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Interstate 44

Interstate 44 (I-44) is an east–west Interstate Highway spanning 636 miles (1,024 km) across the . Its western terminus is at a junction with , , , and in , while its eastern terminus is at I-70 in , . The route primarily travels northeast through rural and urban areas, connecting the southern to the Midwest. In Texas, I-44 consists of a brief 15.4-mile (24.8 km) segment serving as a connector from the Oklahoma state line into Wichita Falls. The majority of the highway lies in Oklahoma, where it links key cities including Lawton, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, while incorporating tolled sections such as the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, Will Rogers Turnpike, and Turner Turnpike. In Missouri, I-44 extends approximately 290 miles from the Oklahoma border near Joplin, passing through Springfield and other communities before reaching St. Louis, and was constructed as one of the nation's earliest freeways, with work beginning in 1956 and completion in 1966. I-44 functions as a critical commercial trucking corridor, carrying over 9,100 trucks daily on portions of the route and facilitating connections to major interstates like I-35, I-40, I-49, I-55, and I-70. It supports regional economic activity by providing efficient access between hubs, energy production areas, and distribution centers across the three states. Ongoing improvements, including bridge rehabilitations and capacity expansions, address growing traffic demands and enhance safety and resilience along the corridor.

Route description

Texas

Interstate 44 in is a short 15.4-mile (24.8 km) freeway connecting the state line to Wichita Falls. It begins at a junction with US 82, US 277, US 281, and US 287 in western Wichita Falls and heads northeast, known locally as the . The route provides access to downtown Wichita Falls, , and Wichita Falls Municipal Airport via Spur 325 and FM 890. Continuing north, it passes through suburban areas and enters Burkburnett as the Expressway, with interchanges for SH 240 and local streets, before crossing the into . All interchanges are toll-free and generally lack dedicated auxiliary lanes.

Oklahoma

Interstate 44 traverses 328 miles (528 km) diagonally across from the Texas state line near Grandfield to the Missouri border near , serving as a major artery linking rural and urban centers. Starting as the tolled H.E. Bailey Turnpike, it passes through Walters, Lawton (with access to and local business districts via US 281 Bus. and US 62), Chickasha, and Tuttle before reaching . In the capital, I-44 is toll-free and concurrent with I-35 north of the city and I-240 southeast, intersecting I-40 and providing urban access via exits to downtown and the State Capitol. Northeast of , the tolled begins near , passing Chandler, , Bristow, and Sapulpa en route to Tulsa. A new interchange at Exit 203 for SH-66 near Kellyville opened in December 2024 to improve local access. In Tulsa, the route is again toll-free, incorporating the unsigned I-444 and intersecting I-244, US 75, and US 169 while serving and St. Francis Hospital. East of Tulsa, the tolled Will Rogers Turnpike resumes near Catoosa, passing Claremore, Vinita (with a service plaza at the ), and before reaching the state line. The turnpikes offer PikePass electronic tolling discounts.

Missouri

Interstate 44 in spans approximately 293 miles (472 km) from the Oklahoma state line near Joplin to its eastern terminus at in , featuring over 80 numbered interchanges, all toll-free. The route includes business loop tie-ins in cities like Joplin, , , Rolla, and for local access, as well as overlaps with former alignments in several areas. Key junctions include the connection to near Joplin, U.S. Route 65 in , and the merge with in , where the Poplar Street Bridge serves as the final approach across the .

