Oklahoma State Highway 3

State Highway 3
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	615.0 mi[1][2][3] (989.7 km)
Existed:	1939 – present
Major junctions
West end:	US-287 / US-385 Colorado state line (concurrent with US-287/385)
	Kilpatrick Turnpike near Oklahoma City I‑44 in Oklahoma City I‑40 in Oklahoma City I‑35 in Oklahoma City I‑40 in Shawnee Indian Nation Turnpike in Antlers
East end:	AR 32 at the Arkansas state line
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highways Interstate U.S. Turnpikes ← SH-2 SH-4 →

State Highway 3, also abbreviated as SH-3 or OK-3, is a highway maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Traveling diagonally through Oklahoma, from the Panhandle to the far southeastern corner of the state, SH-3 is the longest state highway in the Oklahoma road system, at a total length of 615 miles (990 km) via SH-3E (see below).

Route description

In the northwest

Highway 3 begins at the Colorado state line 19 mi (31 km) north of Boise City, Oklahoma. At this terminus, it is concurrent with US-287/US-385. It remains concurrent with the two U.S. Routes until reaching Boise City, where it encounters a traffic circle which contains five other highways. After the circle, US-385 splits off, and SH-3 overlaps US-287, US-56, US-64, and US-412, though US-56 and US-287 both split off within the next 8 miles (13 km).

In Guymon, US-64 splits off. At Elmwood, US-270 joins US-412, coming from a concurrency with State Highway 23. SH-3 remains concurrent with US-270 through Watonga. In Seiling, US-183 leaves the concurrency but is quickly replaced by U.S. Highway 281. SH-33 joins the roadbed 20 miles (32 km) later.

SH-3 and SH-33 concurrency between Watonga and Kingfisher.

In Watonga, SH-33 and SH-3 split off from US-270 and US-281. Highways 3 and 33 remain concurrent for 28 more miles, until Kingfisher, where SH-3 joins U.S. Highway 81. It will stay concurrent with US-81 for 13 miles (21 km), through the town of Okarche. Three miles after Okarche, SH-3 leaves US-81. This marks the first point that SH-3 has not been part of a concurrency.

Through Oklahoma City

Beginning at the split from US-81, Highway 3 becomes a major artery in the Oklahoma City highway system, commonly known as the Northwest Expressway because it is a diagonal route and because it serves the northwestern part of the metro area. It skirts the northern limits of El Reno before entering the Oklahoma City limits. The often-congested Northwest Expressway passes through the suburb of Warr Acres and passes close to Lake Hefner.

At the intersection with the Lake Hefner Parkway, SH-3 again re-enters a concurrency. The Lake Hefner Parkway ends very shortly after, and SH-3 becomes concurrent with Interstate 44 through the western side of the city. Near Will Rogers World Airport, Highway 3 transfers to I-240 along the southern side of the city. After I-240 ends, SH-3 is transferred onto I-40 (also carrying US-270), which it remains concurrent with for 16 miles (26 km).

SH-3E/3W split

In Shawnee, SH-3 splits into two highways, SH-3E and SH-3W. SH-3W splits off I-40 onto U.S. Highway 177, along with US-270, at I-40 milemarker 181. It continues along with US-270 and 177 through the west side of Shawnee, and continues south of that city until Tecumseh, where US-270 splits off. South of Asher, Oklahoma, SH-3W leaves US-177 and veers southeast toward Ada.

SH-3E, the longer of the two split routes, was the original routing of Highway 3 before the two highways were split. It remains on I-40 for five miles (8 km) after SH-3W splits off. When it does split off, it soon joins SH-18. It follows a route closer to the center of Shawnee. After leaving Shawnee, it heads southeast toward Seminole. Here, it meets US-377/SH-99. SH-3E merges onto this highway, and they will remain concurrent until after they reach Ada.

In Ada, SH-3E and SH-3W are reunited and become SH-3 once again.

