Oklahoma State Highway 115
Encyclopedia
State Highway 115 is a 57.2 mile (92 km) long state highway
in western Oklahoma
, passing through Comanche, Kiowa, and Washita Counties as well as the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The highway has no lettered spur routes.
Most of the highway was established in 1957 as a gravel roadway. Between then and 1967, it was gradually paved. A portion of the highway through the Wichita Mountains
was removed from the route in the mid-1960s, but was re-added in 1984.
. It goes due north from here, passing through a remote part of Fort Sill
before reaching the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. After entering the refuge, SH-115 is unsigned
, appearing only as a nameless road. The road intersects State Highway 49 at the Cache Wye. Northbound motorists that continue straight at the intersection will be put on westbound SH-49; a right turn must be made to continue on northbound SH-115. SH-49 also turns at the Cache Wye, forming an effective concurrency
with SH-49 (though neither highway has any signage). The two highways turn northeast, then curve back around to the east. SH-115 then splits off to the north, while SH-49 continues a general eastbound heading. SH-115 passes just east of Mt. Roosevelt and Mt. Sheridan before exiting the refuge, whereupon it regains its usual state highway signage.
After leaving the refuge, SH-115 passes through the town of Meers
. For the remainder of its time in Comanche County
, the highway follows an irregular northwest heading as it passes through the Wichita Mountains
. Through the mountains, its winding route keeps the speed limit at 55 miles per hour (88.5 km/h). Just before crossing into Kiowa County
, it runs alongside Saddle Mountain. It then crosses the county line and passes through the town of Saddle Mountain
. Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town, it overlaps SH-19 for one mile (1.6 km). Three miles (4.8 km) north of the split, SH-115 turns due west for one mile (1.8 km), crossing over Saddle Mountain Creek. The highway then turns back to the north; around 9.5 miles (15.3 km) north of this curve, it intersects SH-9. SH-115 turns west along SH-9 for one mile (1.6 km) into Mountain View
. After splitting away from SH-9 and leaving Mountain View, the highway crosses the Washita River
into Washita County
.
Approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Mountain View, SH-115 turns east for one mile (1.8 km) before resuming a due north course. The highway bridges Spring Creek, a tributary of the Washita River, then curves to the northeast. After turning back to the north, the road passes through Cowden, where it crosses Gyp Creek. Three miles (4.8 km) north of Cowden, it ends at SH-152
at a location called Cowden Junction.
and followed the remainder of SH-49's present day routing.
The majority of SH-115, the entire extent from the SH-49 junction in the National Wildlife Refuge to Cowden Junction, was commissioned in 1957. As originally added to the system, only the portion of highway between the northern SH-19 junction and the Washita River bridge was paved. The remainder of the route, comprising the entirety of its route within Comanche and Washita Counties, was gravel. The section of SH-49 connecting to Cache to the refuge was renumbered to be part of SH-115 in 1962, giving the highway the same basic routing that it has today. The remaining gravel portions of highway were paved between 1965 and 1967.
In 1964, the portion of gravel roadway through the Wichita Mountains between Meers and the Comanche–Kiowa County line was removed from SH-115. The SH-115 designation would not be restored to this section of highway until 1984, by which time it had been paved.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in western Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, passing through Comanche, Kiowa, and Washita Counties as well as the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The highway has no lettered spur routes.
Most of the highway was established in 1957 as a gravel roadway. Between then and 1967, it was gradually paved. A portion of the highway through the Wichita Mountains
Wichita Mountains
The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The mountains are a northwest-southeast trending series of rocky promontories, many capped by 540 million-year old granite. These were exposed and rounded by weathering during the Permian Period...
was removed from the route in the mid-1960s, but was re-added in 1984.
Route description
State Highway 115 begins at an interchange with U.S. Highway 62 (a freeway at this point) near CacheCache, Oklahoma
Cache is a city in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2010 census. It is an exurb included in the Lawton, Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It goes due north from here, passing through a remote part of Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
before reaching the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. After entering the refuge, SH-115 is unsigned
Unsigned highway
An unsigned highway is a highway that has been assigned a route number, but does not bear conventional road markings that would normally be used to identify the route with that number...
