Speed on H.E. Bailey near Lawton now 80 mph

Lawton drivers will be getting to Oklahoma City a little faster.

Maintenance crews with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority installed new signage Thursday raising the speed limit to 80 mph along a 59-mile portion of the I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Lawton, in Comanche, Caddo and Grady counties.

The increase from 75 mph to 80 mph was approved in April 2023 by OTA’s board, as one of a series of speed upgrades allowed under a bill crafted in 2019 by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton. The bill allows increases in speed on Oklahoma turnpikes on portions of toll roads located outside municipal city limits.

The I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike is 86.4 miles long, extending between Oklahoma City to U.S. 70 near Wichita Falls, Texas, and sees an average daily traffic count of 23,164 vehicles per day, according to state officials. The section of the I-44/H.E. Bailey between Newcastle and Chickasha was signed for 80 mph in summer 2020. While the area between Chickasha and Lawton now is 80 mph, the section of turnpike between Lawton and the Texas state line will remain posted at 75 mph at this time, turnpike officials said.

“We want to remind motorists to always drive for conditions as the posted, black and white speed limit signage designates the top speed safe to travel during good conditions. If inclement weather strikes, motorists are cautioned to slow down and drive at the speed safest for conditions at the time,” OTA Deputy Director T.J. Dill said.

The change in speed is among a variety of upgrades planned for the turnpike this year, and work zones for two of those upgrades will put a damper on drivers who want to go 80 mph. That work to upgrade shoulders and guardrails is expected to begin by summer.