City of Claremore, Rogers County, ODOT and OTA celebrate SH-20 realignment; Flint Rd., Will Rogers Turnpike interchange completion
The City of Claremore, Rogers County, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on the new SH-20 bridge over SH-66 to celebrate the completion of a $64 million realignment and interchange project on Friday, April 18.
With the completion of the current project and the previous Keetonville project, SH-20 will now provide travelers five lanes of travel between US-169 in Owasso and SH-66 in Claremore, with a new connection to the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike at Flint Road. A new bridge also carries SH-20 over SH-66 and a BNSF railroad.
“This tremendously collaborative effort between the City of Claremore, Rogers County, the Turnpike Authority and ODOT has led to an improved highway that will be much safer for drivers and easier for the state to maintain,” said Tim Gatz, executive director of ODOT. “The new bridge crossing over the railroad will also be a significant addition to the community to safely cross the tracks when trains roll through town. This is investment in Oklahoma’s future.”
Crossing over SH-66, the new bridge celebrates the history of that road with Historic Route 66 embellishments and unique design features as well.
“This new bridge, which uniquely crosses over both US Route 66 highway and the BNSF railway, marks a pivotal enhancement in our infrastructure,” said Rogers County District 3 Commissioner Ron Burrows. “Not only does it improve connectivity across parts of Rogers County to the Will Rogers Turnpike, but it also substantially bolsters public safety by providing safer traveling.”
The new alignment of SH-20 opened shortly after the ribbon cutting, however further work still remains and drivers are urged to be aware of workers in the area for the next few weeks. Also, the former route for the highway will be resurfaced before ODOT hands over maintenance of the roadway to the county and city. The OTA opened the new I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike interchange on Flint Road in March, adding new access to the turnpike for area residents.
“We’ve seen right at 50,000 cars get on and off the new Flint Road interchange at I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike in the month since it opened. People are saving some time in their daily commute or on their way to church or to get groceries. They also have increased safety by having an additional travel option to reach the south side of Claremore,” said OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle. “All of this was made possible due to going cashless on the turnpike system. It gives OTA the opportunity to create new connections with communities like the one here at Flint Rd. We are grateful to our partners Rogers County, the City of Claremore and ODOT for the successful collaboration necessary to complete a great project like this one.”
“We’re proud to celebrate this significant milestone for our community,” said John Feary, Claremore city manager. “The opening of the Highway 20 realignment and the new I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike interchange marks a major step forward in improving transportation and mobility for Claremore and all of Rogers County. These improvements will ease congestion, enhance safety and support continued growth across the region. We’re grateful for the state’s investment in our community and their continued partnership.”
The project began in March 2023 and replaced a two-lane highway which had no shoulders with a modern five-lane highway that connects to the previous realignment work around the Keetonville area. This also completed a two decade SH-20 corridor enhancement between Owasso and Claremore that increased transportation options and safety for drivers throughout Rogers County.
