Oklahoma State Highway 17
SH-17 was first established as a state highway, connecting Sterling to Rush Springs, in the mid-1930s. It was later extended west over a portion of SH-65, bringing its western terminus to Elgin.
Route description
SH-17 begins at U.S. Highway 277 in the north-central part of Elgin. SH-17 proceeds due east out of town for approximately 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) before turning southeast. Around 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) west of Sterling, the route returns to a due east course, then curves slightly to the south as it enters town. On the west side of town, SH-17 serves as the northern terminus of SH-65, which follows 5th Avenue southward out of town. SH-17 continues east through Sterling along Main Street.
East of Sterling, SH-17 crosses Beaver Creek near its source. About five miles (8.0 km) east of SH-65, SH-17 crosses the Comanche–Grady county line. The route then turns northeast, turning back east to follow the same line of latitude it originally followed in Elgin. The highway passes south of the ghost town of Acme. On the west side of Rush Springs, it intersects the US-81 expressway bypass of the town. SH-17 then continues east along Blakeley Avenue into downtown Rush Springs, where it ends at US-81's Rush Springs business loop.
History
The present-day State Highway 17 was commissioned between May 1936 and April 1937. Originally, the all-dirt highway began in Sterling and ran to Rush Springs; the Sterling–Elgin portion of the highway was at that time part of SH-65. However, at some point between April 1937 and April 1938, SH-65 was truncated to the south, and SH-17 was extended west to Elgin along the former route of SH-65. No further changes have been made to SH-17's route since.
Junction list
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comanche | Elgin | 0.0 | 0.0 |  US 277 | Western terminus |
| Sterling | 7.4 | 11.9 |  SH-65 | Northern terminus of SH-65 | |
| Grady | Rush Springs | 20.3 | 32.7 |  US 81 | |
| 20.9 | 33.6 |  US 81 Bus. | Eastern terminus | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation (2010–2011). Control Section Maps: Comanche County (PDF) (Map) (2010–2011 ed.). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
- ^ Oklahoma Department of Transportation (2010–2011). Control Section Maps: Grady County (PDF) (Map) (2010–2011 ed.). Scale not given. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
- ^ Oklahoma Atlas and Gazetteer (Map). 1:200,000. DeLorme. 2006. p. 51.
- ^ "Oklahoma State Highway 17" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
- ^ Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (April 1937 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Highways. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
- ^ Map Showing Condition of Improvement of the State Highway System (PDF) (Map) (April 1938 ed.). Oklahoma Department of Highways. Retrieved August 7, 2008.