History

Planning and designation

Interstate 44 was established as part of the 41,000-mile authorized by the , which provided federal funding for a nationwide network of controlled-access highways to improve national defense and commerce. The route's precursor was designated as Superhighway 44 in the original 1947 plan announced by the Bureau of Public Roads, outlining an initial 37,681 miles of the system connecting major population centers across the . Planning for Interstate 44 involved coordination between the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO, now AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration's predecessor, the Bureau of Public Roads, which approved the general alignment in 1957 to link the southern with the Midwest. In , the segment was envisioned as a short connector of approximately 14 miles near Wichita Falls to tie into existing routes, reflecting its role as a brief extension rather than a major traversal. Oklahoma's planning leveraged pre-existing turnpikes constructed in the early 1950s, such as the opened in 1953 between and Tulsa, to accelerate integration into the Interstate network. Missouri prioritized early development, positioning segments along former for rapid advancement under the new federal program. Designation of the route as Interstate 44 began with signage on Oklahoma's Turner and Will Rogers Turnpikes in 1958, marking the first Interstate labeling in the state and retroactively incorporating these toll facilities into the system for federal aid eligibility. The full numbering and alignment were finalized during the 1960s as construction progressed and state plans aligned with federal standards, establishing endpoints at Wichita Falls, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, for a total length of 636 miles (1,024 km). Key early milestones included Missouri awarding its first Interstate contracts on August 2, 1956, for 13.3 miles in Laclede County along what became I-44, making it the inaugural project under the 1956 Act nationwide. The Turner Turnpike's 1953 completion was later retro-designated as the core of I-44 in Oklahoma, exemplifying how existing infrastructure shaped the route's development.

Construction

The construction of Interstate 44 (I-44) spanned the late 1950s to the early 1970s, with segments in Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri developed in phases that largely paralleled or upgraded existing roadways. In Texas, the 15-mile segment from Wichita Falls northward to the Oklahoma state line was built between 1959 and 1960 as part of early Interstate efforts, connecting to U.S. Highway 277 and facilitating cross-state travel. This short stretch encountered minimal terrain issues compared to other sections but required coordination with local urban infrastructure in Wichita Falls. In Oklahoma, much of I-44 utilized pre-existing turnpikes from the 1950s, including the Turner Turnpike (opened May 16, 1953, between Oklahoma City and Tulsa) and the Will Rogers Turnpike (opened June 28, 1957, from Tulsa to the Missouri line), which were designated as I-44 on July 14, 1958, primarily for signage purposes without major reconstruction at the time. Connections in the 1960s, such as the Skelly Drive bypass in Tulsa (opened November 21, 1958), involved urban adjustments to link these turnpikes seamlessly, though they caused temporary disruptions to local traffic patterns in the growing city. The H.E. Bailey Turnpike extension from Lawton to Oklahoma City opened on April 23, 1964, completing the state's primary I-44 corridor. Missouri's construction of I-44, the longest segment at over 290 miles, began earliest and faced the most significant engineering hurdles due to the state's diverse topography. The first Interstate contracts nationwide were awarded on August 2, 1956, to the Koss Construction Company for 13.3 miles of concrete pavement along U.S. 66 in Laclede County (now part of I-44), costing $1.1 million and marking Missouri's pioneering role in the system. Work progressed rapidly through the 1960s, with the core Ozarks section—from Joplin to near Rolla—completed by 1966, navigating the rugged Springfield and Salem Plateaus characterized by fault zones, sinkholes, and steeply dipping dolomites and limestones. The mountainous terrain demanded extensive cuts through formations like the Gasconade Dolomite (mileages 157–174) and Jefferson City Dolomite (mileages 104.3–249.15), some reaching depths of 310 feet, as well as stabilization against landslides and unstable shale layers; major bridges spanned deep valleys, including the Big Piney River (mileages 165.7 and 167.0–167.8), Gasconade River (mileage 143.1), and Meramec River (mileages 264.7, 266.5, and 276.0), often over faulted bedrock like the Chesapeake Fault (mileage 54.2, with a 150-foot throw). Urban challenges in St. Louis involved demolitions and rerouting through densely populated areas, exacerbating community disruptions during the extension via the Poplar Street Bridge (completed 1967). The final St. Louis segment, from I-55 to Laclede Station Road, opened on December 19, 1972, fully connecting I-44 coast-to-coast. By 1966, Missouri had completed the bulk of its rural Interstate routes, though urban extensions including I-44 in St. Louis opened in 1972. Missouri declared its Interstate system complete in 1966, becoming the first state to finish all assigned routes, though the I-44 urban extension extended into 1972. Overall costs for I-44 construction, based on federal obligations through 1989, totaled approximately $362 million in , $55 million in , and a smaller share in as part of broader state investments, reflecting the era's emphasis on federal-state partnerships under the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act. These figures underscore the scale of the project, with 's portion alone representing a substantial investment in overcoming Ozark and urban integration.