, appearing only as a nameless road. The road intersects State Highway 49 at the Cache Wye. Northbound motorists that continue straight at the intersection will be put on westbound SH-49; a right turn must be made to continue on northbound SH-115. SH-49 also turns at the Cache Wye, forming an effective concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with SH-49 (though neither highway has any signage). The two highways turn northeast, then curve back around to the east. SH-115 then splits off to the north, while SH-49 continues a general eastbound heading. SH-115 passes just east of Mt. Roosevelt and Mt. Sheridan before exiting the refuge, whereupon it regains its usual state highway signage.
After leaving the refuge, SH-115 passes through the town of Meers
Meers, Oklahoma
Meers is a small town located on State Highway 115 in Comanche County, Oklahoma, in the foothills of the Wichita Mountains. Founded as a gold mining town in 1901, it was named for mine operator Andrew J. Meers...
. For the remainder of its time in Comanche County
Comanche County, Oklahoma
Comanche County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Built on former reservation lands of the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache in Indian Territory, Comanche County was open for settlement on August 16, 1901 by lottery. The region has three cities and seven towns as well as the Fort Sill...
, the highway follows an irregular northwest heading as it passes through the Wichita Mountains
Wichita Mountains
The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The mountains are a northwest-southeast trending series of rocky promontories, many capped by 540 million-year old granite. These were exposed and rounded by weathering during the Permian Period...
. Through the mountains, its winding route keeps the speed limit at 55 miles per hour (88.5 km/h). Just before crossing into Kiowa County
Kiowa County, Oklahoma
Kiowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 10,227. Its county seat is Hobart.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of . is land and is water....
, it runs alongside Saddle Mountain. It then crosses the county line and passes through the town of Saddle Mountain
Saddle Mountain, Oklahoma
Saddle Mountain is an unincorporated community in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, United States, along State Highway 115. The Saddle Mountain Post Office existed from January 2, 1902, until May 31, 1955. It was named for the Saddle Mountain Indian School...
. Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town, it overlaps SH-19 for one mile (1.6 km). Three miles (4.8 km) north of the split, SH-115 turns due west for one mile (1.8 km), crossing over Saddle Mountain Creek. The highway then turns back to the north; around 9.5 miles (15.3 km) north of this curve, it intersects SH-9. SH-115 turns west along SH-9 for one mile (1.6 km) into Mountain View
Mountain View, Oklahoma
Mountain View is a town in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 795 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mountain View is located at ....
. After splitting away from SH-9 and leaving Mountain View, the highway crosses the Washita River
Washita River
The Washita River is a river in Texas and Oklahoma, United States. The river is long and terminates into Lake Texoma in Johnston County , Oklahoma and the Red River.-Geography:...
into Washita County
Washita County, Oklahoma
Washita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,508. Its county seat is New Cordell. It was formerly located in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma....
.
Approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Mountain View, SH-115 turns east for one mile (1.8 km) before resuming a due north course. The highway bridges Spring Creek, a tributary of the Washita River, then curves to the northeast. After turning back to the north, the road passes through Cowden, where it crosses Gyp Creek. Three miles (4.8 km) north of Cowden, it ends at SH-152
State Highway 152 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 152 is a state highway running through west-central Oklahoma. At a length of 149.6 miles , it is the longest three-digit state highway in Oklahoma. It runs from State Highway 152 at the Texas State Line to Interstate 44 near Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City...
at a location called Cowden Junction.
History
The first portion of what would become SH-115 was added to the state highway system in 1939 as part of SH-49. At this time, SH-49 began at US-62 in Cache proper (US-62 had not yet been shifted to the freeway north of town), entered the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, then emerged near Medicine ParkMedicine Park, Oklahoma
Medicine Park is a town in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States, situated in the Wichita Mountains near the entrance to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Medicine Park has a long history as a vintage cobblestone resort town. Medicine Park is also located near the city of Lawton and Fort...
and followed the remainder of SH-49's present day routing.
The majority of SH-115, the entire extent from the SH-49 junction in the National Wildlife Refuge to Cowden Junction, was commissioned in 1957. As originally added to the system, only the portion of highway between the northern SH-19 junction and the Washita River bridge was paved. The remainder of the route, comprising the entirety of its route within Comanche and Washita Counties, was gravel. The section of SH-49 connecting to Cache to the refuge was renumbered to be part of SH-115 in 1962, giving the highway the same basic routing that it has today. The remaining gravel portions of highway were paved between 1965 and 1967.
In 1964, the portion of gravel roadway through the Wichita Mountains between Meers and the Comanche–Kiowa County line was removed from SH-115. The SH-115 designation would not be restored to this section of highway until 1984, by which time it had been paved.