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Interstate 70 in Kansas

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This article is about the section of Interstate 70 in Kansas. For the entire route, see Interstate 70.
Interstate 70 marker
Interstate 70
Map
I-70 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and KTA
Length424.15 mi[1] (682.60 km)
Existed1956–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-70 / US 24 at Colorado state line
Major intersections
East end I-70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 at Missouri state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
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 US 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

[edit]
I-70 exit 1 in Kanorado

I-70 runs concurrently with U.S. Highway 24 (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, I-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 on this section of I-70 is $3.50.[3] I-70 and the turnpike are concurrent from Topeka to Bonner Springs, the turnpike's eastern terminus. From Bonner Springs to 18th Street and extending on to the Kansas eastern border, the highway is free.

I-70 crossing on the Lewis and 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 I-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

[edit]
Aerial view of exit 95 east of Grainfield, Kansas, 1960s

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 US 81, as well as from Ogallah to Grainfield.[6] From Salina, the freeway was completed through Wilson the next year. On October 9, 1959, the section of I-70 opened from Junction City west to Abilene through a ribbon-cutting ceremony.[7] A segment of I-70 from Levant through Ogallah was finished by 1965.[8] Another section was built the following year connecting Wilson to Grainfield.[9] The freeway was completed through Kansas with a last section near the Colorado border in 1970.[10]

Exit list

[edit]

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
ShermanStateline Township0.000.00

 I-70 west / US 24 west – Denver		Continuation into Colorado
1.352.171 K-267 – Kanorado
Lincoln Township9.3215.009County Road 11
Logan Township12.2719.7512County Road 14
Goodland17.2727.7917

 US 24 Bus. east / K-27 – Sharon Springs, St. Francis
19.2530.9819

 US 24 Bus. west – Goodland
Washington Township27.2243.8127 K-253 – Edson
ThomasWest Hale Township36.3458.4836 K-184 – Brewster
East Hale Township45.8373.7645
 US-24 east – Levant		Eastern end of US-24 concurrency
Colby53.8186.6053 K-25 – Leoti, Atwood
Morgan Township54.8088.1954Country Club Drive
North Randall Township62.73100.9562County Road K
South Randall Township70.01112.6770 US-83 – Oakley, Rexford
Logan
 No major junctions
GoveOakley75.87122.1076
 US-40 west – Oakley, Sharon Springs		Western end of US-40 concurrency
Grinnell Township79.80128.4379Campus Road
85.75138.0085 K-216 – Grinnell
Grainfield Township93.72150.8393 K-23 – Grainfield, Gove
95.68153.9895
 K-23 north (via K-23 Spur) – Grainfield, Hoxie		Grainfield only signed westbound
Payne Township99.67160.4099 K-211 – Park
Quinter107.31172.70107Castle Rock Road – QuinterFormer K-212
TregoCollyer Township114.93184.96115
 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
Ogallah Township135.11217.44135 K-147 – Ogallah
140.23225.68140Riga Road
EllisEllis145.29233.82145 K-247 – Ellis
Big Creek Township152.68245.71153Yocemento Avenue
Hays156.80252.35157
 US 183 Byp. – Hays, La Crosse
159.00255.89159 US-183 – Hays, Stockton
Big Creek Township161.31259.60161Commerce Parkway
163.35262.89163Toulon Avenue
Herzog Township168.34270.92168 K-255 – Victoria
172.56277.71172Walker Avenue
RussellBig Creek Township175.56282.54175176th Street – GorhamFormer K-257
Big Creek–Grant
township line		180.56290.58180181st Street
Russell184.54296.99184 US-281 – Russell, HoisingtonFormer US 40 Bus.
Grant Township188.56303.46189189th StreetFormer US 40 Bus.
Center Township192.56309.90193193rd Street
Dorrance199.09320.40199DorranceFormer K-231
EllsworthWilson Township205.48330.69206 K-232 – Wilson, Lucas
209.50337.16209Sylvan Grove
Columbia Township215.52346.85216Vesper
Sherman Township218.54351.71219
 K-14 south – Ellsworth		Western end of K-14 overlap
221.44356.37221
 K-14 north – Lincoln		Eastern end of K-14 overlap
Garfield Township224.87361.89225 K-156 – Ellsworth, Great Bend
LincolnMadison Township232.96374.91233Beverly, Carneiro
SalineGlendale Township237.96382.96238Brookville, Tescott
Pleasant Valley Township243.97392.63244Hedville, Culver
Elm Creek Township248.99400.71249Halstead Road
250.24402.72250A-B
 I-135 south / US-81 – Wichita, Concordia		I-135 exits 95A-B
Salina252.02405.59252 K-143 (Ninth Street)
Cambria Township253.09407.31253Ohio Street
Cambria–Dayton
township line		259.49417.61260Niles Road
DickinsonSolomon265.94427.99266Solomon RoadFormer K-221
Lincoln–Grant
township line		272.00437.74272Fair Road
Abilene274.54441.83275 K-15 – Abilene, Clay Center
Grant Township277.09445.93277Jeep Road
Center Township280.30451.10281 K-43 – Enterprise
Noble Township285.54459.53286 K-206 – Chapman
GearySmoky Hill Township289.85466.47290Milford Lake Road
Junction City294.34473.69295
 US-77 / K-18 west – Marysville, Herington		Western 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
Jefferson Township300.33483.33301Fort Riley, Marshall Field
302.28486.47303
 K-18 east – Manhattan		Eastern end of K-18 overlap
303.42488.31304Humboldt Creek Road
Wingfield Township306.87493.86307McDowell Creek Road
Jackson Township311.22500.86311Moritz Road
313.26504.14313 K-177 – Council Grove, Manhattan
RileyZeandale Township315.44507.65316Deep Creek Road
317.61511.14318Frontage Road
WabaunseeWabaunsee Township321.76517.82322Tallgrass Road
323.25520.22324Wabaunsee Road
326.73525.82328 K-99 – Wamego, Alma
Wabaunsee–Newbury
township line		329.26529.89330 K-185 – McFarland
Newbury Township331.19533.00332Spring Creek Road
332.18534.59333 K-138 – Paxico
334.28537.97335Snokomo Road
Newbury–Maple Hill
township line		337.24542.74338Vera Road
Maple Hill Township340.22547.53341 K-30 – Maple Hill
341.23549.16342Keene-Eskridge Road
342.21550.73343Ranch RoadPrivate interchange put in for the Brethour Ranch
ShawneeDover Township345.20555.55346Carlson Road
346.70557.96347West Union Road
349.22562.02350Valencia Road
350.24563.66351Frontage RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Mission Township352.26566.91353
 K-4 west (Auburn Road)		Western end of K-4 overlap
Topeka354.65570.75355

