Interstate 70 in Kansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the section of Interstate 70 in Kansas. For the entire route, see Interstate 70.
Interstate 70 marker
Interstate 70
I-70 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and KTA
Length424.15 mi[1] (682.60 km)
Existed1956–present
Major junctions
West end I-70 / US 24 at Colorado state line
 
East end I-70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 at Missouri state line
Location
CountiesSherman, Thomas, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Saline, Dickinson, Geary, Riley, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Douglas, Leavenworth, Wyandotte
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← US-69→ K-71

Interstate 70 (I-70) is a mainline route of the Interstate Highway System in the United States connecting Cove Fort, Utah, to Baltimore, Maryland. In the U.S. state of Kansas, I-70 extends just over 424 miles (682 km) from the Colorado border near the town of Kanorado to the Missouri border in Kansas City. I-70 in Kansas contains the first segment in the country to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. The route passes through several of the state's principal cities in the process including Kansas City, Topeka, and Salina. The route also passes through the cities of Lawrence, Junction City, and Abilene.

The section of I-70 from Topeka to the Missouri border is co-designated as the Kansas Turnpike; only the section between Topeka and just west of Kansas City is tolled.

Route description[]

Interstate 70 in Kansas, Exit 1, Kanorado

I-70 is concurrent with US-24 from the Colorado state line until US-24 splits at Levant and runs north of I-70. At Colby, I-70 begins to turn southeast until it reaches Oakley, where US-40 joins with I-70 for a concurrent journey through most of the state. Initially, the route remains high and unusually level as it follows a projection of the High Plains into the state. From Exit 140 (Riga Road), the route lowers from the High Plains into the Blue Hills region, as indicated by gentle undulations in the road and the unusual appearance of stone posts in the countryside.[2] Approaching Russell, the route passes over three active sinkholes, the largest being the Crawford Sinkhole at Mile 179.[2] Past Russell, the route follows a ridge between the Smoky Hill River and its tributary, the Saline River where the highway passes through the Smoky Hills Wind Farm. Reaching the county line between Russell and Ellsworth counties, the road begins to traverse the Smoky Hills.

At Salina, Interstate 135 begins its journey southward toward Wichita, and I-70 continues through Abilene and Junction City, where the road begins to run through the Flint Hills.

In Topeka, I-70 intersects a child route, I-470, twice. The second time it is intersected, the Kansas Turnpike merges, making I-70 into a toll road. This is one of only two sections of I-70 that are tolled (the other is along the Pennsylvania Turnpike); As of 2018 the maximum toll distance costs $3.50.[3] I-70 carries this designation from Topeka to Bonner Springs. It is the eastern terminus of the turnpike, and from there to 18th Street and extending on to the Kansas eastern border, the highway is free.

I-70 crossing on the Lewis & Clark Viaduct over the Kansas River from Kansas to Missouri in Kansas City, as seen from Quality Hill.

I-70 enters Missouri via a main northern route on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct above the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River and a route designated "Alternate I-70" which has signs for I-70 as well as Interstate 670 just south of Kansas City main downtown area.

From Exit 275 at Abilene to the Missouri state line, the road is named the Dwight D. Eisenhower–Harry S. Truman Presidential Highway. It retains the designation until Exit 16 in Missouri at Independence, the location of Truman's presidential library.

History[]

The section of I-70 that is now the Kansas Turnpike was finished by 1956 and opened to traffic.[4][5] West of Topeka, the freeway was constructed from Topeka west to Salina at its junction with U.S. Route 81, as well as from Ogallah to Grainfield.[6] From Salina, the freeway was completed through Wilson the next year. A segment of I-70 from Levant through Ogallah was finished by 1965.[7] Another section was built the following year connecting Wilson to Grainfield.[8] The freeway was completed through Kansas with a last section near the Colorado border in 1970.[9]

Exit list[]

Exit numbers correspond to the mileposts where they are located (numbered east from the Colorado border), except for those between Topeka and Kansas City, which are part of the Kansas Turnpike and use its mileposts (numbered nominally north from the Oklahoma border) instead.