Expansions and improvements

Following the completion of Interstate 44's original construction in the early 1970s, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invested in bridge replacements and rehabilitations across the region during the and to address deterioration of structures built in the , with ongoing maintenance efforts documented in the state's 2008 Purpose and Need Study. In , the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority modernized toll plazas along I-44 sections in the , transitioning to cashless PlatePay tolling, with the H.E. Bailey Turnpike (a portion of I-44) fully converting by July 2022 to improve and reduce . Missouri's Forward 44 initiative, originating from the 2008 Purpose and Need Study that identified capacity and safety deficiencies along the corridor, has guided recent efforts. A key project is the $70.7 million widening of I-44 to six lanes in the area from Kansas Expressway (Route 13) to U.S. Route 65, which began construction in early 2025 and is expected to conclude by May 2027, including bridge replacements and pavement upgrades to enhance mobility. Additionally, a multi-phase $100 million of 52 miles of I-44 in Phelps and Crawford counties—from west of Rolla to —started in April 2022 and continued into 2024, focusing on resurfacing, shoulder widening, and bridge repairs to extend . In the Joplin area, a proposed $727 million allocation in the House's 2024 budget aims to widen and reconstruct I-44 from the interchange south of to Rolla, addressing freight and commuter demands. As of 2025, significant updates include the Department of Transportation's $252 million reconfiguration of the I-44/U.S. 75 interchange in Tulsa—locally dubbed "Traffic Henge"—which began on April 7, 2025, involving new flyover ramps, bridge reconstructions over the , and frontage road improvements to eliminate the complex concrete supports and reduce weaving conflicts. In , a $20 million environmental study initiated in early 2024 under the Forward 44 program evaluates corridor-wide impacts beyond funded widenings, incorporating public input and validating the 2008 study's findings for future enhancements from near to the border. Looking ahead, Missouri's long-term transportation plans, including the 2026-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, outline potential full reconstructions of aging I-44 segments by the 2030s to accommodate projected traffic growth and structural needs. In , the Turnpike Authority implemented toll rate increases averaging 1 cent per mile starting January 1, 2025—with 15-20% hikes on I-44 corridors like the and H.E. Turnpikes—followed by planned 6% inflationary adjustments every two years to fund ongoing maintenance and expansions.

Junction list

Texas

The Texas portion of Interstate 44 features a series of interchanges primarily serving the urban area of Wichita Falls, with all exits being toll-free and lacking dedicated auxiliary lanes.
Exit numberMilepostLocationsDestinationsNotes
0.00Wichita FallsUS 277 / US 281 / US 287 south – Jacksboro, Fort WorthWestern terminus; beginning of I-44
10.32Wichita FallsFM 369 (Southwest Parkway)Access to local suburban areas; partial interchange with no northbound entrance from some directions
21.80Wichita FallsSpur 325 – Sheppard AFBDirect access to Sheppard AFB;
3A3.40Wichita FallsSpur 325 – Wichita Falls Municipal Airport
3B4.30Wichita FallsUS 287 north – AmarilloEnd of US 287 concurrency with I-44; Spur 325 provides military base access
44.70Wichita FallsKell Blvd. / FM 890Access to local areas and airport
512.20BurkburnettTX 240Connection to Burkburnett and local roads; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
15.40Wichita FallsOklahoma state lineEastern terminus of I-44 in Texas

