It's the Gilcrease (Hwy 11 extension) and it's finished all the way to the Tisdale, but the last mile or so is not limited access like the rest of it is, so you have to turn right from northbound Tisdale to get onto it. I took that on Christmas just to check it out. I may try and get up there tonight and take some photos.
I was in Sand Springs yesterday and decided to drive the length of the Tisdale out of boredom. My plan was just to turn around at the casino, but I was shocked to see a sign reading "Gilcrease Expressway 1/4 Mile". The stop sign at the end is a deathtrap and I expect many horrific accidents, most likely cars turning left from the Gilcrease onto the southbound Tisdale. Note the undivided section and the at-grade intersection are temporary as the WB lanes have a stub end.
Hoss, I did get a couple of quick camera phone shots. Here's a picture of a Gilcrease Expressway trailblazer:
http://twitpic.com/27zpcAnd here's a shot of the similar L.L. Tisdale Parkway trailblazer:
http://twitpic.com/27zoyI rather like the design, especially for the Tisdale with the large, iconic "LL". I wouldn't be surprised if this road becomes locally known as "The LL" like OK 51 is known as "The BA". I wish they'd post similar markers on 51, with "BA" in large letters and "Broken Arrow Expressway" in small letters near the bottom. Who posted these markers? ODOT? The city? Tulsa and Osage Counties?
I have some questions about the LL. Who built it? Who currently maintains it? ODOT maps are inconclusive. Wikipedia doesn't have an article on it. If I can get some information (beginning of construction, opening dates of the segments, etc) I will probably add it. I do know there was a proposed turnpike to Skiatook called the Osage Turnpike, and it was formerly named the Osage Expressway.
I found an article on the Whirled website saying the next section to be constructed will end at Edison. Why not go the extra 1/4 mile to US 412? Maybe ODOT doesn't want to construct the interchange with 412 until the next phase of construction. Still doesn't make much sense. I hope they don't do something insane like building a temporary at-grade with 412.
And the new part of the Gilcrease is not yet marked as OK 11. I assumed OK 11 would follow the extension to Peoria and follow Peoria north of here. The Gilcrease west of Peoria will not be a part of OK 11, unless it is rerouted away from the airport. If I were in charge, I'd sign the Gilcrease as I-844 and reroute OK 11 to follow Peoria south to the Gilcrease west to the LL south to end at the NW corner of the IDL. That would give a number to all parts of both the Gilcrease and the Tisdale and would connect the airport directly to the Interstate System. When completed, I would extend I-844 east along current I-44 to Catoosa and reroute I-44 along the Creek. I'm sure the OTA would love that.
