U.S. Highway 266 marker

U.S. Highway 266

US 266 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 66
Maintained by ODOT
Length43.09 mi[1] (69.35 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
West end US 75 / US 62 in Henryetta
Major intersections
East end US 64 / SH-2 in Warner
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountiesOkmulgee, McIntosh, Muskogee
Highway system
  • Oklahoma State Highway System
← US 259→ SH-266

U.S. Route 266 (US 266) is a 43.09-mile (69.35 km), east–west U.S. Numbered Highway in Okmulgee, McIntosh, and Muskogee counties in Oklahoma, United States, that connects U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 75 (US 62/US 75) in Henryetta with U.S. Route 64 (US 62) in Warner. The highway no longer meets the former route of its parent, U.S. Route 66 (US 66), and is closely paralleled by Interstate 40 (I-40), which replaced US 266 (along with accompanying routes US 62 from Oklahoma City to Henryetta and US 64 from Warner to the Arkansas border west of Fort Smith, Arkansas) as the major east–west highway east of Oklahoma City during the 1960s.

Route description

The eastern end of US 266 and SH-2 near Warner, May 2006

US 266 begins at US 62/US 75 on the northeast side of Henryetta, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of I-40.[2] The highway heads east from this point, quickly crossing into the town of Dewar, which it bisects.[3] As it leaves Dewar, US 266 turns northeast, crossing Coal Creek and the Deep Fork River. The highway bypasses Hoffman to the east, providing access via Hoffman Road.[4] The route then passes through the southeastern outskirts of Grayson.[3] The highway then turns due east. Immediately after the curve, the highway serves as the southern terminus of Oklahoma State Highway 52's northern section. US 266 then continues east into McIntosh County.

US 266 continues due east, running parallel to the Deep Fork Arm of Eufaula Lake, the reservoir's northernmost arm.[4] South of Council Hill, the highway intersects Oklahoma State Highway 72 (SH-72) at its southern terminus. US 266 turns south-southeast, continuing the alignment of SH-72. The route then turns back to the east and heads into the city of Checotah. On the west side of town, US 266 has an interchange with the modern freeway route of U.S. Route 69 (US 69). Further east, in downtown Checotah, the route intersects the old alignment of US 69 (US 69 Business). The highway heads due east out of Checotah, descending a ridge and passing just south of its summit, Mt. Nebo.[4] The highway passes under I-40 just before crossing into Muskogee County.

Just under 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the McIntosh–Muskogee county line, US 266 intersects the southern Oklahoma State Highway 2 (SH-2).[5] US 266 begins a concurrency with the state route (SH-2), traveling northwest to an interchange with I-40, numbered as Exit 278. The highways then curve around to due north to pass through Warner. On the north edge of Warner lies an intersection with US 64, where both US 266 and SH-2 end. Continuing straight puts the traveler on westbound US 64 towar Tulsa, while turning right brings the motorist onto eastbound US 64 toward Fort Smith, Arkansas.

History

Prior to the inception of the U.S. highway system, Oklahoma State Highway 9 (SH-9) covered much of the corridor from Oklahoma City to Spiro.[6] Upon the US route system's inception, US 266 replaced SH-9 from its junction with US 66 at 23rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City to US 64 in Warner.[7] By 1930, along with changes to several other branches of US 66,[8] the route was truncated at Henryetta. The segment from Oklahoma City to Henryetta became part of US 62, which was commissioned in 1930.

Junction list

The entire route is in Oklahoma.

CountyLocationmi[1][9][10]kmDestinationsNotes
OkmulgeeHenryetta0.000.00Dewar Avenue westContinuation west beyond western terminus

 US 75 / US 62 to I-40 – Okmulgee		Western terminus
Grayson7.311.7
 SH-52 north – Morris		Southern end of SH-52
McIntosh​19.932.0
 SH-72 north		Southern end of SH-72
Checotah26.542.6 US 69 – Muskogee, McAlesterCloverleaf interchange
27.3544.02
 US 69 Bus. (Broadway Street)
Muskogee​40.4065.02
 SH-2 south – Porum		Western end of SH-2 concurrency
​41.566.8 I-40 – Ft. Smith, Oklahoma CityDiamond interchange; I-40 exit 278
Warner43.0969.35
 SH-2 ends / US 64		Eastern terminus; Eastern end of SH-2 concurrency; road continues as US 64 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Oklahoma Department of Transportation. "State Highway System: Log of U.S. Highway 266" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  2. ↑ Official State Map (PDF) (Map) (2009–10 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Oklahoma Department of Transportation (n.d.). Control Section Maps: Okmulgee County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Oklahoma Atlas and Gazetteer (Map). 1:200,000. DeLorme. 2006.
  5. ↑ Oklahoma Department of Transportation (n.d.). Control Section Maps: Muskogee County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  6. ↑ Oklahoma State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (1925 ed.). Oklahoma State Highway Department. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  7. ↑ Oklahoma State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (1927 ed.). Oklahoma State Highway Department. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  8. ↑ "U.S. 666: "Beast of a Highway"?". Federal Highway Administration.
  9. ↑ Google (June 9, 2010). "I" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  10. ↑ Google (June 9, 2010). "II" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
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