K-68 (Kansas highway)

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K-68 marker

K-68

Map
K-68 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and the city of Ottawa
Length61.517 mi[1] (99.002 km)
Existed1929–present
Major junctions
West end US-75 / K-31 one mile south of Lyndon
Major intersections
East end Route 2 at the Missouri state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesMiami, Franklin, Osage
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-67→ US-69

K-68 is a 61.517-mile-long (99.002 km) east–west state highway in the U.S. State of Kansas. K-68's western terminus is at U.S. Route 75 (US-75) and K-31 south of Lyndon and the eastern terminus is a continuation as Missouri Route 2 at the Missouri state line.[2][3][4]

Route description[edit]

I-35 exit for K-68
The eastern terminus of K-68

Beginning at US-75 and K-31 about a mile south of Lyndon. From here it heads east then reaches Quenemo, where it turns north and intersects K-268. Next it goes through Pomona. It continues east crossing the Marais des Cygnes River then turns northeastward and crosses the former route of US-59 near downtown Ottawa. As K-68 enters Ottawa, it intersects with I-35, US-59 and US-50 near the Walmart Distribution Center. Four miles west of Louisburg, K-68 intersects with US-169 and K-7, it also provides an end terminus with K-33 in Franklin County. It passes through Louisburg where it intersects with US-69. After passing Louisburg it reaches its eastern terminus at Missouri Route 2.[2][3][4]

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2018, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 270 vehicles per day slightly west of Quenemo to 12,200 vehicles per day slightly east of US-69. The next highest volume of traffic was 8,820 vehicles per day slightly west of I-35 and 7,420 vehicles per day slightly west of US-69.[5][6] K-68 is not included in the National Highway System.[7] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-68 does connect to the National Highway System at its western terminus at US-75, at its intersection with I-35 / US-50 / US-59, at its intersection with US-169 / K-7, and at its intersection with US-69.[8] The section of K-68 in Ottawa from the west city limit to the interchange with I-35 is maintained by the city.[9]

History[edit]

K-68 was first designated a state highway in 1929 and went from US-73W and US-50S in Ottawa eastward to US-73E in Louisburg. By April 1936, US-50S was realigned onto K-33 from south of Ottawa to K-31 east of Waverly and K-68 was extended west on the old US-50S alignment from Ottawa to US-75 by Lyndon. At that time K-33 was also truncated to end at K-68 east of Ottawa. Sometime between April 1933 and April 1936 US-73W was renumbered to US-59 and US-73E was renumbered to US-69.[10][11] In a May 26, 1937 resolution K-68 was extended further east from US-69 to the Missouri border, which was first approved in a March 29, 1937 meeting.[12] In a March 12, 1963 resolution, a 9.997 miles (16.089 km) section of K-68 was realigned northwest of Paola to eliminate two curves.[13] Then in a January 12, 1965 resolution, a 5.949 miles (9.574 km) section of K-68 was realigned northeast of Paola to meet the section realigned in the March 12, 1963 resolution, which eliminated the overlap with US-169.[14] Originally US-169 and K-7 ran together through Paola then in a June 12, 1969 resolution, US-169 and K-7 was realigned to the east of Paola and K-68's junction with the two highways was moved roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east.[15] Originally US-69 through Louisburg then in an April 6, 1976 resolution, US-69 was realigned to the west of Louisburg and K-68's junction with the two highways was moved approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west.[16] US-50 Business (US-50 Bus.) originally overlapped K-68 in Ottawa, then in a November 6, 2000 resolution the US-50 Bus. designation was removed.[17]

On May 21, 2019, the highway was closed north of Quenemo, due to flooding from Salt Creek.[18]

Major intersections[edit]

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
OsageValley Brook Township0.0000.000 US-75 / K-31 – Burlington, Lyndon, TopekaWestern terminus; road continues as 261st Street
Agency Township11.41218.366
 K-268 west – Osage City		Eastern terminus of K-268
FranklinOttawa25.77541.481Old Depot Museum, Forest ParkPartial interchange; no eastbound entrance
27.92644.943 I-35 / US-59 / US-50 – Kansas City, WichitaI-35 exit 187; diamond interchange
Peoria Township35.95657.866
 K-33 north – Wellsville		Southern terminus of K-33
MiamiMarysville Township49.36479.444 US-169 / K-7 – Olathe, PaolaDiamond interchange
Louisburg57.00091.733 US-69 – Kansas City, Ft. ScottDiamond interchange
Wea Township61.51799.002
 Route 2 east / State Line Road south		Continuation into Missouri as Rte. 2
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. ^ a b KDOT (2008). 2008 Miami County Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: KDOT. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b KDOT (2009). 2009 Franklin County Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: KDOT. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  4. ^ a b KDOT (2007). 2007 Osage County Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: KDOT. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2019). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2019). Traffic Flow Inset Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  8. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (February 12, 2013). "Resolution Designating City Connecting Links in State Highway System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1933). 1933 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  11. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1936). 1936 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  12. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (May 26, 1937). "1937 Resolution". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  13. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (March 13, 1963). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Miami County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  14. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (January 12, 1965). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Miami County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  15. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (June 12, 1969). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Miami County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  16. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (April 6, 1976). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Miami County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  17. ^ KDOT (November 6, 2000). "Project 35-50 K 5641-01 Withdrawal of U.S. 50 Business (Ottawa)". Topeka: KDOT. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Nick Viviani (May 20, 2019). "KDOT: Stretch of K-99 likely closed for days". wibw.com. Retrieved 20 April 2020.

External links[edit]

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