I-44/Turner Turnpike widening project on SH-66 in Wellston begins Sept. 3

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) officials announced on Friday, SH-66 in Wellston is set to close both directions Tuesday for up to a year as part of I-44/Turner Turnpike bridge widening project.

Drivers can expect the closures between SH-102 and US-177 in Lincoln County.

OTA says, eastbound and westbound SH-66 will be closed in both directions at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, between the off-ramps for the I-44/Turner Turnpike (mm 158) in Wellston. The reconstructing and widening will take place on the I-44/Turner Turnpike bridge over SH-66 on the east side of Wellston.

Drivers should expect traffic to be shifted as the detour will keep I-44/Turner Turnpike open to four lanes while the $48 million bridge reconstruction begins, according to OTA.

Local traffic should expect to be directed by signage to a detour route on county roads that is for local traffic only.

I-44/Turner Turnpike traffic exiting to Wellston should know:

• Westbound I-44/Turner Turnpike traffic heading to Wellston may take the westbound off-ramp, which will be just past the closure, and continue on westbound SH-66. Westbound off-ramp traffic will not be able to turn onto eastbound SH-66.
• Eastbound I-44/Turner Turnpike traffic trying to reach Wellston will be detoured from eastbound SH-66 to southbound US-177 to westbound US-62 to northbound SH-102 to eastbound SH-66.
  SH-66 motorists on the west side of Wellston wanting to head east must use the state highway detour of southbound SH-102 to eastbound US-62 to northbound US-177 to SH-66 or to the eastbound I-44/Turner Turnpike on-ramp.
• Route 66 is expected to reopen to traffic by fall 2025, weather permitting.

Route 66 is expected to reopen to traffic by Fall 2025, weather permitting, says OTA.

For the latest real-time traffic information check www.oktraffic.org.