K-128 (Kansas highway)

K-128 is a 36.9-mile-long (59.4 km) north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. K-128's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 24 (US-24) and K-9 northwest of Glen Elder, and the northern terminus is a continuation as Nebraska Highway 78 (N-78) at the Nebraska border north of Burr Oak. West of Mankato, a small section of K-128 is co-designated as US-36.

K-128
K-128 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length36.886 mi[1] (59.362 km)
ExistedJanuary 7, 1937[2]–present
Major junctions
South end US-24 / K-9 northwest of Glen Elder
  US-36 west of Mankato
North end N-78 at the Nebraska border
Location
CountiesMitchell, Jewell
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-127K-129 →

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas, the section of K-128 that overlaps with US-36 was part of the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway auto trail. K-128 was first designated on January 7, 1937, and ran from US-24 and K-9 north to US-36. Then in February 1996, K-28 was truncated to K-14 in Jewell, and the section of K-28 from US-36 to the Nebraska state line became an extension of K-128.[3]

Route description

K-128 begins at an intersection with K-9 and US-24 just north of Waconda Lake and northwest of Glen Elder in Mitchell County. It begins travelling northward for roughly 3.6 miles (5.8 km), through rural farmlands, before reaching the Jewell County line. After entering Jewell County it continues northward, following to the west of Limestone Creek, a tributary of the Solomon River. About 3.5 miles (5.6 km) past the county line, K-128 crosses West Limestone Creek, a tributary of Limestone Creek. The highway continues from here for about three miles (4.8 km), before it reaches the western terminus of K-228, which runs eastward to serve Ionia. From K-228, the highway continues northward until it reaches US-36.

At US-36, K-128 turns eastward and runs concurrent with US-36 for about two miles (3.2 km) then turns northward and leaves US-36, which continues east. It continues northward for roughly 5.2 miles (8.4 km), before reaching Burr Oak, where it becomes Main Street. Just north of Burr Oak it crosses White Rock Creek a tributary of the Republican River. From White Rock Creek it continues north as it crosses Walnut Creek then Wolf Creek, both tributaries of White Rock Creek. About 3.3 miles (5.3 km) later, K-128 intersects Cedar Road, also known as Rural Secondary 336 (RS-336). At Cedar Road, K-128 turns westward for one mile (1.6 km) before turning back north at Cedar Road (RS-335). From here, K-128 continues northward for two miles (3.2 km) before reaching N-78 at the Nebraska state line.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2017, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 295 vehicles slightly north of Burr Oak to 1410 vehicles along the concurrency with US-36.[4] The only section of K-128 that is included in the National Highway System is its concurrency with US-36.[5] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-128 also connects to the National Highway System at its junction with US-24.[6]

History

Early roads

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas there were auto trails, which were an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. The section of K-128 that overlaps with US-36 was part of the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway. The southern terminus was part of the Roosevelt National Highway, Kansas White Way, and Sunflower Trail.[7]

Establishment and realignments

K-128 was assigned by the State Highway Commission of Kansas on January 7, 1937, and ran from US-24 and K-9 north to US-36.[2] K-128 originally ran directly north–south through Ionia until it was moved slightly westward to a new alignment in 1945, and at that time K-228 was created to link Ionia to the new alignment.[8][9] The United States Bureau of Reclamation began purchasing rights-of-way in June 1963, and then started constructing the Glen Elder Dam and Waconda Lake in November 1964. Then in 1965, US-24 was realigned slightly north to a new alignment and K-128 was shortened 0.457 miles (0.735 km) to meet the new alignment of US-24 to make way for the new lake.[10][11] On February 8, 1996, K-28 was truncated to K-14 in Jewell and the section of K-28 from US-36 to the Nebraska state line became an extension of K-128, which created a short overlap with US-36.[3][12][13]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
MitchellGlen Elder Township0.0000.000 US-24 / K-9 – Beloit, OsborneSouthern terminus
JewellIonia Township10.32816.621 K-228 east – IoniaWestern terminus of K-228
Limestone Township18.96730.524 US-36 west – Smith CenterSouthern terminus of US-36 concurrency
20.96433.738 US-36 east – MankatoNorthern terminus of US-36 concurrency
Walnut Township36.88659.362 N-78 north – Guide RockContinuation at the Nebraska border
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Kansas Department of Transportation (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  2. State Highway Commission of Kansas (January 7, 1937). "K-128 Designated". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  3. Kansas Department of Transportation (February 8, 1996). "Resolution to Redesignate Highway K-28 and K-128 in Jewell County". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  4. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  5. Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  6. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. Rand McNally and Company (1924). "Kansas" (Map). AutoTrails Map, Southern Nebraska, Eastern Colorado, Kansas, Northeastern New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma. 1:1,600,000. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. OCLC 2078375. Retrieved June 15, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  8. State Highway Commission of Kansas (June 28, 1945). "Resolution for relocation and redesignation of road in Jewell County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  9. Kansas State Highway Department (1940). Jewell County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  10. State Highway Commission of Kansas (September 23, 1965). "Resolution for relocation and redesignation of road in Mitchell County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  11. United States Bureau of Reclamation. "Glen Elder Unit". United States Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  12. Bureau of Transportation Planning (1989). Jewell County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  13. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2000). Jewell County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.

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