Ada to Atoka

SH-3 intersects US 69/US 75, SH-7, and Bypass SH-3 in Atoka.

SH-3 then becomes part of the Richardson Loop, a freeway around the west and south sides of Ada. Throughout the Richardson Loop, it overlaps SH-1 and US-377/SH-99 at different times. The highway then becomes two-lane once again and heads southeast to the town of Coalgate, where begins an 18-mile (29 km) concurrency with U.S. Highway 75, lasting through Atoka. In Atoka, US-75 splits off to join U.S. Highway 69.

Antlers to Arkansas

Two miles west of Antlers, the highway has an interchange with the Indian Nation Turnpike, and in Antlers it intersects U.S. Highway 271. After reaching the town of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, it turns southward and overlaps US-259 and US-70.

Near Idabel, the highway splits off after being with US-259 for 13 mi (21 km). Twenty-eight miles later, it becomes Highway 32 as it crosses the state line into Arkansas.

History

The current SH-3 was designated on 15 May 1939. The original highway included all of current SH-3 up to Antlers, where it terminated at US-271. It was extended to the Arkansas state line on 4 August 1952. SH-3 ended there concurrent with US-70 and SH-7, near DeQueen, Arkansas. On 7 January 1963, the highway was given its own alignment from near Idabel to Arkansas, taking over that of SH-21, which was eliminated at that time.

From the highway's commissioning to 1976, there was only one fork of SH-3 between Shawnee and Ada, which was the path of current SH-3E. SH-3W and SH-3E were created on 4 October 1976; the new SH-3W took over all of SH-13. Other than minor realignments, the highway remains essentially the same today.^[4]

In the early 1980s, Governor George Nigh was able to obtain $97.1 million to upgrade the highway between Oklahoma City and Colorado, despite opponents labeling the project "the highway to nowhere".^[5] House Concurrent Resolution 1067 labeled the highway as "Governor George Nigh's Northwest Passage." ODOT officially named the highway on 2 February 1981.^[6]

Notes

• SH-3's concurrency with Interstate 44 in Oklahoma City is an example of a wrong-way concurrency - I-44 West is SH-3 East and vice versa.
• SH-3's concurrency with US-70 is also a wrong-way concurrency, as US-70 is signed as going west and SH-3 as going east.
• The SH-3 bypass around Atoka is named the Cecil B. "Bud" Greathouse Bypass. It was designated by ODOT on 4 October 1982.^[7]

SH-3A

Former SH-3A

SH-3 had one lettered spur, SH-3A, which continued the alignment of the Northwest Expressway for two more miles before ending at Interstate 44 near Penn Square Mall. It was originally known as SH-66A, a spur off U.S. Highway 66, which once ran through the area. The combined effect of US-66 being decommissioned and "3A" being a more logical name for an extension of Highway 3 led to the name change. State Highway 3A was decommissioned in 2009.

