U.S. Route 75 Alternate (Beggs–Sapulpa, Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
U.S. 75 Alternate is a 30.15 miles (48.5 km) highway near Tulsa
. The southern terminus is at U.S. Highway 75 and SH-16 east of Beggs
. The northern terminus is signed at State Highway 66 and State Highway 97 in Sapulpa
. However, the highway continues unsigned
along SH-66, ending at the north terminus of the Turner Turnpike
, where SH-66 merges onto the free portion of I-44. It runs parallel to US-75 for its entire length.
US-75 ALT follows the route of US-75 prior to the construction of the Okmulgee Beeline and its subsequent designation as US-75 in 1959.
on a due north course. The highway crosses into Creek County
, then curves to the northeast for about 1 miles (1.6 km) before returning to a northerly course through Mounds
. After passing through Mounds, US-75 ALT follows a route a few degrees west of due north, bringing it to the town of Kiefer
, where it serves as the western terminus of SH-67.
From Kiefer, the highway turns northwest. The highway bridges Polecat Creek as it turns west to enter the city of Sapulpa
. The route then turns back to the north as it gets closer the city's core. The highway intersects SH-117 in about the center of town. The road then intersects SH-33 and SH-66, while the mainline becomes SH-97. At this intersection, signage indicating the north end of US-75 ALT is posted.
Officially, however, US-75 ALT continues onward from here, turning right and following SH-66 through the east part of Sapulpa. This section of US-75 ALT is signed exclusively as SH-66. The road parallels I-44, the Turner Turnpike
. The highways pass under the Creek Turnpike
as well. Finally, as the Turner Turnpike comes to an end and I-44 transitions into a free Interstate, SH-66 merges onto the freeway. US-75 ALT ends at this point, just south of the Creek–Tulsa County
line.
and Tulsa, was built. On August 28, 1959, US-75 was moved onto the new highway, and US-75 ALT was designated in its place.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. The southern terminus is at U.S. Highway 75 and SH-16 east of Beggs
Beggs, Oklahoma
Beggs is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,364 at the 2000 census. Beggs was named for C.H. Beggs, vice president of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.-Geography:...
. The northern terminus is signed at State Highway 66 and State Highway 97 in Sapulpa
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census...
. However, the highway continues 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...
along SH-66, ending at the north terminus of the Turner Turnpike
Turner Turnpike
The Governor Roy J. Turner Turnpike is a toll road in central Oklahoma, connecting its two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It was authorized by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1947 and opened in May, 1953, it is the oldest of the state's ten turnpikes. The route is signed as Interstate 44 for...
, where SH-66 merges onto the free portion of I-44. It runs parallel to US-75 for its entire length.
US-75 ALT follows the route of US-75 prior to the construction of the Okmulgee Beeline and its subsequent designation as US-75 in 1959.
Route description
US-75 Alternate begins where SH-16 crosses US-75 east of Beggs. West of this intersection, US-75 ALT is signed along with SH-16. The two highways continue west into the city of Beggs, where the partnership ends. US-75 ALT turns north, passing through Beggs, and after leaving the city, rural areas of Okmulgee CountyOkmulgee County, Oklahoma
Okmulgee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 39,685. Its county seat is Okmulgee.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,819 km²...
on a due north course. The highway crosses into Creek County
Creek County, Oklahoma
Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 69,967. Its county seat is Sapulpa.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, then curves to the northeast for about 1 miles (1.6 km) before returning to a northerly course through Mounds
Mounds, Oklahoma
Mounds is a town in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. Mounds is located just south of Tulsa; the population was 1,153 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mounds is located at ....
. After passing through Mounds, US-75 ALT follows a route a few degrees west of due north, bringing it to the town of Kiefer
Kiefer, Oklahoma
Kiefer is a town in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,026 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kiefer is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, where it serves as the western terminus of SH-67.
From Kiefer, the highway turns northwest. The highway bridges Polecat Creek as it turns west to enter the city of Sapulpa
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census...
. The route then turns back to the north as it gets closer the city's core. The highway intersects SH-117 in about the center of town. The road then intersects SH-33 and SH-66, while the mainline becomes SH-97. At this intersection, signage indicating the north end of US-75 ALT is posted.
Officially, however, US-75 ALT continues onward from here, turning right and following SH-66 through the east part of Sapulpa. This section of US-75 ALT is signed exclusively as SH-66. The road parallels I-44, the Turner Turnpike
Turner Turnpike
The Governor Roy J. Turner Turnpike is a toll road in central Oklahoma, connecting its two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It was authorized by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1947 and opened in May, 1953, it is the oldest of the state's ten turnpikes. The route is signed as Interstate 44 for...
. The highways pass under the Creek Turnpike
Creek Turnpike
The Creek Turnpike is a partial beltway as a toll road around southern and eastern Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is long; its northern terminus is at the Will Rogers Turnpike, while the western terminus is at the Turner Turnpike...
as well. Finally, as the Turner Turnpike comes to an end and I-44 transitions into a free Interstate, SH-66 merges onto the freeway. US-75 ALT ends at this point, just south of the Creek–Tulsa County
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 603,403. Its county seat is Tulsa.-History of Tulsa County:The history of Tulsa County greatly overlaps the history of the city of Tulsa...
line.
History
US-75 ALT was the route of US-75 before the "Okmulgee Beeline", the expressway/freeway between PrestonPreston, Oklahoma
Preston is a small community located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. The post office was established December 13, 1909. It was named for an Okmulgee oilman, Harry Preston....
and Tulsa, was built. On August 28, 1959, US-75 was moved onto the new highway, and US-75 ALT was designated in its place.