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Talk About Tulsa => Other Tulsa Discussion => Topic started by: bugo on June 17, 2010, 11:58:14 AM

Title: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: bugo on June 17, 2010, 11:58:14 AM
The common name for the Oklahoma 51 freeway in Tulsa is the Broken Arrow Expressway or the "BA".  I hear the name "The BA" in advertising quite a bit.  The problem is except for a big green sign at the beginnings of the freeway, there is no signage designating the highway as such.  I propose that a new route marker be placed on the green overhead signs on highways and at intersections along with the OK 51 (and US 64) signs.  I designed a route marker based on the recent LL Tisdale and Gilcrease Expressway markers that have been recently placed on those highways, and had my friend Alex draw it up.  Here's the marker:

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u126/bugo348/broken_arrow_expwy_01-1.png?t=1276794088)

This marker would clarify where the Broken Arrow Expressway is, especially to out-of-towners who have no idea where the "BA" is. 

Opinions?
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: custosnox on June 17, 2010, 12:04:12 PM
sounds like a plan, though I'm still trying to find this "cross-town" expressway that I keep hearing talked about on the raido during traffic reports.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Dana431 on June 17, 2010, 12:20:20 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 17, 2010, 11:58:14 AM

This marker would clarify where the Broken Arrow Expressway is, especially to out-of-towners who have no idea where the "BA" is. 

Opinions?

With turn-by-turn GPS directions on our phones, I suspect the use of Highway signs for navigation has lessened.  Might be a hard sell to ODOT.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: guido911 on June 17, 2010, 12:29:32 PM
Quote from: Dana431 on June 17, 2010, 12:20:20 PM
With turn-by-turn GPS directions on our phones, I suspect the use of Highway signs for navigation has lessened.  Might be a hard sell to ODOT.

As well as the taxpayers. Good point.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: OpenYourEyesTulsa on June 17, 2010, 12:34:07 PM
I wish everyone would just use one name for all the highways and streets.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: sauerkraut on June 17, 2010, 12:36:09 PM
Did you hear awhile ago some guy wanted to make the BA Expressway a toll road? I guess he claims that will make traffic lighter on that road.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: custosnox on June 17, 2010, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 17, 2010, 12:36:09 PM
Did you hear awhile ago some guy wanted to make the BA Expressway a toll road? I guess he claims that will make traffic lighter on that road.
I believe the guys name was Dewey Bartlett Jr.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: bugo on June 17, 2010, 12:54:06 PM
Quote from: guido911 on June 17, 2010, 12:29:32 PM
As well as the taxpayers. Good point.

Taxpayers have been paying for the OK 66 markers along I-44 for years.  Does anybody call it 66?  Does anybody actually follow 66 through Tulsa?
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 01:06:45 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 17, 2010, 12:54:06 PM
Taxpayers have been paying for the OK 66 markers along I-44 for years.  Does anybody call it 66?  Does anybody actually follow 66 through Tulsa?

The old alignment through Tulsa, yes.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: bugo on June 17, 2010, 01:30:26 PM
Quote from: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 01:06:45 PM
The old alignment through Tulsa, yes.

I'm referring to the modern SH-66 alignment which is duplexed with I-44.  Incidentally, the current I-44/Oklahoma 66 alignment was the last alignment of US 66.  For some reason, 66ers ignore that routing even though it was US 66 for nearly 30 years.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Townsend on June 17, 2010, 01:42:41 PM
Shouldn't they be trying to find buyers for naming rights on this one?

Unless Broken Arrow wants to pay us a large sum...
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Red Arrow on June 17, 2010, 04:40:48 PM
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on June 17, 2010, 12:34:07 PM
I wish everyone would just use one name for all the highways and streets.

Which one name would you like for all the streets to have?   Main St.?

It would be easy to remember someone's address.  All you would need to remember is the number.

:D
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 04:48:53 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 17, 2010, 01:30:26 PM
I'm referring to the modern SH-66 alignment which is duplexed with I-44.  Incidentally, the current I-44/Oklahoma 66 alignment was the last alignment of US 66.  For some reason, 66ers ignore that routing even though it was US 66 for nearly 30 years.

There's a very good reason they ignore the last alignment. It's boring.

If you really want to see a city, you go onto the older, distinctive and historic routes, not the expressways.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: bugo on June 17, 2010, 05:01:06 PM
Quote from: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 04:48:53 PM
There's a very good reason they ignore the last alignment. It's boring.

It's not boring when you're stuck between 2 18 wheelers.

And it is an interesting alignment west of OK 51 because it's an early example of a freeway.  That will change when the rebuild is complete.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 09:39:17 PM
Quote from: bugo on June 17, 2010, 05:01:06 PM
And it is an interesting alignment west of OK 51 because it's an early example of a freeway.  That will change when the rebuild is complete.

Trust me, it's not that interesting of a freeway.

