K-53 (Kansas highway)

K-53 is a 6.177-mile-long (9.941 km) state highway in the U.S. State of Kansas. Located entirely within Sumner County, K-53's western terminus is at U.S. Route 81 (US-81) and the eastern terminus is at K-15 in Mulvane. Along the way K-53 intersects Interstate 35 (I-35), also known as the Kansas Turnpike, at exit 33.

K-53
K-53 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length6.177 mi[1] (9.941 km)
Existed1927[2]–present
Major junctions
West end US-81 west of Peck
  I-35 / Kansas Turnpike near the Kansas Star Casino
East end K-15 in Mulvane
Location
CountiesSumner
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-52US-54 →

K-53 was designated a state highway by the Kansas State Highway Commission by 1927. Its alignment has remained the same since, except for minor realignments near the crossing of the Arkansas River.

Route Description

K-53 begins at US-81 on the Sedgwick–Sumner county line. It heads east past I-35 (Kansas Turnpike), straddling the county line until it crosses the Arkansas River. Then it turns southeast into Mulvane, remaining entirely in Sumner County the remainder of its length. After briefly curving east as Bridge Street, the highway turns northwest onto 1st Street, then east onto Main Street. It ends at an interchange with K-15 on the east end of town.[3]

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 1900 vehicles near the eastern terminus to 4470 vehicles in Mulvane.[4] K-53 is not 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-53 is connected to the National Highway System at its intersection with I-35 and at its eastern terminus at K-15.[6] The entire route is paved with partial design bituminous pavement.[1][7]

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. K-53's western terminus was part of the South West Trail and Meridian Highway.[8]

Establishment and realignments

K-53 was designated as a state highway by the Kansas State Highway Commission by 1927, to a highway extending from US-81 east to K-15 in Mulvane.[2] In an August 24, 1949 resolution, it was approved to slightly realign K-53 near the crossing of the Arkansas River.[9] Then in an August 13, 1952 resolution, K-53 was realigned again by the Arkansas River due to a new bridge being built across the river.[10]

Major junctions
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Sedgwick–Sumner
county line		​0.0000.000 US-81 – Wellington, WichitaWestern terminus; road continues west as 119th Street South
​0.6[3]0.97 To I-35 / Kansas TurnpikeAccess via connector road; exit 33 on I-35/Kansas Tpke.
SumnerMulvane6.1779.941 K-15 – WinfieldInterchange; eastern terminus; road continues east as 119th Street South
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Tolled
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References
  1. Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. 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.
  3. "Overview of K-53". Google Maps. Google, Inc. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  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 September 2, 2019.
  5. National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  6. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  7. Staff (2012-05-09). "Pavement Management Information System Glossary". Kansas Department of Transportation.
  8. 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 22, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  9. State Highway Commission of Kansas (August 24, 1949). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Sumner County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  10. State Highway Commission of Kansas (August 13, 1952). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Sumner County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
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