K-66 (Kansas highway)

K-66
Route information
Length:	5 mi (8 km)
Highway system
Kansas numbered highways

K-66 is a 5-mile (8-kilometre) long state highway in the southeastern corner of the state. Its eastern terminus is on the Missouri state line near Galena (where it continues as Route 66), while its western terminus is at Alternate U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Route 400 at Riverton. This road is noteworthy in the fact that it used to be part of the famed U.S. Route 66. When the nearby Interstate 44 offered a more direct route between Missouri and Oklahoma, there was no need to keep the US-66 designation. Kansas then left it as K-66.

History

The easternmost section of K-66 was not US-66 until 1979. Prior to 1979, US-66 came in from Missouri as Front Street and turned south on Main Street before joining K-66. US-66 then followed K-66 to Riverton, where K-66 ends. Original US-66 through Kansas continues as a county road to the north and west of U.S. Route 69 Alternate to Baxter Springs, and joins US-69 Alternate to the Oklahoma state line. The 13 miles (21 km) of US-66 in Kansas retain much of the character of the Mother Road.

Thus the final (1985) alignment of US-66 perfectly matches present U.S. Route 69 Alternate and K-66. US-69 Alternate was formed in 1985 when US-66 was decommissioned.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Cherokee County.

Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Riverton	0.0	US-69 Alt. / US-400	Western terminus of K–66
Galena		K-26
		Route 66	Eastern terminus of K–66
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

External links

• Route 66 in Kansas

U.S. Route 66
Previous state: Oklahoma	Kansas	Next state: Missouri