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Sherman​0.000.00 I-70 west / US 24 westContinuation into Colorado
​1.352.171 K-267 – Kanorado
​9.3215.009County Road 11
​12.2719.7512County Road 14
Goodland17.2727.7917
 east / K-27 – Sharon Springs, St. Francis
19.2530.9819
 west – Goodland
​27.2243.8127 K-253 – Edson
Thomas​36.3458.4836 K-184 – Brewster
​45.8373.7645 US-24 east – LevantEastern end of US-24 concurrency
Colby53.8186.6053 K-25 – Leoti, Atwood
​54.8088.1954Country Club Drive
​62.73100.9562County Road K
​70.01112.6770 US-83 – Oakley, Rexford
Logan
 No major junctions
Gove​75.87122.1076 US-40 west – Oakley, Sharon SpringsWestern end of US-40 concurrency
​79.80128.4379Campus Road
​85.75138.0085 K-216 – Grinnell
​93.72150.8393 K-23 – Grainfield, Gove
​95.68153.9895 K-23 north (via K-23 Spur) – Grainfield, HoxieGrainfield only signed westbound
​99.67160.4099 K-211 – Park
Quinter107.31172.70107Castle Rock Road – QuinterFormer K-212
Trego​114.93184.96115 K-198 north – Collyer
​119.84192.86120Voda Road
WaKeeney126.89204.21127
 US-40 Bus. east / US-283 – WaKeeney, Ness City
127.93205.88128

 US-40 Bus. west to US-283 north – WaKeeney, Hill City
​135.11217.44135 K-147 – Ogallah
​140.23225.68140Riga Road
EllisEllis145.29233.82145 K-247 – Ellis
​152.68245.71153Yocemento Avenue
Hays156.80252.35157
 US-183 Byp. – Hays, La Crosse
159.00255.89159 US-183 – Hays, Stockton
​161.31259.60161Commerce Parkway
​163.35262.89163Toulon Avenue
​168.34270.92168 K-255 – Victoria
​172.56277.71172Walker Avenue
Russell​175.56282.54175176th Street – GorhamFormer K-257
​180.56290.58180Balta Road
Russell184.54296.99184 US-281 – Russell, HoisingtonFormer US-40 Bus.
​188.56303.46189Pioneer RoadFormer US-40 Bus.
​192.56309.90193Bunker Hill Road
Dorrance199.09320.40199DorranceFormer K-231
Ellsworth​205.48330.69206 K-232 – Wilson, Lucas
​209.50337.16209Sylvan Grove
​215.52346.85216Vesper
​218.54351.71219 K-14 south – EllsworthWestern end of K-14 overlap
​221.44356.37221 K-14 north – LincolnEastern end of K-14 overlap
​224.87361.89225 K-156 – Ellsworth, Great Bend
Lincoln​232.96374.91233Beverly, Carneiro
Saline​237.96382.96238Brookville, Tescott
​243.97392.63244Hedville, Culver
​248.99400.71249Halstead Road
​250.24402.72250A-B I-135 south / US-81 – Wichita, ConcordiaI-135 exits 95A-B
Salina252.02405.59252 K-143 (Ninth Street)
​253.09407.31253Ohio Street
​259.49417.61260Niles Road
DickinsonSolomon265.94427.99266Solomon RoadFormer K-221
​272.00437.74272Fair Road
Abilene274.54441.83275 K-15 – Abilene, Clay Center
​277.09445.93277Jeep Road
​280.30451.10281 K-43 – Enterprise
​285.54459.53286 K-206 – Chapman
Geary​289.85466.47290Milford Lake Road
Junction City294.34473.69295 US-77 / K-18 west – Marysville, HeringtonWestern end of K-18 overlap
295.92476.24296
 US-40 Bus. east (Washington Street)
297.29478.44298East Street / Chestnut Street
Grandview Plaza298.28480.04299Flinthills Boulevard ( US-40 Bus. / K-57) / J Hill Road
299.18481.48300
 US-40 Bus. west / K-57 – Council Grove		No westbound entrance
​300.33483.33301Fort Riley, Marshall Field
​302.28486.47303 K-18 east – ManhattanEastern end of K-18 overlap
​303.42488.31304Humboldt Creek Road
​306.87493.86307McDowell Creek Road
​311.22500.86311Moritz Road
​313.26504.14313 K-177 – Council Grove, Manhattan
Riley​315.44507.65316Deep Creek Road
​317.61511.14318Frontage Road
Wabaunsee​321.76517.82322Tallgrass Road
​323.25520.22324Wabaunsee Road
​326.73525.82328 K-99 – Wamego, Alma
​329.26529.89330 K-185 – McFarland
​331.19533.00332Spring Creek Road
​332.18534.59333 K-138 – Paxico
​334.28537.97335Snokomo Road
​337.24542.74338Vera Road
​340.22547.53341 K-30 – Maple Hill
​341.23549.16342Keene-Eskridge Road
​342.21550.73343Ranch RoadPrivate interchange put in for the Brethour Ranch
Shawnee​345.20555.55346Carlson Road
​346.70557.96347West Union Road
​349.22562.02350Valencia Road
​350.24563.66351Frontage RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
​352.26566.91353 K-4 west (Auburn Road)Western end of K-4 overlap
Topeka354.65570.75355 I-470 east / US-75 south – TopekaWestern end of US-75 overlap; I-470 exit 1A to 70 east westbound.
355.24571.70356Wanamaker Road
356.38–
356.85		573.54–
574.29		357AFairlawn RoadSigned as exit 357 eastbound
357BDanbury LaneWestbound exit only
357.16–
357.54		574.79–
575.40		358A US-75 northEastern end of US-75 overlap; signed as exit 358 eastbound
358BGage BoulevardSigned as exit 358 eastbound
358.56577.05359MacVicar Avenue
360.23–
360.94		579.73–
580.88		361A1st AvenueProvides access to Topeka Boulevard; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