 I-470 east / US-75 south – Topeka		Western 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 north - Holton		Eastern 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 / I-470 west / Kansas Turnpike west – Wichita		Last free exit eastbound; eastern end of US-40/K-4 overlap
366.29589.49183



 I-470 west / Kansas Turnpike west to I-335 south – South Topeka, Wichita		Western end of Kansas Turnpike overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit numbers follow turnpike mileage
Tecumseh Township370.90596.91Topeka Service Area
DouglasKanwaka Township379.96611.49197
 K-10 east (South Lawrence Trafficway) – Lecompton, Lawrence		Access 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
LeavenworthReno Township391.71630.40Lawrence Service Area
Tonganoxie394.55634.97212Tonganoxie, Eudora
WyandotteBonner Springs406.29653.86224


 K-7 / US-73 north / US-24 west / US-40 west – Bonner Springs, Leavenworth		Last free exit westbound; western end of US-24/US-40 overlap; westbound exits signed as exit 224A (south) and 224B (north)
Kansas City409.19658.53410110th Street – Kansas SpeedwayExit numbers correspond to 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
419.32674.83420
 US-69 south (18th Street Expressway) / 18th Street north

 Kansas Turnpike ends		Signed as exits 420A (south) and 420B (north); eastern terminus of Kansas Turnpike
421.12677.73421ARailroad Yard – No outlet, railroad use onlyWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
421B


 I-670 east (I-70 Alt.) 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
423C Minnesota Avenue / Washington Boulevard / Lewis and Clark TrailWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
423DFairfax DistrictWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
422.82680.46



 I-70 east / US 24 east / US 40 east / US 169 north / Lewis and Clark Trail – Kansas City, St. Louis		Continuation into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

[edit]

I-70 has two auxiliary routes in Kansas. I-470 is a loop around the southern side of Topeka that is signed as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway and overlaps the Kansas Turnpike on the southeast side of town. I-670 is an alternate route for I-70 travelers through downtown Kansas City that is signed as the Dillingham Freeway and as Alternate I-70.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Route Log and Finder List — Interstate System — table 1". Federal Highway Administration. October 31, 2002. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
  2. ^ 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. ^ "Abilene-JC I-70 Section Opened". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. October 9, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved March 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ 1965 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  9. ^ 1966 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  10. ^ 1970 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
[edit]
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Interstate 70
Previous state:
Colorado 		Kansas Next state:
Missouri
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