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K-63 (Kansas highway)

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K-63 marker
K-63
Map
K-63 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and the city of St. Marys
Length58.769 mi[2] (94.580 km)
Existed1927[1]–present
Major junctions
South end US-24 in St. Marys
Major intersections
North end N-50 near Du Bois, Nebraska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesNemaha, Pottawatomie
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-62→ K-64

K-63 is an approximately 58.8-mile-long (94.6 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a north–south highway that serves small towns in the northeast part of the state. K-63's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 24 (US-24) in St. Marys and the northern terminus is a continuation as Nebraska Highway 50 (N-50) at the Nebraska border. The highway passes mostly through rural farmlands, however it does pass through the cities of Emmett, Havensville and Corning. It also passes along the edge of Seneca, where it has a short overlap with US-36.

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas there were auto trails. The southern terminus was part of the former Roosevelt National Highway and Golden Belt. The former Corn Belt Highway crosses K-63 in Havensville. A small section just south of Seneca and a few sections between Seneca and the Nebraska border follow the former Omaha-Topeka Trail. The highway also crosses the former Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway by Seneca. K-63 was first designated as a state highway in 1927. The highway has remained unchanged since, except for minor realignments by Emmett and Seneca.

Route description

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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways. Along K-63 in 2019, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 475 vehicles per day between K-16 and Havensville to 4,700 vehicles per day along the overlap with US-36. The second highest was 3,720 vehicles per day between the southern terminus and Emmett.[3] The only section of K-63 included in the National Highway System is its overlap with US-36.[4] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-63 also connects to the National Highway System at its southern terminus at US-24.[5] The section of K-63 in St. Marys from the southern terminus to just north of Elm Street is maintained by the city.[6]

Pottawatomie County

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K-63's southern terminus is in St. Marys at US-24, also known as Bertrand Street. The highway has an at-grade crossing with a Union Pacific Railway (UP) track then continues northeast through the city as 6th Street. It curves northward then exits the city and intersects Delia Road about two miles (3.2 km) later.[7] The surrounding area becomes more rural as the highway continues north for 1.6 miles (2.6 km) through flat grasslands then crosses Bourbonais Creek. K-63 continues through flat grasslands with scattered areas of trees for 2.9 miles (4.7 km) then begins to run along the west side of Emmett.[8] After passing the city, the highway crosses Bartlett Creek then over a UP track. The highway continues for 3.6 miles (5.8 km) through flat farmlands, crosses Little Noxie Creek, then intersects St Clere Road, which travels east to Saint Clere. It continues north for 1.2 miles (1.9 km) then shifts about 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) west.[9][10]

K-63 continues through flat grasslands with scattered areas of trees for 4.5 miles (7.2 km) then is joined by K-16 from the east. The two highways continue for about one mile (1.6 km) then K-16 turns west toward Onaga. K-63 continues north through small rolling hills for about 1.25 miles (2.01 km) then curves slightly northwest. The highway continues a short distance, crosses Strait Creek, then enters Havensville as Commercial Street.[11] The highway exits the city and continues for 1.1 miles (1.8 km) then crosses Vermillion Creek. K-63 then shifts east briefly then continues north through open grasslands with scattered areas of trees. After about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) the highway curves east and begins to follow the Pottawatomie–Nemaha county line. The highway continues east for one mile (1.6 km), where it crosses Vermillion Creek again, then curves north into the county .7 miles (1.1 km) later.[9][10]

Nemaha County

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K-63 continues north through flat farmlands transitioning to rolling hills for about 4.7 miles (7.6 km) then crosses Vermillion Creek again. The highway continues another roughly 1.2 miles (1.9 km) then is joined by K-9 from the east at the south city limits of Corning. The two highways continue north through the city as Seneca Street. After about 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) the highway exits the city and passes by Corning Cemetery.[12] They continue north through rolling hills transitioning to flat farmlands for about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) then K-9 turns west towards Centralia. K-63 continues north for about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) then curves northwest and crosses South Fork Big Nemaha River. The highway then turns north and continues about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) then curves northwest and crosses Tennessee Creek.[10][13]

The roadway curves back north and continues for 2.3 miles (3.7 km) then intersects US-36. K-63 turns west and begins to overlap US-36. The two routes soon reach an at-grade crossing with a UP track, then crosses the South Fork Big Nemaha River again. They then reach the Seneca city limit, where K-63 turns north as US-36 continues west into the city.[14] The highway continues north for about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) then shifts east slightly and crosses Wildcat Creek. It continues north through flat farmlands for roughly 5.2 miles (8.4 km) and crosses Turkey Creek. The roadway continues a short distance then intersects K-71, which travels east to Bern. K-63 continues north for 2.8 miles (4.5 km) through more farmlands then crosses into Nebraska and becomes Nebraska Highway 50.[10][13]

