Roadways In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

With a population of over 112,000 residents, Broken Arrow is the fourth largest city in Oklahoma and continues to grow rapidly. As the city expands, maintaining and improving Broken Arrow’s network of streets and highways becomes increasingly important for transportation and quality of life.

This guide provides an overview of the major roadways in Broken Arrow to help residents and visitors better understand how to navigate the city.

Broken Arrow Expressway (Hwy 51)

The Broken Arrow Expressway, also known as Highway 51 or the BA Expressway, is perhaps the most important transportation artery in the city. This 12-mile divided highway runs east-west across the southern part of Broken Arrow, connecting the city to Tulsa and points west.

Key things to know about the Broken Arrow Expressway:

• Main east-west thoroughfare with 4-6 lanes
• Speed limit of 60 mph outside city, 40-55 mph inside
• Runs from Hwy 64 in Sand Springs to 177th E Ave in west Broken Arrow
• Key interchanges with Hwy 64, Aspen Ave, Elm Pl, 161st E Ave
• Main route to access Creek Turnpike going south

The Broken Arrow Expressway sees heavy traffic at peak times but otherwise provides fast and efficient ways to traverse the city east or west. Pay particular attention to reduced speed limits within city boundaries.

Arterial Surface Streets

While the Broken Arrow Expressway carries a lot of cross-city traffic, numerous north-south and east-west arterial surface streets provide important transportation routes. These arteries have at least four lanes of traffic plus turn lanes at major intersections.

Key arterial streets in Broken Arrow include:

North-South Arterials

• Aspen Ave
• Elm Pl/181st E Ave
• Lynn Lane Rd
• 129th E Ave
• Garnett Rd

East-West Arterials

• Kenosha St
• Albany St
• Houston St
• New Orleans St
• Florence St
• College St
• 131st St

These arterial roadways supplement the expressway and creek turnpike to form the backbone of Broken Arrow’s transportation network. They provide efficient routes across the city but do have more traffic signals. Speed limits are usually 40 mph.

It’s also important to know that the city has major expansion plans over the next 20 years for many of these arterials, widening to six lanes. This includes widenings for Aspen Ave, Elm Pl, Houston St, Florence St, and others.

Key Intersections and Problem Areas

With Broken Arrow’s dependence on surface arterial streets combined with rapid growth, several intersections and congestion hot spots stand out that residents and visitors should be aware of:

Congested Intersections

• Hwy 51/Aspen Ave
• 71st St/Hwy 51
• Elm Pl/Lynn Lane
• Aspen Ave/9th St

These major intersections often back up during peak periods. Allow extra time or consider alternate routes.

Narrow Bridges

The city also has older two-lane bridges along certain arterial routes like 141st E Ave over Little Deer Creek that create bottlenecks. Be alert for backups near narrow bridges.

Railroad Crossings

Many east-west streets like Houston St, Florence St, and College St have at-grade crossings for freight trains that periodially cause traffic issues when trains block the intersections.

School Traffic

Like most cities, streets around Broken Arrow schools get congested at the beginning and end of the school day from parent drop-offs and pickups. This includes South Intermediate High School, Centennial Middle School, Creekwood Elementary and many other school sites.

Creek Turnpike (Hwy 364)

The Creek Turnpike is a toll road that provides important access from Broken Arrow to Tulsa and points south. To take the turnpike south, simply enter at the Broken Arrow Expressway. From there is it a 12 mile drive south across the Arkansas River into Tulsa.

Key aspects of the Creek Turnpike:

• Speed limit of 75 mph
• Tolls are $1.50 for two-axle vehicles ($3.00 for cash payment)
• Exits at I-44, Hwy 51/61, and Hwy 64
• Pay tolls online, not at booths

The Creek Turnpike offers the fastest driving route between Broken Arrow and southern Tulsa. Keep your Pikepass handy or register your license plate to simplify paying tolls.

Neighborhood Streets

Shifting gears from high-speed arterial streets, Broken Arrow also has an extensive network of lower-speed roads that pass through neighborhoods and business districts. These roads typically have speed limits of 30-35 mph and only one lane in each direction.

Here are some tips for dealing with neighborhood streets:

• Watch carefully for cars backing out of driveways
• Kids and pets may dart into the road – drive slowly
• Use caution around schools, parks and recreation centers
• Be alert for bicyclists who may share the lane
• Come to a complete stop at stop signs

While not major transportation routes, Broken Arrow’s local roads still require care and attention from drivers. By driving slowly and defensively along neighborhood streets, we can help keep Broken Arrow safe and livable.

Future Road Projects

With booming population growth in Broken Arrow, the city has numerous road infrastructure projects planned to expand capacity, ease congestion, and improve safety. Here is a list of key projects planned over the next 5-10 years:

Widenings to 6 Lanes

• Elm Pl from Fallowfield Ave to 161st E Ave
• Aspen Ave from Albany St to Florence St
• Houston St from College St to 177th E Ave

New 4-Lane Arterials

• 23rd St from 121st E Ave to 145th E Ave
• Zunis Ave Extension from Houston St to 171st E Ave

Interchange Improvements

• Broken Arrow Expressway and Aspen Ave
• Broken Arrow Expressway and Elm Pl

Railroad Overpass on Florene St – A planned overpass at the rail crossing near Oak Crest Cemetery

Stay tuned over the coming decade for these major improvements to Broken Arrow’s transportation infrastructure!

Getting Around Broken Arrow: Tips and Tools

Navigating a city’s roadways can seem challenging, especially for new residents or visitors. But there are ways to make getting around Broken Arrow easier:

Use a Navigation App

Apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps provide real-time routing and traffic updates. They make navigating unfamiliar areas simple.

Allow Extra Time

Broken Arrow covers a wide area with a diversity of roads. Budget extra drive time, at least at first. Over time you’ll get more comfortable with routes and timing.

Have an Offline Map Handy

In case you lose cell service, keep an old-fashioned paper map in the glovebox. Rand McNally makes a good map of the Tulsa metro area.

Learn the Major Routes

Focus first on learning main roads like the Broken Arrow Expressway, arterial streets, and the Creek Turnpike. These move people efficiently across town. Branch out from there.

Questions? Ask!

Don’t hesitate to ask locals, friends or colleagues for driving tips. Broken Arrow residents are happy to share their knowledge of getting around.

Driving in a new city can be daunting but learning the roads gets easier over time. Follow these tips and you’ll be navigating Broken Arrow like a pro.

Key Takeaways

Broken Arrow’s network of roadways has a lot to offer but also some complexities. Keep these key points in mind:

• The Broken Arrow Expressway crosses the city east-west with access to the Creek Turnpike
• Major arterial streets supplement the expressway for north-south traffic
• Watch for congestion during peak periods at key intersections
• Railroad crossings occasionally snarl traffic when trains pass through
• Expansion plans over the next decade will help increase capacity
• Apps, maps and asking locals can simplify navigating the city

With expansive highways, country backroads and everything in between, Broken Arrow’s diverse transportation infrastructure supports this growing community. We hope this guide gave you a better sense of how to drive Broken Arrow!