Oklahoma State Highway 54 Explained

State:OK
Type:SH
Route:54
Maint:ODOT
Map:Ok-54 path.png
Length Mi1:9.96
Direction A1:South
Direction B1:North
Terminus A1: west of Grandfield
Terminus B1: north of Hollister
Length Mi2:85.5
Direction A2:South
Direction B2:North
Terminus A2: east of Snyder
Junction2:
Terminus B2: near Thomas
Previous Type:US
Previous Route:54
Next Type:SH
Next Route:55

State Highway 54 (abbreviated SH-54 or OK-54) is a state highway in western Oklahoma. Running north–south, it exists in two parts, which lie at approximately the same longitude. The southern section's length is 9.96miles, while the northern section runs for 85.5miles, for a combined length of 95.5miles. The northern section has two lettered spur routes.

Route descriptions

Southern section

The southern section of State Highway 54 runs for just under ten miles (16 km), entirely within Tillman County. The highway begins at US-70 and runs north. Midway through the route's extent, it passes through the town of Hollister, where it crosses a railroad track. The highway terminates at SH-5 east of Frederick.

Northern section

The northern section of SH-54 runs for 85.5 miles (137.6 km). It begins at US-62 east of Snyder in Kiowa County. From this point, it heads due northward to pass the western terminus of State Highway 49. For 3miles through Cooperton it overlaps State Highway 19. Continuing northward, it crosses over Rainy Mountain Creek.[1] It then intersects State Highway 9 and its business loop near Gotebo. The highway then bridges the Washita River into Washita County.[1]

At Lake Valley, SH-54 serves as the eastern terminus of State Highway 55. It then meets State Highway 152 eight miles (13 km) east of Cordell and turns eastward to overlap it for 7miles. After splitting off, SH-54 heads northward, producing two spur routes to Corn and Colony.

The highway next enters Custer County, where it has an interchange with Interstate 40 at exit 80. It then runs along the western limit of Weatherford and continues 17miles north to end at State Highway 33 east of Thomas.[2]

History

The northern section of State Highway 54 was first commissioned on April 14, 1941.[3] The original path of the highway began at US-277 in Cyril and proceeded west, intersecting US-62 in Apache. The highway then turned north, paralleling the Caddo–Kiowa county line, then turning east along SH-41. The highway turned north, meeting US-66 near Hydro, then following US-66 west through Weatherford. On the west side of Weatherford, the highway turned north along its current alignment.[4]

SH-54 saw a substantial realignment on October 16, 1945, when it was shifted to the west onto its present alignment from US-62 southeast of Snyder to Weatherford, and on November 5 of that year, the old alignment of the highway was transferred to SH-58. Since then, only maintenance and minor realignment projects have occurred along its length.[3]

The southern section was established in its entirety on October 15, 1956.[3] It has never been connected to the northern SH-54.[5]

Junction list

Northern section

Spur routes

SH-54 has two lettered spur routes, both of which branch off the northern section of SH-54. Both were once part of the now-decommissioned SH-69.

References

  1. DeLorme. Oklahoma Atlas and Gazetteer. 1:200,000. 2006.
  2. Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Official State Map. 2009–10. 2010-04-27.
  3. Web site: Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Planning & Research Division. Chronological History of State Highway 54. 2010-04-27.
  4. Oklahoma Department of Highways. Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System. January 1942. 2010-04-28.
  5. Oklahoma Department of Highways. Oklahoma's Highways 1957. 2010-04-28 .

External links