The Southeast Interchange of the Inner Dispersal Loop, shown looking west from the Peoria Avenue bridge, is the last of the four expressway interchanges to open in downtown Tulsa. The interchange, which opened in 1981, connects the Broken Arrow Expressway with the east leg of the IDL. Three highways, U.S. 75, U.S. 64 and S.H. 51, travel through the interchange. According to maps, Interstate 444 also passes through the interchange, but it is unsigned. Prior to the completion of the interchange and related segments, the Broken Arrow Expressway ended at Xanthus Avenue (near Lewis Avenue), and traffic was diverted to adjacent streets. Westbound traffic followed 13th Street into downtown Tulsa, while eastbound traffic was funneled onto 14th Street (the present eastbound frontage road from Peoria to Lewis avenues) near Cincinnati Avenue and followed it east to Xanthus. The roadway west of Peoria Avenue was removed following the opening of the eastbound lanes from Cincinnati Avenue to the east in June 1981. The three highways also traveled different segments. U.S. 75 was routed along I-244 on the north and west legs of the Inner Dispersal Loop. U.S 64 and S.H. 51 were routed along 15th Street between the expressway interchange (near Birmingham Avenue) and Denver Avenue, at which point they traveled north on Denver Avenue to the completed expressway (near 13th Street). This photograph was taken June 1986.