History

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Prior to the formation of the Kansas state highway system, 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 southern terminus was part of the former Roosevelt National Highway and Golden Belt. The former Corn Belt Highway crosses K-63 in Havensville. A small section just south of Seneca and a few sections between Seneca and the Nebraska border follow the former Omaha-Topeka Trail. The highway also crosses the former Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway in Seneca.[15]

K-63 was first designated as a state highway in 1927, to a highway running from US-40 in St. Marys north to the Nebraska border.[1] K-16 was originally K-24 but was renumbered to K-16 between April 1933 and April 1936, due to US-24 being extended into Kansas. Also at this time US-24 was extended along US-40 at the southern terminus.[16][17] Then between 1953 and 1956, US-40 was moved to a new alignment further south.[18][19] In a February 21, 1939 resolution, it was approved to realign a small section slightly south of Emmett to eliminate three curves and straighten the road.[20] Originally US-36 overlapped K-63 for a mile north out of Seneca, then turned east and left K-63 towards Oneida. Then in a March 21, 1939 resolution, it was approved to realign US-36 between Seneca and Fairview on a straight alignment, which would eliminate the overlap with K-63.[21] The new alignment of US-36 was completed between 1944 and 1945.[22][23]

In a May 28, 1952 resolution, it was approved to realign K-63 slightly north of Seneca to eliminate two turns.[24] K-9 originally turned south in Centralia then turned east to K-63 in Corning. Then in a March 9, 1955 resolution, it was approved to realign K-9 to continue east from Centralia directly to K-63 then overlap K-63 south to Corning, then turn east in Corning and leave K-63,[25] the project was completed between 1961 and 1963.[26][27] K-63 originally curved west onto 140th Road, crossed the South Fork Big Nemaha River, then turned north at the Seneca city limit and crossed US-36. Then in an August 29, 1956 resolution, it was approved to realign K-63 to go directly north to US-36, then overlap US-36 to the original K-63 crossing and turn north.[28]

Major junctions

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CountyLocationmi[2]kmDestinationsNotes
PottawatomieSt. Marys0.0000.000 US-24 (Bertrand Avenue) – Topeka, ManhattanSouthern terminus; road continues as 6th Street
Lincoln Township18.89230.404
 K-16 east – Holton		South end of K-16 overlap
Lincoln–Grant
township line		19.71831.733
 K-16 west – Onaga		North end of K-16 overlap
NemahaCorning46.92175.512
 K-9 east – Netawaka		South end of K-9 overlap
Illinois Township47.68176.735
 K-9 west – Centralia		North end of K-9 overlap
Richmond Township46.92175.512
 US-36 east – Hiawatha		South end of US-36 overlap
Seneca47.68176.735
 US-36 west (North Street) – Marysville		North end of US-36 overlap
Nemaha Township55.99290.110
 K-71 east – Bern		Western terminus of K-71
40th parallel north58.76994.580
 N-50 north / 240th Road (702 Road) – Pawnee City		Kansas–Nebraska line; highway continues into Nebraska as N-50
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ a b Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2020). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (November 9, 1990). "Resolution Designating City Connecting Links in State Highway System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (August 2008). City of St. Marys (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (July 2005). City of Emmett (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Planning (October 2011). Pottawatomie County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d "Overview of K-63". Google Maps. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (March 2002). City of Havensville (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  12. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (August 1, 2004). City of Corning (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Planning (January 2010). Nemaha County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  14. ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (July 1, 2004). City of Seneca (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  15. ^ 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 October 30, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  16. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1933). 1933 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  17. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1936). 1936 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  18. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1953). 1953 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  19. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1956). 1956 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  20. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (February 21, 1939). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Pottawatomie County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  21. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (March 21, 1939). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Nemaha and Brown Counties". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  22. ^ State Farm Insurance Companies Travel Bureau (1944). "Kansas" (Map). State Farm Road map: Kansas. 1:1,235,520. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. Retrieved November 1, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  23. ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1945). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  24. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (May 28, 1952). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Nemaha County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  25. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (March 9, 1955). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Nemaha County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  26. ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1961). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  27. ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1963–1964). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  28. ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (August 29, 1956). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Nemaha County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
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