Oklahoma

ExitMileLocationsDestinationsNotes
10.00GrandfieldOK-36 South – Grandfield, DevolH.E. Bailey Turnpike begins (tolled)
54.95RandlettUS-70 West – Randlett; US-277/US-281 North – Wichita Falls
2019.50WaltersOK-5 – WaltersService plaza (Elmer Graham Plaza) nearby
3029.80GeronimoUS-277/US-281 South – Geronimo; OK-36 – Faxon, Lawton
3332.50LawtonBus. US-281 (11th St.) – Lawton
36A35.80LawtonOK-7 East – Duncan; Lee Blvd.
36B36.00LawtonLee Blvd. WestWestbound only
3736.50LawtonGore Blvd. – Lawton
3837.50LawtonNW Cache Rd. – LawtonAdded from standard lists
40A39.50LawtonNE Rogers Lane; US-62 West – Cache, AltusEastbound only
40B39.80LawtonUS-62 East – LawtonWestbound only
4140.50Fort SillFt. Sill Key Gate
4544.50Medicine ParkOK-49 West – Medicine Park, Carnegie
4645.50ElginUS-62 East; US-277/US-281 North – Elgin, Apache, AnadarkoEastbound only
5352.50FletcherUS-277 North – Elgin, Fletcher, Sterling
6261.50CyrilLocal roads – Fletcher, Cyril, SterlingWestbound only
8079.50ChickashaUS-81 North – Chickasha, El RenoService plaza nearby
8382.50ChickashaUS-62 West – Chickasha, Anadarko
99A98.50TuttleH.E. Bailey Spur East – Blanchard, NormanUnmarked
99B98.70TuttleOK-4 North – Tuttle, Mustang, YukonUnmarked
107106.50NewcastleUS-62 West; US-277 South – Newcastle, BlanchardToll booth nearby
108107.50TuttleOK-37 West – Tuttle, Minco
108A107.80NewcastleFrontage Rd.Westbound only
109108.50Oklahoma CitySW 149th St.
110110.00MooreOK-37 East; SW 134th St. – Moore
111111.00Oklahoma CitySW 119th St.
112112.00Oklahoma CitySW 104th St.
113113.00Oklahoma CitySW 89th St.
114114.00Oklahoma CitySW 74th St.
115115.00Oklahoma CityI-240 East; US-62 East; OK-3 East – Ft. Smith
116A116.20Oklahoma CitySW 59th St.
116B116.50Oklahoma CityAirport Rd.; OK-152 West
117A117.00Oklahoma CitySW 44th St.Eastbound
117B117.20Oklahoma CitySW 44th St.Westbound
118118.00Oklahoma CitySW 29th St.
119119.00Oklahoma CitySW 15th St.
120A120.00Oklahoma CityI-40 West – Amarillo
120B120.20Oklahoma CityI-40 East – Ft. SmithKey junction: I-40 (exit 150 on I-40)
121A121.00Oklahoma CityNW 10th St. – Fair ParkEastbound only
121B121.20Oklahoma CityNW 10th St.Westbound
122122.00Oklahoma CityNW 23rd St.
123A123.00Oklahoma CityNW 36th St.Eastbound only
123B123.20Oklahoma CityOK-66 West; OK-74 North – Warr Acres, Bethany
124124.00Oklahoma CityN. May Ave.
125A125.00Oklahoma CityN. Penn Ave.
125B125.20Oklahoma CityClassen Blvd.
125C125.40Oklahoma CityOK-3A (Northwest Expressway)Westbound only
126126.00Oklahoma CityWestern Ave.
127127.00Oklahoma CityI-235 South; US-77 – Downtown, EdmondKey junction: I-35 nearby (duplex ends)
128A128.00Oklahoma CityLincoln Blvd. – State Capitol
128B128.20Oklahoma CityKelley Ave.
129129.00Oklahoma CityM.L. King Ave.
130130.00Oklahoma CityI-35 South – DallasKey junction: I-35 (exit 39 on I-35)
134134.00Oklahoma CityWilshire Blvd.I-35 duplex
135135.00Oklahoma CityBritton Rd.I-35 duplex
136136.00Oklahoma CityHefner Rd.I-35 duplex
