K-156 (Kansas highway)

K-156 is a 175.663-mile-long (282.702 km) west–east state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. K-156's western terminus is at U.S. Route 50 Business (US-50 Bus.) and US-83 Bus. in Garden City and the eastern terminus is at Interstate 70 (I-70) and U.S. Route 40 (US-40) northeast of Ellsworth. Along the way it intersects several major highways including, US-50, US-83 and US-400 in Garden City, US-283 in Jetmore, US-183 near Rozel, and overlaps its implied parent, US-56, from Larned to east of Great Bend.

K-156
K-156 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length175.663 mi[1] (282.702 km)
ExistedApril 1, 1981[2]–present
Major junctions
West end
US-50 Bus. / US-83 Bus. in Garden City
 
East end I-70 / US-40 in Ellsworth
Location
CountiesFinney, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Barton, Ellsworth
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-155K-157 →

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas there were auto trails, the section of K-156 from Larned to Great Bend followed the National Old Trails Road and Old Santa Fe Trail. By 1927, the section of K-156 from Garden City to Great Bend was established as US-50N. K-156 was originally US-156, an intrastate U.S. Highway that was formed in 1957 and ran from Garden City to Great Bend. Between 1966 and 1967, US-156 was extended northeast, along K-45, to I-70 northeast of Ellsworth. Then in an April 1, 1981 resolution, US-156 was redesignated K-156.[2] Its alignment has not been majorly altered since.

Route description

K-156 begins in Garden City and runs in a generally northeast direction to I-70 and US-40 northeast of Ellsworth. K-156 is signed as east–west its entire length. 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 1080 vehicles slightly east of the Finney-Hodgeman county line to 14500 vehicles in Great Bend, slightly west of US-281. The second highest volume of traffic was 11500 vehicles at the western terminus.[3][4] The section of K-156 from the western end of the overlap with US-56 to its eastern terminus is included in the National Highway System.[5] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-156 also connects to the National Highway System at its junction with US-50, US-83 and US-400 in Garden City.[6]

Finney and Hodgeman counties
K-156 overlapped with US-56 and K-96

The route begins in Garden City, on Kansas Avenue at the junction with US-50 Business and US-83 Business (Main Street). K-156 then intersects US-50, US-83 and US-400 via a diamond interchange as it exits the city. It then follows Kansas Avenue in a northeast direction out of the city. It then curves east at East 6 Mile Road, then intersects Mennonite Road 1.7 miles (2.7 km) later. From here, the highway continues east for about eleven miles (18 km) through rural farmlands before intersecting K-23, passing by Concannon State Fishing Lake and crossing Pawnee River along the way. Here K-156 begins a six-mile-long (9.7 km) overlap with K-23. At the end of the overlap K-23 turns south toward Cimarron, as K-156 continues east. K-156 then passes through Kalvesta, then curves to the northeast as it crosses into Hodgeman County.[7] About one mile (1.6 km) into the county, K-156 curves back to the east, then crosses Sand Creek 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later. Roughly 10.4 miles (16.7 km) further east the highway curves northeast for about one-mile (1.6 km) then curves back east. The highway continues another 3.5 miles (5.6 km) then enters Jetmore. In Jetmore it intersects US-283, also known as Main Street. As it exits the city it travels a short distance then curves to the northeast at Bosse. The roadway then curves more to the northeast and passes to the north of Hanston. As it passes by Hanston, K-156 begins to parallel a railway, then soon passes through Gray. It continues past Gray for another 3.5 miles (5.6 km) then enters into Pawnee County.[8][9]

