Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

Sometimes a headache, sometimes not upon traveling from Joplin, MO or Tulsa, OK. My best advice for those that are traveling this road for the first time is to have cash on you at all times. At least $ 10, half of which should be in change. This particular stop requires $ 4 for a two-​axle car, so on & so forth. I made the mistake once in not having enough cash, and the attendant had to fill out a voucher for me to use at the next stop, or upon returning at this same turnpike stop while returning to civilization in Oklahoma City.
Or, if you are a resident of the state of Oklahoma and you have one of those EZ passes, then you have nothing to worry about. Just fly on through and wave at the rest of us, yet don’t be too snooty about it.

Ok so I’m going to Oklahoma and I am dumping change in these toll machines left and right. I get to the second to last one and they take debit cards. So I charged my $ 4 on the debit card. Then I get to the very last one in Oklahoma and they tell me they don’t take debit cards. So between the change in my purse and my change ashtray I had all but $ 0.71 of the $ 4 that I owed. And I just looked at the lady and I said I don’t have any more change. So she wrote me a vulture for the $ 0.71 and let me go. Be warned if you’re coming to Oklahoma bring cash. Thank you very much for the lady who actually let me go. I thought I was going to go to jail.

Cost us $ 4 to pass. Of course I’ve experienced better… like places that don’t charge me.

The turnpike is a limited access interstate. Most exits/​entrances are 5 to 20 miles apart and in between those locations there is absolutely no way to exit the roadway. So guess what happens when there is a wreck or construction ahead and traffic is backed up? You got it, you never know it when you unknowingly jet right pass your last chance to exit and avoid sitting in traffic.
You would think that you could opt into a messaging system that would alert you to traffic ahead. What with all the twittering and texting and emailing and blogging going on these days. So I call the road condition phone number — guess what? «No hazardous road conditions» — but I just sat through 30 minute backup… hmmm…
Google their website — obviously designed when PDF’s were the latest fad.
I’m investigating how to startup an unofficial traffic system for the Turner turnpike between Tulsa and OKC, which is the most highly traveled turnpike. Any ideas? Chime in!
Craig