137137.00Oklahoma CityNE 122nd St.I-35 duplex
138138.00Oklahoma CityI-35 North – Wichita; I-44 East – TulsaSplit from I-35
146145.50LutherHogback Rd./Main St. – Luther, JonesWestbound on/eastbound off
149148.50LutherKickapoo Turnpike – Harrah, Jones
150150.00Oklahoma CityI-40 – Amarillo, Ft. SmithKey junction: I-40; toll section begins
158157.50WellstonOK-66 East – Wellston, ChandlerTurner Turnpike
166165.50ChandlerOK-18 – Chandler, CushingService plaza (MM 169)
179178.50StroudOK-99 – Stroud, Drumright
-182.00-Toll PlazaCars $3.50 (PikePass discount)
196195.50BristowOK-48; OK-66 – Bristow, Lake Keystone
211210.50KellyvilleOK-33 – Kellyville, Sapulpa; Drumright (westbound)Diamond interchange
215214.50SapulpaOK-97 – Sapulpa, Sand Springs
218A217.50SapulpaOK-66 West – SapulpaWestbound on/eastbound off
218B218.00JenksCreek Turnpike East – Jenks, Broken ArrowEastbound only
221220.50TulsaSH-66 West – SapulpaWestbound on/eastbound off
222A221.50Tulsa49th W. Ave.
222B222.00Tulsa55th Pl.Eastbound only
223A223.00TulsaI-244 East – Downtown TulsaKey junction: I-244
223B223.20Tulsa51st St.Westbound only
223C223.50Tulsa33rd W. Ave.
224224.00TulsaUS-75 – Okmulgee, BartlesvilleUnsigned I-444 begins/ends here
225225.00TulsaElwood Ave.Westbound only
226A226.00TulsaRiverside Dr.
226B226.20TulsaPeoria Ave.
227227.00TulsaLewis Ave. – Oral Roberts University
228228.00TulsaHarvard Ave.
229229.00TulsaYale Ave. – St. Francis Hospital
230230.00TulsaSheridan Rd.; 41st St.
231231.00TulsaUS-64; OK-51 – Sand Springs, Broken Arrow
232232.00TulsaMemorial Dr.; E. 31st St.Westbound only
233233.00TulsaE. 21st St.Eastbound only
234A234.00TulsaUS-169 North – Owasso
234B234.20TulsaGarnett Rd.
235235.00TulsaE. 11th St.
236236.00Tulsa129th E. Ave.
238238.00Tulsa161st E. Ave.
240A240.00CatoosaOK-167 (193rd E. Ave.)
240B240.20Catoosa193rd E. Ave.Westbound
241241.00CatoosaOK-66 East – Catoosa, ClaremoreWill Rogers Turnpike begins (tolled)
248247.50VerdigrisOK-266 West – Port of Catoosa
252251.50ClaremoreSH-20 (Flint Rd.) – Claremore
255254.50ClaremoreOK-20 – Claremore, Pryor
269268.50AdairOK-28 – Adair, Chelsea, Grand LakeWestbound on/eastbound off
283282.50Big CabinUS-69 – Big Cabin
-287.00VinitaVinita Toll PlazaMainline toll plaza; cars $4.25 (PikePass discount)
289288.50VinitaUS-60; SH-66 – VinitaWill Rogers Archway service plaza nearby
302301.50AftonUS-59; US-60 – Afton, Fairland, Grove
313312.50MiamiOK-10 – MiamiKey junction
-327.98-Missouri state lineEnd of Oklahoma segment
The table above lists all major junctions along Interstate 44 in Oklahoma, with exit numbers continuing statewide from the Texas border (mile 0) to the Missouri border (mile 327.98). Tolled sections include the H.E. Bailey Turnpike (exits 1–108), (exits 150–241), and Turnpike (exits 241–313). The unsigned is incorporated into the route in Tulsa between exits 224 and 231. Mileposts are approximate based on standard alignments.