361B3rd Street / Monroe StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
361.04–
361.66		581.04–
582.04		362A4th StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
362B8th AvenueSigned as exit 362 eastbound
362C10th Avenue / Madison StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
362.11582.76363Adams Street / Branner Trafficway
363.08–
363.82		584.32–
585.51		364ACalifornia Avenue
364BCarnahan Avenue / Deer Creek Trafficway
364.58586.73365Rice Road
365.39588.04366 US-40 / K-4 east / Kansas Turnpike / I-470 west – WichitaLast free exit eastbound; eastern end of US-40/K-4 overlap
366.29589.49East Topeka Interchange toll plaza; western end of toll road
183
 I-470 / Kansas Turnpike west to I-335 – South Topeka, Wichita		Western end of Kansas Turnpike overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit numbers follow turnpike mileage
​370.90596.91Topeka Service Area
Douglas​379.96611.49197 K-10 east (South Lawrence Trafficway) – Lecompton, LawrenceAccess to Lecompton provided by CR-438 (North 1800 Road)
Lawrence384.71619.13202
 To US-59 south – Lawrence
386.25621.61204
 US-40 / US-59 to US-24 – Lawrence
Leavenworth​391.71630.40Lawrence Service Area
Tonganoxie394.55634.97212Tonganoxie, Eudora
​399.55643.01Eastern Terminal toll plaza; eastern end of toll road
WyandotteKansas City406.29653.86224 K-7 / US-73 north / US-24 west / US-40 west – Bonner Springs, LeavenworthLast free exit westbound; western end of US-24/US-40 overlap; westbound exits signed as exit 224A (south) and 224B (north)
409.19658.53410110th Street – Kansas SpeedwayExit numbers follow mileage of I-70
410.48660.60411 I-435I-435 exits 12A-B; signed as exits 411A (south) and 411B (north)
413.20664.9841478th Street
414.35666.83415Turner Diagonal / College ParkwayDiverging Diamond Interchange
415.93669.3741757th Street
417.57672.01418 I-635 – St Joseph, WichitaSigned as exits 418A (north) and 418B (south) eastbound; westbound access is part of exit 419; I-635 exits 4A-B
418.04672.77419Park Drive / 38th Street
419.32674.83420A US-69 south (18th Street Expressway)Western end of US-69 overlap; eastern end of Kansas Turnpike
420B18th Street north
421.12677.73421ARailroad Yard – No outlet, railroad use onlyWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
421B
 I-670 east to I-35 south – St. Louis		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
420.68–
421.33		677.02–
678.06		422A US-69 north (7th Street Trafficway)Eastern end of US-69 overlap
422B US-169 south (7th Street Trafficway)Western end of US-169 overlap
422CPacific Avenue
422DCentral Avenue
421.68–
422.26		678.63–
679.56		423A5th StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
423BJames Street / 3rd StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
423CMinnesota Avenue / Washington BoulevardWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
423DFairfax DistrictWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
422.82680.46 I-70 / US 24 / US 40 east / US 169 north – Kansas City, St. LouisContinuation into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Tolled

Auxiliary routes[]

I-70 has two auxiliary routes in Kansas:

  • I-470 - a loop around the southern side of Topeka, signed as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway and overlapping the Kansas Turnpike on the southeast side of town.
  • I-670 - an alternate route for I-70 travelers through downtown Kansas City, signed as the Dillingham Freeway and as Alternate I-70.

References[]

  1. ^ "Route Log and Finder List — Interstate System — table 1". Federal Highway Administration. 2002-10-31. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Rex C. Buchanan; James R. McCauley (1987). Roadside Kansas. University Press of Kansas (Kansas Geological Survey). pp. 96–102. ISBN 978-0-7006-0322-0.
  3. ^ "Tolls". Kansas Turnpike Authority.
  4. ^ "Big Impact Seen For Local Area In Superhighway". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. October 24, 1956. pp. 1–2.
  5. ^ "KTA Officials Say Traffic Heavy on Pike This Morning". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. October 20, 1956.
  6. ^ 1963-1964 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  7. ^ 1965 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  8. ^ 1966 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  9. ^ 1970 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 27, 2011.

External links[]

Route map:

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KML is from Wikidata


Interstate 70
Previous state:
Colorado 		Kansas Next state:
Missouri
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