| Interstate 44 |
Article Index for Interstate 44 |
Articles about Interstate 44 |
Website Links For Interstate |
Information AboutInterstate 44 |
Interstate 44 (abbreviated '''I-44''') is an Interstate Highway in the central United States . Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at an intersection with U.S. Highway 287 ; its eastern terminus is in St. Louis, Missouri at Interstate 55 . Interstate 44 is one of five interstates built to bypass U.S. Route 66 ; this highway covers the section between St. Louis and Oklahoma City . LENGTH MAJOR CITIES Bolded cities are officially-designated Control Cities for signs.
INTERSECTIONS WITH OTHER INTERSTATES
SPUR ROUTES
HISTORY I-44 was originally instituted as an Interstate designation of the Turner Turnpike linking Oklahoma City and Tulsa. At the time the I-44 designation was assigned the road was extended north of the Tulsa area to St. Louis. This meant that historically the milemarkers counted up from the I-44/I-35 interchange in Oklahoma City (near Edmond ). At this time, the milemarkers in the Tulsa area were in the 90s range. Rather than having their own numbers, I-244 and (designated, but unsigned) I-444 started their numbering based on what milemarker the highways were at when they branched off. Therefore, one exit along I-444 was labeled "94D". When the I-444 signs were removed from the highway and the "94" numbers were removed from the other markers (their gore signs simply bore the letter suffixes "A", "B", and "C") the 94D marking remained. The number became even more out of place when the markings were changed (see below). To those not knowing the history of the highways, the exit number remained an inexplicable anomaly. {Link without Title} image was taken exactly when the F5 tornado was crossing Interstate 44. ''Source: U.S. NOAA National Weather Service '']] I-44 was later extended southwest of Oklahoma City along the existing H.E. Bailey Turnpike , thus raising the milemarkers by about 100. The new section was also a violation of the Interstate numbering grid, as it extended south of I-40. (The "44" number indicated that it should lie north of I-40 for its entire length.) During the historic Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak , an F5 Tornado hit Interstate 44. This particular tornado had the fastest tornado Wind speeds on record. The interstate was severely damaged where the tornado crossed it. In the end, this tornado was blamed for 36 deaths. NOTES
REFERENCES |
|
|