Junction list

Colorado to Shawnee

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Colorado–Oklahoma state line		0.0	0.0	SH-3 ends US 287 / US 385 continue into Colorado
Cimarron	​	17.6	28.3		US-287	Southern terminus of US-287 concurrency
	Boise City	18.5	29.8		US-56 / US-64 / US-385 / US-412 / SH-325	Traffic circle around Cimarron County Courthouse, eastern terminus of SH-325
	​	20.3	32.7		US-287	Diamond interchange, US-287 exit 21
	​	26.4	42.5		US-56	Eastern terminus of US-56 concurrency
	​	34.1	54.9		SH-171
Texas	Four Corners	53.0	85.3		SH-95	Western terminus of SH-95 concurrency
	​	58.0	93.3		SH-95
	​	76.1	122.5		SH-136	Northern terminus of SH-136 concurrency
	Guymon	80.4	129.4		US-64 / US-412 Truck / SH-3 Truck / SH-136 Truck	Eastern terminus of US-64 concurrency
		81.2	130.7		US-54	Western terminus of US-54 concurrency
		81.6	131.3		US-54	Eastern terminus of US-54 concurrency
		81.6	131.3		SH-136	Southern terminus of SH-136 concurrency
	​	96.2	154.8		SH-94	Southern terminus of SH-94
Beaver	Bryan's Corner	119.2	191.8		US-83
	Elmwood	136.1	219.0		US-270 / SH-23	Western terminus of US-270 concurrency
Harper	​	171.3	275.7		US-283
	May	179.5	288.9		SH-46
Ellis	No major junctions
Woodward	Fort Supply	188.9	304.0		US-183	Northern terminus of US-183 concurrency
	Woodward	202.8	326.4		SH-15	Eastern terminus of SH-15
		204.9	329.8		US-412 / SH-34	Eastern terminus of US-412 concurrency, northern terminus of SH-34 concurrency
	​	208.7	335.9		SH-34	Southern terminus of SH-34 concurrency
	​	217.5	350.0		SH-50	Southern terminus of SH-50
Dewey	​	236.0	379.8		US-183	Southern terminus of US-183 concurrency
	Seiling	238.1	383.2		US-60 / US-281	Northern terminus of US-60 / US-281 concurrency
		238.7	384.2		US-60 / SH-51	Southern terminus of US-60 concurrency, western terminus of SH-51 concurrency
	Hucmac	247.1	397.7		SH-51	Eastern terminus of SH-51 concurrency
Blaine	​	266.9	429.5		SH-33 / SH-58	Western terminus of SH-33 concurrency, southern terminus of SH-58
	Watonga	276.5	445.0		US-270 / US-281 / SH-8	Eastern terminus of US-270 concurrency, Southern terminus of US-281 concurrency
Kingfisher	Kingfisher	304.1	489.4		US-81 / SH-33	Eastern terminus of SH-33 concurrency, Northern terminus of US-81 concurrency
Canadian	​	316.4	509.2		US-81	Trumpet interchange, southern terminus of US-81 concurrency
	Oklahoma City	329.9	530.9		SH-4
		333.5	536.7		Kilpatrick Turnpike	Diamond interchange
Oklahoma		340.4	547.8		SH-74	Diamond interchange, Northern terminus of SH-74 (Lake Hefner Parkway) concurrency
		341.1	548.9		NW 50th Street
		341.9	550.2		I‑44 / SH-66 / SH-74	Stack interchange (I-44 exit 123B), southern terminus of SH-74, Northern terminus of I-44 concurrency
		342.4	551.0	123A	NW 36th Street	Westbound exit only
		343.2	552.3	122	NW 23rd Street
		344.2	553.9	121A–B	NW 10th Street
		345.5	556.0	120A–B	I‑40 / US-270 – Amarillo, Fort Smith
		346.3	557.3	119	SW 15th Street
		347.3	558.9	118	SW 29th Street
		348.1	560.2	117A	SW 44th Street	Signed as exit 117B northbound
		348.6	561.0	116B	SH-152 (Airport Road)	Eastern terminus of SH-152
		349.4	562.3	116A	SW 59th Street
		350.0	563.3	1A	I‑44 / I‑240 / US-62	Southern terminus of I-44 concurrency, western terminus of I-240 / US-62 concurrency, western terminus of I-240
		350.7	564.4	1B	S. May Avenue
		351.7	566.0	1C	S. Penn Avenue	Full name is "Pennsylvania"
		352.7	567.6	2A	S. Western Avenue
		353.2	568.4	2B	S. Walker Avenue
		353.7	569.2	3A	S. Santa Fe Avenue	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		534.0	859.4	3B	Shields Boulevard, Santa Fe Avenue	Eastbound signed as "S. Shields Boulevard" only
		354.7	570.8	4A–B	I‑35 / US-62 east (US-77) – Dallas, Wichita	Eastern terminus of US-62 concurrency
		355.2	571.6	4C	Pole Road	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance, to Crossroads Mall
		355.8	572.6	5	Eastern Avenue
		356.8	574.2	6	Bryant Avenue
		357.8	575.8	7	Sunnylane Road
		358.8	577.4	8	SH-77H south (Sooner Road) - Tinker AFB	Northern terminus of SH-77H
		359.8	579.0	9	Air Depot Boulevard
		361.8	582.3	11	Douglas Boulevard – Midwest City, Tinker AFB	Signed as exits 11A (Douglas Boulevard) and 11B (Midwest City and Tinker AFB) eastbound
		364.9	587.2	14	Anderson Road
		366.8	590.3	165	I‑40 / I‑240 / US-270	Eastern terminus of I-240, western terminus of I-240 / US-270 concurrency
		368.1	592.4	166	Choctaw Road
		371.2	597.4	169	Peebly Road
		374.0	601.9	172	Newalla Road – Harrah
Pottawatomie	McLoud	378.1	608.5	176	SH-102 (McLoud Road)	Western terminus of SH-102 concurrency
	Dale	380.2	611.9	178	SH-102 – Dale, Bethel Acres	Eastern terminus of SH-102 concurrency
	Shawnee	382.9	616.2	181	US-177 / US-270 / SH-3W – Shawnee, Tecumseh	Road separates into SH-3W and SH-3E. SH-3W leaves I-40 here while SH-3E continues along the interstate. Northern terminus of SH-3W and US-177 / US-270 concurrency.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