Missouri

Interstate 44 in spans approximately 293 miles (472 km) from the Oklahoma state line near Joplin to its eastern terminus at in , featuring over 80 numbered interchanges, all toll-free. The route includes business loop tie-ins in cities like Joplin, , , Rolla, and for local access, as well as overlaps with former alignments in several areas. Key junctions include the connection to near Joplin, U.S. Route 65 in , and the merge with in , where the Poplar Street Bridge serves as the final approach across the . The table below lists selected major exits from west to east, with mileposts approximated based on sequential numbering.
ExitDestinationsLocationNotes
1US 400 West / US 166 West – Baxter Springs, KansasJoplinWestern terminus in Missouri; continuation from Oklahoma.
8US 71 Business South / Range Line RoadJoplinAccess to Joplin business district; near I-44 Business Loop.
11A-BMO 249 / I-49 / US 71JoplinMajor interchange where I-49 terminates at I-44.
46MO 39 / MO 265 – Mount Vernon, AuroraMount VernonRural access southeast of Springfield.
61Missouri PP / Missouri KBois D'ArcLocal rural connector.
72MO 266 / I-44 Loop / Chestnut ExpresswaySpringfieldI-44 Business Loop tie-in; urban access in Springfield.
75US 160 WestSpringfieldOverlap with historic Route 66.
77MO 13 / Kansas Expressway – BolivarSpringfieldNorthern access to Springfield.
80I-44 Business / Glenstone AvenueSpringfieldBusiness loop for downtown Springfield.
82US 65SpringfieldKey junction with US 65 north to Branson and south to Little Rock.
88MO 125 – Fair Grove, StraffordStraffordAccess to northern suburbs of Springfield.
100MO 38 / Missouri WMarshfieldRural interchange.
113ConwayConwayLocal services.
127I-44 Business / Morgan Road / Elm StreetLebanonWestern tie-in to Lebanon business loop.
130I-44 Business / Elm Street / Missouri MMLebanonEastern tie-in to Lebanon business loop.
153MO 17 – BuckhornWaynesvilleNear Fort Leonard Wood.
159I-44 Business LoopSt. RobertAccess to St. Robert and Fort Leonard Wood.
161Missouri Y / I-44 Spur – Fort Leonard WoodSt. RobertMilitary base access.
163MO 28 – DixonSt. RobertLocal rural route.
184I-44 Business East / US 63 SouthRollaWestern tie-in to Rolla business loop.
186US 63 North – Jefferson CityRollaMajor north-south route.
195MO 68St. JamesWine country access.
208MO 19 – Cuba, OwensvilleCubaHistoric Route 66 town.
218Missouri C / Missouri J / Missouri NBourbonRural connectors.
225MO 185 North / Missouri DSullivanI-44 Business Loop tie-in in Sullivan.
240MO 47 – St. Clair, UnionSt. ClairAccess to Union area.
247Missouri O / US 50 West / Missouri At – Union, Jefferson CityUnionOverlap with US 50.
256I-44 BusinessPacificWestern tie-in to Pacific business loop.
261I-44 BusinessPacificEastern tie-in to Pacific business loop.
272MO 141 – Fenton, Valley ParkValley ParkSuburban St. Louis access.
274ABowles AvenueFentonLocal suburban exit.
274BMraz LaneFentonLocal suburban exit.
277BUS 61 / US 67St. LouisSouthern St. Louis access.
280Elm AvenueSt. LouisFinal independent exit before I-55 merge; approach to Poplar Street Bridge.
282Laclede Station Road / Murdoch AvenueSt. LouisUrban access.
286Hampton AvenueSt. LouisSouthern city neighborhoods.
287BVandeventer AvenueSt. LouisCentral city access.
288Grand Boulevard / Louisiana AvenueSt. LouisNear Forest Park.
289Jefferson AvenueSt. LouisAccess to Lafayette Square.
290BLafayette Avenue / Route 100BSt. LouisDowntown approach.
290CPark AvenueSt. LouisNear Busch Stadium.
291BI-70 West / Memorial DriveSt. LouisEastern terminus preparation.
29212th Street / Poplar StreetSt. LouisLast exit before Poplar Street Bridge and I-70 terminus; merges with I-55 / I-64.