Pawnee County
K-156 westbound at its junction with US-183

As it enters the county it continues to parallel a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad track and the Pawnee River, as it passes through south side of Burdett as Broadway Avenue. It continues east, crosses Sawmill Creek, then reaches an intersection with Pawnee Street and 280th Avenue just south of Rozel. About three miles (4.8 km) past Rozel it crosses a railroad track. From here the highway continues east through rural farmlands to US-183, crossing the Pawnee River and Cocklebur Creek along the way. It continues east for about nine miles (14 km) before intersecting K-264, passing Fort Larned National Landmark along the way. K-264 heads south to Larned State Hospital, and K-156 contiues east toward Larned. It enters Larned becoming Edwards Street then becomes 14th Street at an intersection with State Street. It continues along 14th Street and soon intersects its implied parent US-56, at Broadway Street. Here the two highways begin to overlap as they continue east. The two routes curve northeast as they exit the city and begin to parallel a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad track. The highways then cross Ash Creek and enters Barton County 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later.[10][9]

Barton and Ellsworth counties
K-156 at junction with K-14 and K-14 Truck

As K-156 enters the county it enters the city of Pawnee Rock. It continues northeast and soon passes Dundee. As it exits Dundee it passes to the south of Great Bend Municipal Airport. K-156 and US-56 then curve north and enter Great Bend as South Patton Road. The highways turn east at 10th Street then soon intersects and begins to overlap with K-96. The three roads continue east along 10th Street for 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to US-281 (Main Street), crossing a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad track along the way. After the three highways cross US-281, they leave Great Bend and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) later, K-156 splits from US-56 and K-96, heading northeast from there. K-156 passes to the east of Cheyenne Bottoms Reservoir, crosses a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, then intersects K-4 at a folded diamond interchange east of Claflin. After an interchange with K-4, the highway enters Ellsworth County two miles (3.2 km) later.[11] The highway enters the county and continues northeast before entering Holyrood. As it exits the city, it continues through rural farm lands transitioning into grasslands, and soon intersects K-14 south of Ellsworth. At that junction, K-156 begins carrying a concurrency with K-14 Truck route. Inside Ellsworth, K-14 Truck splits from K-156 at the junction with K-140, known as East 15th Street westbound and Avenue J eastbound. K-14 Truck splits and heads west along K-140, and K-156 exits the city and continues north for about .8 miles (1.3 km) then curves northeast. K-156 then reaches a junction with K-111, crossing Spring Creek and East Spring Creek along the way. Past K-111, the landscape around the highway begins to transition to rolling hills covered by grasslands. K-156 then crosses and begins to parallel East Elkhorn Creek. It continues north along the creek for a few miles before reaching its northern terminus at exit 225 of I-70 and US-40 at a diamond interchange.[12][9]

History

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 western terminus closely follows the former Old Santa Fe Trail, New Santa Fe Trail, National Old Trails Road and Albert Pike Highway. In Jetmore, K-156 intersects the former Star Highway. The highway then overlaps the National Old Trails Road and Old Santa Fe Trail from Larned to Great Bend. East of Claflin, the highway crosses the former Bee Line and Sunflower Trail, then crosses the former Golden Belt in Ellsworth.[13]

By 1927, the section of K-156 from Garden City to Great Bend was established as US-50N.[14] Between 1944 and 1945, the section of current K-156 between Holyrood to south of Ellsworth was established as a section of K-45.[15][16] From 1957 to 1981, the current K-156 existed as U.S. Route 156, a spur highway of US-56 that ran from Garden City to Great Bend. US-156 had originally been planned as US-155.[17] Between 1962 and 1963, K-45 was extended to US-56 east of Great Bend.[18][19] Then between 1966 and 1967, US-156 was extended northeast, along K-45, to I-70 northeast of Ellsworth.[20][21] Until 1965, the section of the highway from Great Bend to Ellsworth County was designated K-45.[22] In a July 1966 meeting, US-156 was extended north from Ellsworth to the new I-70 that was constructed.[23] In an October 13, 1967 resolution US-40 between I-70 north of Dorrance to I-70 north of Salina was realigned onto I-70. At this time K-111 was extended north to end at US-156.[24] In a December 17, 1980 resolution, US-50 and US-83 were moved to their current alignment in Garden City, and US-50 Business and US-83 Business became US-156's western terminus.[25]

