State Highway 251A, also known as SH-251A or OK-251A, is a highway maintained by the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 state of Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

. The highway has a length of 5.37 miles (8.6 km) in Wagoner County

Wagoner County, Oklahoma

Wagoner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 73,085. Its county seat is Wagoner.-Early History:The area of Wagoner County was settled by the Creek after their forced removal in Alabama in the 1820's...

 and 0.69 miles (1.1 km) in Cherokee County

Cherokee County, Oklahoma

Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 42,521. Its county seat is Tahlequah.Cherokee County was established in 1907.-Geography:...

, for a total length of 6.06 miles (9.8 km). The highway runs from State Highway 16

State Highway 16 (Oklahoma)

State Highway 16 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs in an irregular 99.2-mile west-to-east pattern through the northeastern part of the state, running from SH-33 at Drumright to SH-51 at Wagoner...

 in Okay, Oklahoma

Okay, Oklahoma

Okay is a town along the Verdigris River in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Okay is located at ....

 to State Highway 80 north of Ft. Gibson. It runs across the dam of Fort Gibson Lake.

The reason for the number SH-251A is unclear, as there has never been a state highway

State highway

State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

 in Oklahoma with the number 251. The highway was once part of SH-16.

Route description

SH-251A begins in Wagoner County at SH-16 in Okay and follows North York Road north out of town. Upon leaving town, the highway curves to the east. The highway proceeds due east until reaching the unincorporated settlement of Mallard Bay, where it curves to the southeast to avoid the eponymous bay. SH-251A curves back to the northeast, paralleling the short of Fort Gibson Lake, before reaching Fort Gibson Dam

Fort Gibson Dam

The Fort Gibson Dam is a gravity dam on the Grand River in Oklahoma, north of Fort Gibson. The purpose of the dam is flood control and hydroelectric power production. It was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1941 and construction began the next year. During World War II construction was...

. The route crosses the Grand River

Grand River (Oklahoma)

The Grand River is an alternate name for the lower section of the Neosho River, a tributary of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma. "Grand River" refers to the section of river below the confluence of the Neosho and Spring rivers in Ottawa County near Miami...

along the top of the dam, entering Cherokee County in the process. After the SH-251A leaves the dam, it reaches its junction with SH-80 and ends.

History

What is now SH-251A was originally added to the state highway system as part of a 1955 extension of SH-16. The highway was paved at this time. In 1965, SH-16 was realigned to head north from Okay instead of east, and the vacated section of highway was assigned the SH-251A designation. No changes to SH-251A have occurred since.

Junction list