North Texas Tollway Authority history

The supplemental bond issue in the amount of $7 million was completed on June 2, 1952, making the total bond issue to finance the Turner Turnpike $38 million.

The first bid for construction on the Will Rogers Turnpike was awarded on April 27, 1955.

The Oklahoma Highway commission designated the Turner Turnpike and the Will Rogers Turnpike as Interstate 44 on July 14, 1958.

Bonds in the amount of $56 million were issued in November 1961 for the construction of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike.

Bonds in the amount of $31 million were issued in November 1963 for construction of the North section of the Indian Nation Turnpike.

On July 6, 1965, the Oklahoma Legislature authorized the construction of the Muskogee Turnpike and the Cimarron Turnpike.

The North section of the Indian Nation Turnpike was opened to traffic on January 1, 1966.

The South Section of the Indian Nation Turnpike was opened to traffic on August 21, 1970.

Bonds in the amount of $74 million were issued in October 1971 for the construction of the Cimarron Turnpike.

Bonds in the amount of $558.4 million were issued in February 1989. $385.4 million was for the construction of the Cherokee Turnpike and the first sections of the Kilpatrick, Creek, and Chickasaw Turnpikes.

In May 1992, bonds in the amount of $608.3 million were issued in order to refinance approximately 94% of the Authority’s outstanding debt and in effect decreased the Authority’s aggregate debt service payments by approximately $36.8 million over the next 30 years.

An increase in tolls based on the Consumer Price Index over the previous 18 months for both cash customers and PIKEPASS customers on the Oklahoma Turnpike System became effective on February 7, 1995.

On August 5, 1998, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of 16.3 miles of construction on the John Kilpatrick Extension in Oklahoma City.

On March 30, 1999, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of 21.2 miles of construction of the Creek East and Broken Arrow Turnpike Extensions and the 4.8 miles of construction on the Creek West Turnpike Extension.

On December 15, 2000, the new Creek West Extension, from the Turner Turnpike to United States 75, was opened to traffic.

The new Luther/Jones Interchange on the Turner Turnpike opened to traffic on May 20, 2011.

First, two Driving Forward projects start construction in 2016.

OTA raises tolls for only the 8th time by 12% on January 1, 2017.

OTA raises tolls for the 9th time 2.5% on January 1, 2018.

On May 1, 2019, the OTA announced an interoperability agreement with Texas that allows Pikepass to be used in the whole state of Texas.

On October 13, 2020, the Kickapoo Turnpike opened to traffic from I-44/Turner Turnpike to I-40.