Auxiliary routes

Interstate 44 has three auxiliary routes, all situated within to alleviate congestion in the state's major urban centers of Tulsa and . These routes function as loops and spurs that integrate with the parent route and local highways, enhancing regional connectivity without extending beyond state lines. No auxiliary routes of I-44 exist in or . I-244 serves as a 15.75-mile (25.35 km) encircling the northern and eastern sides of downtown Tulsa, acting as the city's primary inner dispersal route. Beginning at I-44 near Oakhurst in west Tulsa, it arcs northeast through the city, passing over the and intersecting U.S. Highway 75 (also designated as U.S. Highway 412) before rejoining I-44 east of the city. This configuration allows I-244 to bypass the central business district while providing direct access to key radials like the Broken Arrow Expressway (U.S. Highway 69) and the Gilcrease Expressway. Construction commenced in the late as part of broader efforts to disperse traffic around Tulsa's growing core, with major segments opening between 1967 and 1975; the northern leg, including bridges, was fully completed in December 1975. I-444 is an unsigned 2.86-mile (4.60 km) spur forming the southeastern quadrant of Tulsa's Inner Dispersal Loop, seamlessly linking the two legs of I-244 around downtown. It travels south and east from I-244 near U.S. Highway 75, overlapping briefly with U.S. Highway 64 and State Highway 51 before reconnecting to I-244 adjacent to the Expressway (U.S. Highway 69), effectively creating a hidden full for local traffic. Designated in the 1970s to clarify its role as a connector without drawing through-traffic confusion with nearby I-44 segments, the route remains unsigned along its entirety. Initial segments opened in the early 1970s as part of the broader loop development, with the southeastern extension finalized in November 1981 following the completion of State Highway 51 improvements in March 1982. I-344, also known as the John Kilpatrick Turnpike, is a 31-mile (50 km) tolled spur providing a partial northern beltway around . It begins at near Newcastle in the southwest, curves north through and Edmond, and terminates at I-44 near the Turner Turnpike interchange northeast of the city, intersecting en route. This path enables westbound I-40 traffic to bypass central congestion, connecting to I-44 for eastward travel toward Tulsa. Authorized by state legislation in 1987, the turnpike's original 9.5-mile segment opened in 1991, with extensions adding the remaining length by 2007 to function as an urban relief corridor; it received its auxiliary Interstate designation in November 2024 following federal approval.

Business routes

Interstate 44 has eight business routes, all located in , designed to facilitate access to local downtown districts and historic alignments of while bypassing the main highway through commercial and urban areas. These routes are typically signed as "Business I-44" but are not signed with Interstate shields, reflecting their role as connectors rather than full interstates. They vary in length and configuration, ranging from short rural spurs to longer urban loops, and collectively support , , and access along the corridor. The Joplin loop spans 11.8 miles (19.0 km) along and 7th Street, connecting I-44 exits 4 and 8 to provide direct access to the city's and historic Route 66 sites. The Sarcoxie loop is a 3.1-mile (5.0 km) spur utilizing Route 175, forming a short rural that links I-44 to the small town's and preserves the original Route 66 path. The business loop measures 4.2 miles (6.8 km), following Missouri Route 39 and to connect I-44 with the county seat's downtown area, emphasizing local retail and historical landmarks. In , the business loop is an L-shaped 13.9-mile (22.4 km) route via Chestnut Expressway and Missouri Route 13, serving as an urban bypass that directs traffic through key commercial zones and ties into the city's extensive Route 66 heritage. The Lebanon business loop covers 6.0 miles (9.7 km) along Missouri Route 5 and Jefferson Street, offering access to the and aligning with former U.S. 66 segments for visitors and local traffic. The Waynesville–St. Robert business loop extends 9.0 miles (14.5 km) via Missouri Route 17, connecting I-44 to the twin communities and providing essential access to , the U.S. Army base that drives regional economic activity. The Rolla business loop is 2.43 miles (3.91 km) long, running along Missouri Route 63 and Kingshighway to link I-44 with the university town’s , supporting education-related travel and Route 66 . Finally, the St. Clair business loop is a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) spur via Missouri Route 185, branching off I-44 to serve the community's historic center and nearby Route 66 attractions in a semi-rural setting.

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