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U.S. 259

Highway Review:
U.S. 259 heads through the mountains of southeast Oklahoma. The highway enters Oklahoma from Texas and intersects OK 87 two miles later. Eighteen miles later, the highway joins the U.S. 70 bypass of Idabel, and meets OK 3 on the east side of Idabel. From there, U.S. 70, U.S. 259, and OK 3 run along a 4-lane divided highway from Idabel to Broken Bow, a distance of 13 miles. After U.S. 70 and OK 3 head their separate ways in Broken Bow, U.S. 259 becomes the Mountain Gateway, a name it has for the remainder of its route. The highway has a loop route, OK 259A, that provides access to the Beavers Bend State Park. After that route's northern end nine miles north of Broken Bow, U.S. 259 goes through a 29-mile stretch without any highway intersections. The route is anything but boring, though, as the highway winds its way through the Kiamichi Mountains. The northern end of that stretch is at OK 4, which provides access to Smithville. Just five miles after that, OK 144 branches off from U.S. 259. OK 63 follows 14 miles later, and five miles after a connection to the Talimena Scenic Drive (OK 1), U.S. 259 comes to an end at U.S. 59/U.S. 270.

Highway Information:
Distance: 98.8 miles
Counties traveled through: McCurtain, Le Flore
Highway intersections: OK 87 (Mile 1.9), Bypass U.S. 70 (Mile 19.6), OK 3 (Mile 22.6), U.S. 70/Bypass U.S. 70 (Mile 24.6), U.S. 70/OK 3 (Mile 32.3), OK 259A (Mile 38.5), OK 259A (Mile 40.6), OK 4 (Mile 70.8), OK 144 (Mile 75.8), OK 63 (Mile 89.6), OK 1 (Mile 94.5), U.S. 59/U.S. 270 (Mile 98.8)
Highway duplexes: Bypass U.S. 70 (Miles 19.6-24.6, 5.0 miles), OK 3 (Miles 22.6-32.3, 9.7 miles), U.S. 70 (Miles 24.6-32.3, 7.7 miles)

Traffic Counts:
2,000 - Texas State Line
2,100 - U.S. 259 @ OK 87
4,900 - U.S. 259 @ U.S. 70 Bypass
5,000 - U.S. 259/U.S. 70 Bypass duplex
10,500 - U.S. 70/U.S. 259/OK 3 multiplex
13,100 - U.S. 259 @ U.S. 70 West/OK 3 East
4,300 - U.S. 259 @ OK 259A (southern junction)
3,900 - U.S. 259 @ OK 259A (northern junction)
1,900 - U.S. 259 @ OK 4
1,500 - U.S. 259 @ OK 144
1,200 - U.S. 259 @ OK 63
950 - U.S. 259 @ OK 1
1,200 - U.S. 259 @ U.S. 59/U.S. 270

PICTURES

	U.S. 259 South at OK 87 East. The sign assembly is missing its arrows. OK 87 begins to the left. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 70 East/U.S. 259 North/OK 3 West assurance shields just north of the OK 3 intersection in east Idabel. U.S. 70 actually joins the two highways in two miles; however, this was part of U.S. 70 for many years before the highway was moved to a new alignment north of Idabel. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North/OK 3 West at U.S. 70 West. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 70 East/U.S. 259 North/OK 3 West as the highways prepare to cross the Little River. The northbound lanes kept the original bridge, while the southbound lanes use a newer bridge. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 70 East/U.S. 259 North/OK 3 West at U.S. 70 East/OK 3 West. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North at OK 259A East. OK 259A provides access to the Beavers Bend State Park and connects back to U.S. 259 two miles ahead. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North at the northern junction of OK 259A. The next highway intersection on U.S. 259 North is at OK 4 in 30 miles. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	View along U.S. 259 North in the Kiamichi Mountains. The highway keeps a 65 mph speed limit throughout, and most curves can be taken at that speed, at least in a smaller vehicle. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North at OK 4 East. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North at OK 144 West. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 South at OK 1. The road to the right of this photo connects U.S. 259 to OK 1. The state highway runs along the Talimena Scenic Drive in this area. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	"END U.S. 259" sign as U.S. 259 North nears its end at U.S. 59/U.S. 270. (Photo taken 6/23/04)
	U.S. 259 North at U.S. 59/U.S. 270. Arkansas is nine miles to the right. (Photo taken 6/23/04)