Oklahoma State Highway 18
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| State Highway 18 | |||||||
| Commissioned: | 1924 | ||||||
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| Length: | 134.4 mi (216.3 km) | ||||||
| South end: |    U.S. 177/270/SH-3W in Shawnee |
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| North end: |  K-15, Kansas state line |
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State Highway 18, abbreviated as SH 18 or OK 18, is a highway maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was once one of the longest state highways in the Oklahoma road system, but now has a total length of 134.4 mi.
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[edit] Route description
State Highway 18 was commissioned in August of 1924 and, at one time, traveled from Dickson, Oklahoma to Shidler, Oklahoma at the Kansas border. Much of SH 18 has been replaced by US 177. The current Highway 18 begins in Shawnee, Oklahoma at an interchange with U.S. 177/270 and SH 3W. The highway is known as Harrison Street through Shawnee. After Shawnee, SH 18 intersects with U.S. 62 in Meeker, Oklahoma and then into Chandler, Oklahoma duplexed with SH 66. The highways split after leaving Chandler's business district. SH 18 intersects with I-44 and then travels on to Agra, Oklahoma. At Agra, SH 18 joins with SH 33 heading into Cushing, Oklahoma where SH 18 separates and heads to Pawnee, Oklahoma. South of there, the highway is duplexed with US 64 for two miles. SH 18 crosses the Arkansas River in Ralston, Oklahoma and intersects with SH 20. Near the Osage Indian Reservation, SH 18 joins with SH 11 at US 60 and remains joined until Shidler, where SH 11 separates. 16 miles later SH 18 becomes K-15 as it crosses the state line into Kansas.
[edit] Old 18
US 177 replaced SH 18 between Dickson and Shawnee in 1967.
[edit] Dickson to Asher
US 177 runs roughly on top of the previous SH 18 between Dickson and Asher, Oklahoma, therefore only a few small segments of the original highway remain through that stretch.
[edit] Asher to Shawnee
Much of the old highway from south of Asher to Tecumseh, Oklahoma still remains. Remnants of the old highway begin north of the curve just before US 177 junctions with SH 3W, south of the Canadian River. SH
18 (now US 177) originally continued straight ahead and then turned slightly ahead of where US 177 does now. The existing old highway runs parallel west of US 177 for about a mile, before terminating short of the Canadian River. Originally, the highway continued straight for about another 1/2 mile (taking it over the river) before veering east and then back north. The cement supports of the old bridge can still be seen if you look westward at the north and south banks, while crossing the Canadian River bridge (coincidentally, the bridge may return to that location if reports of replacing the Canadian River Bridge are true). Much of the section after the river and before the highway intersects with SH 39 has been lost due to another bridge being removed. The existing highway picks up again after a second removed bridge and 7/10 of a mile before intersecting with SH 39 south of Asher. The highway continues north through Asher (here named Division Street) for 1 1/2 miles before again veering east and then once more travels roughly north. The road is mostly intact except for a small area near Pearson, Oklahoma where it is rerouted to cross SH 59. Between Asher and Pearson is the Salt Creek Bridge, a 120' long OSHC standard design, built in 1930.
Near Macomb, Oklahoma the old highway again travels parallel and very near to US 177. The highway is interrupted once because of the removed Little River Bridge before reaching the Brooksville, Oklahoma area. Here, the highway is slightly rerouted to cross US 177 (veering west) and then heads north toward Tecumseh. The designation "Old 18" ends here as the highway has been absorbed into city streets, although it appears the highway traveled east down what is now Highland, then north on Broadway and continued to Shawnee on what is now Gordon Cooper Drive/Beard Street. Beard Street intersects with Farrall Street in Shawnee, which is the current SH 18. East of this intersection, SH 18 ends and loops into US 177. West of the intersection, Farrell veers north and merges into Harrison Street. At this point, 18 continues as a current state highway.
[edit] Notes
- There is roughly 20 miles of drivable road designated "Old 18" between US 177 / SH 3W Junction south of Asher and Tecumseh, although it can not be driven continuously.
- The longest uninterrupted stretch of Old 18 is about 14.5 miles, between Asher and the Little River near Brooksville.
- Except for a 1 1/2 mile repaved stretch through Asher, Old 18 shows its original concrete construction (although heavily patched with pavement).
- At its furthest, Old 18 rests 1 1/2 miles east of its replacement, US 177.
- The curved edges and poor drainage of the highway can make it dangerous during heavy rain as it greatly retains water.
- The original Canadian River Bridge south of Asher was in use from 1921 to 1967. It has since been removed.
[edit] Spurs
SH 18 has two lettered spurs.
- SH 18A no longer connects to current SH 18. It serves the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- SH 18B serves the town of Sparks, Oklahoma.
