 The western extension was the first to open to traffic . Following a brief dedication ceremony attended by Governor Keating , Transportation Secretary McCaleb , and OTA board member Bartlett , the highway opened on December 15 , 2000 . As with the first section of the turnpike , tolls were waived for the weekend ; the road was free until noon on December 18 . The south loop was opened in two segments . The first , from US @-@ 64 / US @-@ 169 to South Elm Place in Broken Arrow , opened at 3 p.m. August 15 , 2001 . The new segment remained toll @-@ free until 7 a.m. August 20 . A rainy September pushed back the opening of the other half of the south loop by two months . The second half of the south loop , from Elm Place to New Orleans Street , opened at 2 p.m. April 15 , 2002 . The final segment of the extension , connecting New Orleans Street and the Muskogee Turnpike to the Will Rogers Turnpike , was scheduled to open on August 16 of that year . 
