A four-mile (6.4 km) segment of the turnpike was transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), making it a toll-free road, in 2011.

The turnpike begins in Murray County at U.S. Highway 177 (US-177) north of Sulphur; west of this interchange, the road becomes SH-7 Spur.

[4] Proposed by southern Oklahoma politicians, the turnpike was intended to promote economic development by connecting Ada to the Interstate Highway System.

[7] At the time, however, ODOT director Bobby Green said that his agency could not buy the turnpike due to a lack of funds.

[5] The Chickasaw improvements were eventually cut from the package, which ultimately died when a commission overseeing the sale of bonds by state agencies voted against it.

[12][13] The turnpike had deteriorated since its original construction; ODOT director Gary Ridley said that recurrent pavement problems necessitated constant repairs.

He also mentioned that there were other issues, such as right-of-way problems, that could endanger ODOT's ability to draw from the federal highway trust fund.

[14] House Speaker Pro Tempore-designate Danny Hilliard opposed the transfer on the grounds of the road's poor condition, as well as objecting to the partial interchanges.

[16] Construction constraints required the entire turnpike to be closed in March,[16] causing traffic problems in Sulphur.

[15] The Oklahoma Transportation Commission, which oversees ODOT, voted on August 6, 2007, to begin feasibility and cost–benefit analysis studies towards accepting the four miles (6.4 km) of the turnpike between SH-7 and US-177.

ODOT Director Tim Gatz stated in the Transportation Commission meeting that the numbering addition was primarily to aid in navigation using digital mapping and routing applications.

[18] As of August 2022[update], passengers of two-axle vehicles (such as cars and motorcycles) pay tolls of $1.50 with PlatePay or 65¢ if Pikepass is used.

[5] As of August 16, 2022[update], the Chickasaw Turnpike is now fully cashless with Pikepass or PlatePay as the option to pay the toll.