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| U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
| State | OK |
| Type | US |
| Route | 62 |
| Length mi | 402.30 |
| Established | 1930s |
| Direction a | West |
| Terminus a | Hobart |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus b | Fort Smith |
| Counties | Kiowa County; Washita County; Caddo County; Canadian County; Oklahoma County; Lincoln County; Okfuskee County; Hughes County; Pontotoc County; Pittsburg County; McIntosh County; Muskogee County; Sequoyah County |
U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma segment of U.S. Highway 62, traversing west–east across the state from Hobart near the Panhandle to the Arkansas River crossing into Fort Smith. The corridor links a string of communities including Lawton, Oklahoma City, Muskogee, and Sallisaw, and intersects major routes such as Interstate 44, Interstate 35, and U.S. Route 69. Serving rural counties like Caddo County and urbanized centers like Oklahoma County, the highway supports freight, military access to Fort Sill, and access to cultural sites including Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma State Capitol, and Gilcrease Museum.
Beginning near Hobart in Kiowa County, the route proceeds east through Washita County and into Caddo County where it serves Anadarko and connects with State Highway 62 alignments. The highway advances toward Lawton providing access to Fort Sill and Comanche County facilities before joining the Interstate 44 corridor near El Reno and Canadian County. Within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area the road merges with U.S. and Interstate routes proximate to the Oklahoma State Capitol and crosses the North Canadian River near Bricktown and Tinker Air Force Base.
East of Oklahoma City the route traverses Lincoln County and serves towns such as Prague and Stroud, intersecting U.S. Route 177 and U.S. Route 412. Continuing through Okfuskee County and Hughes County, it passes near Holdenville and meets U.S. Route 75 and U.S. Route 270 corridors. In Pontotoc County the highway provides connections to Ada and cultural landmarks like Chickasaw Cultural Center. Further east the highway serves Pittsburg County and McIntosh County communities before entering Muskogee County and the city of Muskogee, where it crosses the Verdigris River and meets U.S. Route 64. Eastbound, the route continues through Sequoyah County to Sallisaw and approaches the Cherokee Nation region before crossing the Arkansas River into Fort Smith.
The alignment within Oklahoma evolved from early state and federal planning in the 1920s and 1930s when the American Association of State Highway Officials designated the transcontinental U.S. Highway 62 corridor. Early improvements were influenced by New Deal programs including the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, which funded paving and bridge construction near Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and along the Canadian River. Wartime priorities and the establishment of Fort Sill increased strategic improvements during World War II. Postwar expansion, influenced by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, led to sections upgraded to divided highway standards near Lawton and through the Oklahoma City suburbs.
Throughout the late 20th century, bypass projects altered alignments around towns such as Anadarko and Stroud, while urban routing through Oklahoma City saw coordination with Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Area Planning Commission plans. Historic bridges like those over the Canadian River and rehabilitations near Muskogee were supported by federal programs administered through the Federal Highway Administration. Recent preservation efforts have engaged the National Register of Historic Places for select structures adjacent to the corridor, reflecting the route’s role in regional development and Native American history involving the Cherokee Nation, Choctaw Nation, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Key interchanges and junctions include connections with U.S. Route 283, U.S. Route 281, Interstate 44, Interstate 35, U.S. Route 77, U.S. Route 177, U.S. Route 412, U.S. Route 75, U.S. Route 69, and U.S. Route 64. Significant urban interchanges occur at El Reno with Interstate 40 feeder routes, within Oklahoma City near Will Rogers World Airport, and eastward at Muskogee where the highway intersects Oklahoma State Highway 51. River crossings include spans over the North Canadian River, Canadian River, Arkansas River, and tributaries feeding Grand Lake o' the Cherokees and Lake Eufaula. Freight and military access nodes link to Port of Muskogee, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, and Altus Air Force Base logistics routes.
Designated bypasses and business routes serve communities including Anadarko, Prague, Stroud, Muskogee, and Sallisaw. Some alignments are concurrent with U.S. Route 77 business loops and state-designated spurs administered by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. These special routes preserve downtown access to municipal centers, historical districts such as Muskogee Historic District, and cultural institutions including the Five Civilized Tribes Museum while facilitating through traffic on mainline segments.
Traffic volumes vary widely, with urban segments through Oklahoma City and Lawton showing the highest average daily traffic counts, while rural stretches across Washita County and Okfuskee County remain low-density. Crash patterns have prompted targeted safety improvements under programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including median installations, rumble strips, and signal upgrades near intersections with U.S. Route 69 and U.S. Route 75. Freight movement tied to energy sectors in Pittsburg County and agricultural shipments from Caddo County influence pavement maintenance priorities coordinated with Oklahoma Turnpike Authority planning and county engineers.
Planned projects include corridor widening near Lawton and Oklahoma City suburbs, bridge rehabilitation programs targeting structures over the Arkansas River and Canadian River, and intersection realignments in Pontotoc County to improve access to Ada and Chickasaw Cultural Center. Funding sources span federal discretionary grants, Oklahoma Department of Transportation allocations, and regional transportation planning organizations such as Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Long-range plans consider multimodal integration with Amtrak access points, intermodal freight facilities like Port of Catoosa, and coordination with tribal governments including the Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation for safety, environmental reviews, and cultural resource protection.
Category:U.S. Highways in Oklahoma Category:Transportation in Oklahoma