the use of frontage roads to connect to interchanges along the corridor

The proposed upgrades to freeway standard include:

• Connect to the planned Pittsburg Bypass (Crawford County Corridor) south of the 680th Ave intersection
• Upgrade 680th Ave to a standard diamond interchange
• Close access at 690th Ave - Convert to cul-de-sac/access via adjoining roads
• Grade separation at 700th Ave
• Upgrade 710th Ave to a standard diamond interchange
• Grade separation at 720th Ave
• Close access at 730th Ave - Convert to cul-de-sac/access via adjoining roads
• Close access at Birch Rd - Convert to cul-de-sac/access via adjoining roads
• Grade separation at Cavalry Rd
• Close access at Deer Rd - Convert to cul-de-sac/access via frontage/adjoining roads
• Upgrade Eagle Rd to a standard diamond interchange
• Close access at Fern Rd - Access via frontage road
• Grand Rd access would remain at grade (likely to be upgraded in the future or due to long range planning for a Fort Scott bypass)

Officially the state opted to move forward with the upgradable expressway for the time being due to the expressway meeting the traffic needs for the foreseeable future. However right of way has been preserved for the ultimate upgrade of the highway to full freeway standards possibly by 2040.