The entirety of US-156, from Garden City to I-70 northeast of Ellsworth, was decommissioned on April 1, 1981 and redesignated as K-156.[2] In a May 3, 1996 resolution, US 400 was established from the Colorado border to K-156, then to the southern end of the overlap between US-83 and US-50 in Garden City.[26] On July 6, 2020, work began on a project to add turning lanes at the interchange with Eighth Street in Ellsworth County. The $1.2 million project was completed by Venture Corporation of Great Bend.[27]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
FinneyGarden City0.0000.000
US-50 Bus. / US-83 Bus. – Lakin, Scott City, Liberal		Western terminus
1.9363.116 US-50 / US-83 / US-400 – Scott City, LiberalDiamond interchange
​24.21038.962 K-23 north – DightonWestern end of K-23 overlap
​30.19048.586 K-23 south – CimarronEastern end of K-23 overlap
HodgemanJetmore56.06990.234 US-283 (Main Street) – Ness City, Jetmore
Pawnee​89.939144.743 US-183 – Lacrosse, Kinsley
​98.908159.177 K-264 south – Larned State HospitalNorthern terminus of K-264
Larned101.734163.725 US-56 west (Broadway Street) – Belpre, KinsleyWestern end of US-56 overlap
BartonGreat Bend122.153196.586 K-96 west – Ness CityWestern end of K-96 overlap
123.930199.446 US-281 (Main Street) – Russell, St. John
​127.725205.553 US-56 / K-96 east – LyonsWestern end of US-56/K-96 overlap
​142.989230.118 K-4 – Lindsborg, HoisingtonFolded diamond interchange
Ellsworth​162.671261.794
K-14 (Grand Avenue) / K-14 Truck begins – Ellsworth, Lyons		Southern terminus of K-14 Truck; west end of K-14 Truck overlap
Ellsworth163.747263.525KanopolisPartial interchange; access via westbound exit ramp and connector road
164.966265.487
K-14 Truck north (15th Street) / K-140		East end of K-14 Truck overlap
​170.417274.260 K-111 south – KanopolisNorthern terminus of K-111
​175.663282.702 I-70 / US-40 – Salina, HaysEastern terminus; I-70 exit 225; diamond interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
  1. Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  2. Resolution to redesignate a Highway (Map). KDOT. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. Bureau of Transportation Planning (July 2007). Finney County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. Bureau of Transportation Planning (December 2008). Hodgeman County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  9. Google (August 10, 2020). "Overview map of K-156" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  10. Bureau of Transportation Planning (October 2010). Pawnee County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  11. Bureau of Transportation Planning (September 2009). Barton County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. Bureau of Transportation Planning (July 2011). Ellsworth County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. 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 August 10, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  14. Rand McNally and Company (1927). "Kansas" (Map). Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas of the United States and Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, with a Brief Description of the National Parks and Monuments. 1:1,600,000. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. pp. 54–55. OCLC 2078375 – via Rumsey Collection.
  15. State Farm Insurance Companies Travel Bureau (1944). "Kansas" (Map). State Farm Road map: Kansas. 1:1,235,520. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  16. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1945). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Chronological History Documentation: US 56 (correspondence between ODOT, AASHO, and other DOTs)
  18. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1962). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  19. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1963–1964). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  20. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1966). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1967). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  22. 1965 Kansas State Highway Map
  23. State Highway Commission of Kansas (July 18, 1966). "Resolution for Location and Designation of Road in Ellsworth County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  24. State Highway Commission of Kansas (October 13, 1967). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Russell, Ellsworth and Saline Counties". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  25. State Highway Commission of Kansas (December 17, 1980). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of highways in Finney County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  26. Kansas Department of Transportation (May 3, 1996). "Resolution to establish Highway US-400 in Hamilton, Keeney, and Finney counties". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  27. "KDOT to add turning lanes on K-156 in Ellsworth County". salinapost.com. April 4, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
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