SH-3E

County	Location	mi[2]	km	Destinations	Notes
Pottawatomie	Shawnee	387.0	622.8	I‑40	Eastern terminus of I-40 concurrency
		389.7	627.2	SH-18	Northern terminus of SH-18 concurrency
		391.7	630.4	SH-18	Southern terminus of SH-18 concurrency
	​	397.6	639.9	SH-9A
	​	398.9	642.0	SH-99A	Western terminus of SH-99A
Seminole	Seminole	406.5	654.2	US-270 / SH-9	Northern terminus of US-270 concurrency
		408.9	658.1	US-270 / US-377 / SH-99	Southern terminus of US-270 concurrency, northern terminus of US-377 / SH-99 concurrency
	​	411.4	662.1	SH-59	Northern terminus of SH-59 concurrency
	Bowlegs	414.1	666.4	SH-59	Southern terminus of SH-59 concurrency
	​	428.5	689.6	SH-39 / SH-56	Eastern terminus of SH-39, western terminus of SH-56
Pontotoc	Ada	439.4	707.1	US-377 / SH-1 / SH-99	Southern terminus of US-377 / SH-99 concurrency, northern terminus of SH-1 concurrency
		440.4	708.8	SH-3W / SH-19	SH-3E merges with SH-3W to form SH-3; interchange, eastern terminus of SH-19.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

SH-3W

County	Location	mi[8]	km	Destinations	Notes
Pottawatomie	Shawnee	387.3	623.3	US-270 Bus. (Kickapoo Spur)	Interchange
		388.8	625.7	US-270 Bus. / SH-18 (Farrall Avenue)	Southern terminus of SH-18, interchange
	Tecumseh	392.4	631.5	Tecumseh	Interchange
		394.6	635.0	US-270 east / SH-9 – Tecumseh, Seminole	Eastbound exit split into US-270 / SH-9 east – Seminole and SH-9 west – Tecumseh, Southern terminus of US-270 concurrency
	Chisney	401.4	646.0	SH-59B	Eastern terminus of SH-59B
	Pearson	406.4	654.0	SH-59
	Asher	412.4	663.7	SH-39
McClain	​	415.1	668.0	US-177 / SH-59	Southern terminus of US-177 / SH-59 concurrency
Pontotoc	​	421.0	677.5	SH-59A	Eastern terminus of SH-59A
	​	431.9	695.1	SH-19 west – Stratford, Pauls Valley	Interchange
	Ada	433.4	697.5	SH-1 / SH-3E / SH-19	SH-3W merges with SH-3E to form SH-3; interchange, eastern terminus of SH-19
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Ada to Arkansas

Note: mileage follows the SH-3E branch.

