Southern Terminus: Keystone Expressway (US-64/US-412),
129th W Ave Exit, one mile west of the OK-97/OK-51 exit
View from the southern K.E. frontage road, looking north across the 129th W. Ave bridge. The newly-paved section beyond the bridge is the new OK-97T, a three-mile truck route designed to avoid the steep and winding OK-97, part of which runs through residential areas. Prior to 17 January 2003, when this route was opened, the bridge above was 129th W. Ave (the exits were simply an easy way to get from one frontage road to the other)
(click on any of the above pictures for a larger version)
Upper Left: from the end of the westbound K.E. off-ramp. A junction sign can be seen on the frontage road itself.
Upper Right: the first (for that matter, the only) assurance sign northbound. Since this is essentially a truck route around Sand Springs and this part of road goes uphill at a pretty steep angle, there are two northbound lanes for the first mile, but only one southbound lane.
Bottom row: left-to-right, approaching the southern terminus from the north. There are currently no 'End' signs at either terminus, but keep in mind this is a brand new road, only one day old when these pictures were taken. Also note the incorrect junctions signs: US-412 is not mentioned, although OK-51--which actually splits off from the expressway and heads south of the Arkansas River one mile east of this point--is.
Northern Terminus: OK-97, north of Sand Springs
The orange barrels signify the northern end of OK-97T. From this point OK-97 takes over the road in a slight rerouting of the parent (the old road is off to the right). Turn right at the barrels and you're on southbound OK-97 (temporarily closed for some reconstruction, hence the barrels)
Left: a southbound view of the spot where OK-97 turns
off the old road onto the new one.
Right: a late-afternoon reverse shot of the intersection in the larger picture above. Southbound OK-97 now turns on the road to the left, and 97T takes over.
Pictures taken 18 January 2003, the day after the road was open to the public.
View from the southern K.E. frontage road, looking north across the 129th W. Ave bridge. The newly-paved section beyond the bridge is the new OK-97T, a three-mile truck route designed to avoid the steep and winding OK-97, part of which runs through residential areas. Prior to 17 January 2003, when this route was opened, the bridge above was 129th W. Ave (the exits were simply an easy way to get from one frontage road to the other)
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(click on any of the above pictures for a larger version)
Upper Left: from the end of the westbound K.E. off-ramp. A junction sign can be seen on the frontage road itself.
Upper Right: the first (for that matter, the only) assurance sign northbound. Since this is essentially a truck route around Sand Springs and this part of road goes uphill at a pretty steep angle, there are two northbound lanes for the first mile, but only one southbound lane.
Bottom row: left-to-right, approaching the southern terminus from the north. There are currently no 'End' signs at either terminus, but keep in mind this is a brand new road, only one day old when these pictures were taken. Also note the incorrect junctions signs: US-412 is not mentioned, although OK-51--which actually splits off from the expressway and heads south of the Arkansas River one mile east of this point--is.
Not only is this a faster route around Sand Springs,
it's also very scenic. This shot overlooking the road, taken about halfway
along the route, looks southeat back towards Sand Springs. In the distance
you can make out the Keystone Expressway, on its way towards downtown Tulsa.
Northern Terminus: OK-97, north of Sand Springs
The orange barrels signify the northern end of OK-97T. From this point OK-97 takes over the road in a slight rerouting of the parent (the old road is off to the right). Turn right at the barrels and you're on southbound OK-97 (temporarily closed for some reconstruction, hence the barrels)
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Right: a late-afternoon reverse shot of the intersection in the larger picture above. Southbound OK-97 now turns on the road to the left, and 97T takes over.
Pictures taken 18 January 2003, the day after the road was open to the public.