The final phase of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s cashless conversion of the SH-375/Indian Nation Turnpike in Southeastern Oklahoma is scheduled for mid-morning Wednesday, weather permitting.
Motorists can expect to keep rolling with cashless tolling just south of US-69 near McAlester. Once the final phase is complete Wednesday, motorists will be able to travel completely cashless via PIKEPASS and PlatePay with increased safety and convenience between I-40 at Henryetta and Hugo near the Oklahoma/Texas state line.
The rest of the Indian Nation Turnpike converted to cashless tolling Aug. 28 at Eufaula and Antlers, which included the SH-9 and US-270 on- and off-ramps.
The northbound and southbound Indian Nation Turnpike will be narrowed to one lane in each direction at the McAlester toll plaza just south of US-69 beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday until demolition of the retired tolling infrastructure is complete, which is expected to complete in December. Motorists can expect lanes to shift at this location during the demolition work and are urged to slow down and use caution in the work zone. Once demolition is complete, motorists will have two lanes in each direction for non-stop travel and a northbound US-69 off-ramp lane.
“This is the most significant safety upgrade to the Indian Nation Turnpike since the northern half opened to traffic 58 years ago,” said OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle. “We’re already seeing fewer toll plaza crashes on other turnpikes in our system since their conversion to cashless tolling and we’re thrilled to provide this safety and convenience to motorists in Southeastern Oklahoma.”
PlatePay, the system replacing cash toll booths, helps create a free flow of traffic and eliminates sudden speed changes when motorists maneuver lanes to stop at a toll booth and then re-enter high-speed traffic. Eliminating these conflict points significantly increases safety on Oklahoma’s turnpike system, which saw more than 500 crashes at tolling booths in the past six years. This change also offers customers the ability to conveniently pay their tolls online and never be distracted by looking for cash while driving.
PlatePay cameras photograph a vehicle’s license plate, enabling the Authority to send the vehicle’s registered owner an invoice for their turnpike travel. Motorists without a PIKEPASS will receive a bill in the mail or they may look up and pay their toll amount online at www.platepay.com about five days after traveling a turnpike. PIKEPASS customers will continue to enjoy seamless travel at the lowest available toll rate.
This marks the 11th Oklahoma toll road to offer cashless tolling. The Indian Nation Turnpike joins the John Kilpatrick, Kickapoo, I-44/H.E. Bailey, Chickasaw, Gilcrease, Cimarron, Creek, Cherokee, Muskogee and I-44/Turner turnpikes in offering OTA’s PlatePay system for open road tolling. OTA plans to transition the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike in Northeastern Oklahoma to fully cashless tolling by Nov. 20.