U.S. Highway 69 crosses the
Red River to enter
Bryan County, Oklahoma concurrent with
US-75 south of
Colbert. The first few miles of highway north of the state line are freeway-grade, featuring three interchanges, including one at
State Highway 91. Near
Calera, the route downgrades to an expressway. On the west side of
Durant, however, US-69/75 becomes a freeway again, beginning with an interchange with
U.S. Highway 70, and followed by an interchange with
SH-78. The freeway continues northeast, providing access to
Armstrong,
Caddo, and
SH-22 before becoming an expressway once again at the
Atoka County line. In Atoka County, US-69/75 bypass
Caney and
Tushka to the west before coming to the
SH-3/
7 junction in the county seat of
Atoka, Oklahoma; at this junction, SH-3 joins with the U.S. routes while SH-7 has its eastern terminus. North of this interchange, US-75 and SH-3 split off, leaving US-69 without any concurrent routes for the first time since crossing the Red River. The trap was shut down by the
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety on August 1, 2005. Just north of the town, US-69 has the first of three interchanges with
Interstate 44, the
Will Rogers Turnpike. After crossing the turnpike, the route begins a concurrency with
US-60 into
Vinita. The two U.S. routes serve as the southern terminus of
SH-2 there. East of town, another access point to the turnpike is offered.
SH-82's northern terminus lies east of this. US-60/69 cut the northwest corner of
Delaware County, entering just west of the northern terminus of
State Highway 85. The routes then cross into
Ottawa County, passing through
Afton, before
US-59 joins the concurrency. Just north of this, US-60 splits off at an interchange which also serves as the third entry to the Will Rogers Turnpike. Near
Narcissa, US-59/69 passes the east end of
SH-25. US-59 then splits off to follow
SH-10 westbound, while SH-10 eastbound follows US-69 into
Miami. The two routes concur briefly before splitting near downtown Miami, where US-69 forms a
one-way couplet. After reuniting north of downtown, US-69 serves as a major arterial through the city, before leaving town and arcing northeast through
North Miami and
Commerce. US-69 then spawns
U.S. Highway 69 Alternate to
Quapaw and
Baxter Springs, Kansas. The main route turns north, running through the
Tar Creek Superfund site and abandoned community of
Picher, before leaving Oklahoma and entering the state of Kansas. ==History==