Bullard Explores Historic Status for Southern Oklahoma Highway

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, today held an interim study looking into how to secure a historic highway designation for U.S. Highway 70, a prominent east-west connector in southern Oklahoma.

Officially designated on December 7, 1926, U.S. Route 70 stretches across the southern part of the state for 289 miles, from the Texas state line near Davidson, Oklahoma, to the Arkansas state line near Broken Bow. The road also stretches far beyond Oklahoma's borders. It spans 2,381 miles from Globe, Arizona, to Atlantic, North Carolina.

Presenters detailed the history of the road that was once referred to as the Broadway of America and the Treasure Trail, which passes through eight Oklahoma counties. They also addressed how an official highway designation could boost tourism and economic growth along the highway’s path.

Colby Bryant, a member of the Hugo Area Chamber of Commerce; Amy Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department; Billy Hamilton, senior director of economic development for the Choctaw Nation as well as Greg Maggard, cultural resources program manager for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, presented at the study held before the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee.

Bullard noted that, beyond the highway’s rich history, several beautiful state parks along the route already draw many visitors. A historic designation, he said, would increase traffic on the highway and boost visitation to these parks.

“Today, we heard about the many benefits of designating Highway 70 as a historic road,” Bullard said. “There’s no better example of how a historic highway can spur tourism and economic prosperity than the way Route 66 has revitalized communities along the Mother Road. Every city and town on Highway 70 has its own unique history and character worth celebrating. Designating U.S. Route 70 as a historic highway will go a long way toward encouraging travelers to stop and discover what each of these localities has to offer.”

Bullard added that the next step toward securing a historic highway designation would involve establishing a U.S. Route 70 Commission to lay the groundwork for the transformation.