Now, if you mean something like the Pasadena Freeway, aka Arroyo Seco Parkway, in Los Angeles, now you're talking. It dates to 1940, was an alignment of Route 66, and contains architectural touches you don't see anymore.

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/10246/
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: enits on June 18, 2010, 12:16:15 AM
Quote from: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 09:39:17 PM
Trust me, it's not that interesting of a freeway.

Now, if you mean something like the Pasadena Freeway, aka Arroyo Seco Parkway, in Los Angeles, now you're talking. It dates to 1940, was an alignment of Route 66, and contains architectural touches you don't see anymore.

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/10246/

I agree!  Learned how to drive on that freeway when I was a teenager. 
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: heironymouspasparagus on June 18, 2010, 01:16:14 AM
Riverside is about the only interesting road left in Tulsa.  Or Broken Arrow, for that matter.

Just keep waiting for city hall idiots to put a stop light somewhere down there. 

Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Hoss on June 18, 2010, 09:58:39 AM
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on June 18, 2010, 01:16:14 AM
Riverside is about the only interesting road left in Tulsa.  Or Broken Arrow, for that matter.

Just keep waiting for city hall idiots to put a stop light somewhere down there.  



What on Riverside?  I can count 7 off the top my head (stop lights).  Denver/Riverside, 41st, I-44, 61st, 71st, 81st, 91st.

Did Sauerkraut hijack your account?
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: dbacks fan on June 18, 2010, 11:14:22 AM
Quote from: Hoss on June 18, 2010, 09:58:39 AM
What on Riverside?  I can count 7 off the top my head (stop lights).  Denver/Riverside, 41st, I-44, 61st, 71st, 81st, 91st.

Did Sauerkraut hijack your account?


No they are just long lost cousins. ;D
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: dbacks fan on June 18, 2010, 12:09:51 PM
Quote from: rwarn17588 on June 17, 2010, 09:39:17 PM
Trust me, it's not that interesting of a freeway.

Now, if you mean something like the Pasadena Freeway, aka Arroyo Seco Parkway, in Los Angeles, now you're talking. It dates to 1940, was an alignment of Route 66, and contains architectural touches you don't see anymore.

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/10246/

I will have to check that out the next time I go for a vacation.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: heironymouspasparagus on June 18, 2010, 12:50:54 PM
Denver to 51st (I-44) used to be clear.  Did they add one at 41st??  Yuck.  Been a (long) while since I was there - will go this weekend.

Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Hoss on June 18, 2010, 01:06:03 PM
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on June 18, 2010, 12:50:54 PM
Denver to 51st (I-44) used to be clear.  Did they add one at 41st??  Yuck.  Been a (long) while since I was there - will go this weekend.



the one at 41st has been the Pre Quik Trip park.

Looks like they also have one at 31st I forgot about.

So it runs like this...

Denver.
31st
41st
I-44
61st/Peoria
71st
81st (right by the casino)
Not sure any further past that...
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: Gaspar on June 18, 2010, 01:20:50 PM
Quote from: Hoss on June 18, 2010, 01:06:03 PM
the one at 41st has been the Pre Quik Trip park.

Looks like they also have one at 31st I forgot about.

So it runs like this...

Denver.
31st
41st
I-44
61st/Peoria
71st
81st (right by the casino)
Not sure any further past that...

Ahh. . .The Smoke Shop Express
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: rwarn17588 on June 18, 2010, 01:35:02 PM
The Pasadena Freeway. You can skip ahead to the 1:00 mark:

Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: sgrizzle on June 18, 2010, 08:38:45 PM
Quote from: Hoss on June 18, 2010, 01:06:03 PM
the one at 41st has been the Pre Quik Trip park.

Looks like they also have one at 31st I forgot about.

So it runs like this...

Denver.
31st
41st
I-44
61st/Peoria
71st
81st (right by the casino)
Not sure any further past that...

91st
Delaware
Creek tpk west
Creek tpk east

Then no lights until the end.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: nathanm on June 18, 2010, 10:03:24 PM
Quote from: sgrizzle on June 18, 2010, 08:38:45 PM
91st
Delaware
Creek tpk west
Creek tpk east

Then no lights until the end.
There's also a light at Peoria. 61st is a different light. Plus there's the new one on the south side of the casino between 81st and 91st.
Title: Re: Broken Arrow Expressway route marker
Post by: dbacks fan on June 18, 2010, 11:10:23 PM
Quote from: rwarn17588 on June 18, 2010, 01:35:02 PM
The Pasadena Freeway. You can skip ahead to the 1:00 mark:



Thanks, that reminds me of driving in the LA area, especially the 405 from Newport to Hollywood and the gridlock around LAX on the 405. And it reminds me of driving from San Jose into Daly City and then through the Presidio on the 1 to go across the Golden Gate to Sausildo and Marin county. So much of the LA County area looks like this. The one area that I avoid driving into LA from Phoenix on I-10 is the Ontario/Fontana area. Once you hit that are you are driving at 10mph max.