Oklahoma State Highway 73

State Highway 73
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	24.5 mi (39.4 km)
Major junctions
West end:	SH-34 north of Elk City
East end:	BUS I-40 in Clinton
Highway system
Oklahoma State Highways Oklahoma turnpike system ← SH-72 SH-74 →

State Highway 73 (abbreviated SH-73 or OK-73) is a 24½ mi^[1] (39.4 km) state highway mostly in Custer Co., Oklahoma, although a stretch of about four-fifths of a mile (1.3 km) of its eastbound lane lies in Roger Mills Co. SH-73 has no lettered spur routes.

Route description

SH-73's eastern terminus as viewed from I-40 BUS in Clinton.

State Highway 73 begins at State Highway 34 south of Hammon. The western terminus of the highway occurs at a jog in the Roger Mills–Custer county line; north of the intersection, SH-34 runs along the north–south boundary, and at the intersection, the boundary makes a ninety-degree turn to head east–west. The first 0.8 miles (1.3 km) of SH-73 straddles the county line.^[2] The county line makes another turn after this to return to a north–south orientation, and SH-73 fully enters Custer County.

In Custer County, SH-73 travels through hilly terrain and crosses both Panther Creek and Little Panther Creek, tributaries of Foss Lake. SH-73 serves the southwestern portion of the lake, and runs along the edges of Foss State Park. The highway provides connections to four campgrounds along the lakeshore.^[2] Near the southeast corner of the lake, the route intersects SH-44.

SH-73 turns south along SH-44, forming a concurrency. The two routes curve southwest to cross Oak Creek. SH-44/73 travel together for 2 miles (3.2 km)^[3] before SH-73 splits off, returning to a due east course. The highway parallels I-40, which runs to the south of SH-73. SH-73 then bridges the Washita River. West of Clinton, the highway crosses a set of railroad tracks at the unincorporated locale of Ralph.^[2] State Highway 73 then enters Clinton, where it comes to an end at an intersection with I-40's Clinton business loop.

Junction list

County	Location	Mile[1]	Destinations	Notes
Roger Millsa[›]		0.0	SH-34	Western terminus
Custer		12.1	SH-44	Northern end of SH-44 concurrency
		13.9	SH-44	Southern end of SH-44 concurrency
	Clinton	24.5	BUS I-40	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/Former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

^ a: Motorists making westbound SH-73 to northbound SH-34 movements will remain within Custer County. See route description above.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Stuve, Eric. "OK-73". OKHighways. http://www.okhighways.com/ok73.html. Retrieved 2006-06-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} DeLorme (2006). Oklahoma Atlas and Gazetteer (Map). 1:200,000. 
3. ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Oklahoma Official State Map (Map) (2008 ed.). 

External links

• SH-73 at Roadklahoma