K-3 (Kansas highway)

K-3 is a 43.262-mile-long (69.623 km) state highway in southeastern Kansas that runs through Crawford, Bourbon and Linn counties from K-47 near Girard to K-31 near Blue Mound. It was designated around 1932, and the entire route was paved by 1958. The road is maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), and is a two-lane road for its entire length. The route's concurrency with U.S. Route 54 (US-54) is a part of the National Highway System.

K-3
K-3 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length	43.262 mi[1] (69.623 km)
Existed	c. 1927–present
Major junctions
South end	K-47 west of Girard
	US-54 north of Uniontown
North end	K-31 west of Blue Mound
Location
Counties	Crawford, Bourbon, Linn
Highway system
Kansas State Highway System Interstate U.S. State Spurs ← K-2 K-4 →

Route description

K-3 begins at an intersection with K-47 west of Girard in Crawford County and heads north on a two-lane road through plains. Approximately three miles (4.8 km) north of its southern terminus, the route passes through the small community of Brazilton. North of here, the highway curves to the west, intersects the eastern terminus of K-146, and turns back to the north. K-3 crosses a branch of the Walnut Creek and continues north and cuts through Hepler. The route then enters Bourbon County. North of the county line, K-3 turns east and begins a concurrency with K-39. Shortly after, the highway leaves K-39 and turns to the north, continuing in that direction for about seven miles (11 km) before bending to the northwest. K-3 then curves to the north and crosses the Marmaton River.[2]

Continuing north of the river, the highway twists to the northeast and passes through Uniontown. Just north of Uniontown, K-3 enters a concurrency with U.S. Route 54 (US-54) and turns west. The highways curve to the northwest, running through slightly wooded flat lands. K-3 leaves the concurrency with US-54 just east of the city of Bronson and turns north. About seven miles (11 km) north of the concurrency, K-3 serves as the eastern terminus of K-65. After this intersection, the highway crosses the Little Osage River, then enters Linn County. North of here, K-3 meets its northern terminus at an intersection with K-31 east of Blue Mound.[2]

K-3 is maintained by KDOT. In 2012, the traffic on the route, measured in annual average daily traffic, was found to be between 130 and 2060 vehicles per day. Most of the traffic was present on the concurrency with US-54.[3] K-3's concurrency with US-54 is included in the National Highway System,[4] a system of highways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[5]

History

K-3 was designated in 1927.[6] At that time, the route was almost completely gravel; only the concurrency with US-54 was paved.[7] By 1950, the portion of K-3 in Crawford County had been paved.[8][9] The portion of the route from the Crawford–Bourbon county line to the west end of the concurrency with K-39 was paved in 1953,[9][10] and the remainder of the road was paved by 1958.[11][12] No significant changes have been made to the route since then.[13]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Crawford	Grant Township	0.000	0.000	K-47	Southern terminus
	Walnut Township	6.406	10.309	K-146 west	Eastern terminus of K-146
Bourbon	Walnut Township	14.477	23.298	K-39 east	West end of K–39 concurrency
		14.981	24.110	K-39 east	East end of K–39 concurrency
	Marion Township	25.034	40.288	US-54 east	East end of US–54 concurrency
		30.223	48.639	US-54 west	West end of US–54 concurrency
	Franklin Township	37.232	59.919	K-65 east	Western terminus of K–65
Linn	Blue Mound Township	43.262	69.623	K-31	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. "2012 Condition Survey Report". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
2. Google (February 12, 2013). "K-3 (Kansas highway)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
3. "2012 Traffic Flow Map of the Kansas State Highway System" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
4. "National Highway System: Kansas" (PDF). Federal Highway Administration. October 1, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
5. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
6. "Kansas. - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection". www.davidrumsey.com.
7. "Kansas State Highway System" (PDF) (1932 ed.). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
8. "Kansas State Highway System" (PDF) (1948 ed.). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
9. "Official 1950-51 Kansas Highway Map" (PDF). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
10. "Official 1953 Kansas Highway Map" (PDF). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
11. Official 1956 Kansas Highway Map (PDF) (Map). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
12. Official 1957-58 Kansas Highway Map (PDF) (Map). State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
13. "Kansas Official State Transportation Map" (PDF) (2013-14 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

External links

Template:Attached KML/K-3 (Kansas highway)

KML is from Wikidata

• Kansas Highways Routelog – K-3