County	Location	mi[3]	km	Destinations	Notes
Pontotoc	Ada	440.9	709.6	Reeves Road	Interchange, westbound exit only
		441.3	710.2	SH-1 west – Latta, Roff, Sulphur	Interchange
		442.3	711.8	Oak Avenue	Interchange
		443.4	713.6	Kerr Lab Road	Interchange
		444.4	715.2	US-377 / SH-99 – Ada, McAlester	Western terminus of US-377 / SH-99 concurrency, interchange, westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
		445.3	716.6	Stonecipher Boulevard	Interchange
	​	446.2	718.1	US-377 / SH-99 – Fittstown, Tishomingo, Madill	Eastern terminus of US-377 / SH-99 concurrency, interchange
	​	454.9	732.1	Stonewall	Interchange
Coal	Tupelo	461.5	742.7	SH-48
	​	471.1	758.2	US-75	Western terminus of US-75 concurrency
	Coalgate	474.9	764.3	SH-31	Northern terminus of SH-31 concurrency
		475.0	764.4	SH-31	Southern terminus of SH-31 concurrency
		475.4	765.1	SH-43	Western terminus of SH-43
Atoka	Atoka	488.2	785.7	US-69	Northern terminus of US-69 concurrency
		489.6	787.9	US-69 / US-75 / SH-7	Southern terminus of US-69 concurrency, eastern terminus of US-75 concurrency, eastern terminus of SH-7
Pushmataha	Antlers	519.8	836.5	Indian Nation Turnpike	INT exit 16; interchange.
		520.5	837.7	SH-2	Southern terminus of SH-2
		521.5	839.3	US-271	Western terminus of US-271 concurrency
		522.4	840.7	US-271	Eastern terminus of US-271 concurrency
	Rattan	534.2	859.7	SH-93	Northern terminus of SH-93
	Oleta	538.3	866.3	SH-147	Northern terminus of SH-147
McCurtain	​	565.9	910.7	SH-98	Northern terminus of SH-98
	Broken Bow	577.0	928.6	US-70 / US-259	Northern terminus of US-70 / US-259 concurrency
	Idabel	584.8	941.1	US-70	Southern terminus of US-70 concurrency
		586.7	944.2	US-259	Southern terminus of US-259 concurrency
Oklahoma–Arkansas state line		615.0	989.7	AR 32 continues into Arkansas
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. Google (2014-04-27). "SH-3—Colorado to Seiling" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
   Google (2014-04-27). "SH-3—Seiling to Southwest Oklahoma City" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
   Google (2014-04-27). "SH-3—Overlap with I-240" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
   Google (2014-05-13). "SH-3—Overlap with I-40" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
2. Google (2014-05-13). "SH-3E" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
3. Google (2014-05-23). "SH-3—Ada to Idabel" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
   Google (2014-05-23). "SH-3—Idabel to Arkansas" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
4. ODOT Planning & Research Division. "Memorial Dedication & Revision History - SH-3". Retrieved 2006-08-21.
5. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/hcr1067_enr.rtf
6. ODOT Planning & Research Division. "Memorial Dedication & Revision History - SH-3 Northwest Expressway". Retrieved 2007-05-06.
7. ODOT Planning & Research Division. "Memorial Dedication & Revision History - SH-3 Bypass". Retrieved 2007-05-06.
8. Google (2014-05-13). "SH-3W" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2014-05-13.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• SH-3 at OKHighways.com
• SH-3E at OKHighways.com
• SH-3W at OKHighways.com
• SH-3 at Roadklahoma