Interstate 70 in Kansas

In the U.S. state of Kansas, Interstate 70 (I-70) contains the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. It extends from the Colorado border near the town of Kanorado to the Missouri border in Kansas City. The route covers 424 miles (682 km) and 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.

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
  I-135 / US-81 in Salina
I-470 / US-75 near Topeka
US-40 / K-4 / Kansas Turnpike / I-470 near Topeka
I-435 in Kansas City
I-635 in Kansas City
I-670 in Kansas City
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

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), with the maximum toll distance costing $3.50 as of 2018.[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.

Exit sign for exit 115 in Collyer. I-70 in Kansas is known for being unusually level.

I-70 enters Missouri via a main northern

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
Kansas–Colorado line0.0000.000 I-70 / US 24 continue west into Colorado
Sherman1.352.171 K-267 Kanorado
9.3215.009County Road 11
12.2719.7512County Road 14
Goodland17.2727.7917
US-24 Bus. east / K-27 Sharon Springs, St. Francis
19.2530.9819
US-24 Bus. west Goodland
27.2243.8127 K-253 Edson
Thomas36.3458.4836 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
Gove75.87122.1076 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 Grainfield, HoxieGrainfield only signed westbound; to K-23 north via unsigned K-23 Spur; southern terminus of unsigned K-23 Spur
99.67160.4099 K-211 Park
Quinter107.31172.70107Castle Rock Road  QuinterFormer K-212
Trego114.93184.96115 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
Russell175.56282.54175176th Street – GorhamFormer K-257
180.56290.58180Balta Road
Russell184.54296.99184 US-281 Russell, HoisingtonFormer western terminus of US-40 Bus.
188.56303.46189Pioneer RoadFormer eastern terminus of US-40 Bus.
192.56309.90193Bunker Hill Road
Dorrance199.09320.40199DorranceFormer K-231
Ellsworth205.48330.69206 K-232 Wilson, Lucas
209.50337.16209Sylvan Grove
215.52346.85216Vesper
218.54351.71219 K-14 south EllsworthWest end of K-14 overlap
221.44356.37221 K-14 north LincolnEast end of K-14 overlap
224.87361.89225 K-156 Ellsworth, Great Bend
Lincoln232.96374.91233Beverly, Carneiro
Saline237.96382.96238Brookville, Tescott
243.97392.63244Hedville, Culver
248.99400.71249Halstead Road
250.24402.72250A-B I-135 south / US-81 Wichita, ConcordiaNorthern terminus of I-135, exits 95A-B; cloverleaf interchange.
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
Geary289.85466.47290Milford Lake Road
Junction City294.34473.69295 US-77 / K-18 west Marysville, HeringtonWest 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 ManhattanEast 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
Riley315.44507.65316Deep Creek Road
317.61511.14318Frontage Road
Wabaunsee321.76517.82322Tallgrass 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 Raymond Brethour for the Brethour Ranch. Later Brethour Ranch sold south side of road to Hudson's and it was a shared exit. The Exit was named "Ranch Road" after "the Tod Ranch" that later became the Brethour Ranch.
Shawnee345.20555.55346Carlson 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)West end of K-4 overlap
Topeka354.65570.75355 I-470 east / US-75 south TopekaWest end of US-75 overlap; western terminus of 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 northEast 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; east end of US-40/K-4 overlap
366.29589.49East Topeka Interchange toll plaza
West end of toll road
I-470 / Kansas Turnpike west to I-335 – South Topeka, WichitaWest end of Kansas Turnpike overlap; I-70 westbound exits turnpike via exit 183; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; exit numbers follow KTA mileage
370.90596.91Topeka Service Area
Douglas379.96611.49197 K-10 east (South Lawrence Trafficway) Lecompton, LawrenceToll exit numbers follow Kansas Turnpike; 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
Leavenworth391.71630.40Lawrence Service Area
Tonganoxie394.55634.97212Tonganoxie, Eudora
399.55643.01Eastern Terminal toll plaza
East end of toll road
WyandotteKansas City406.29653.86224 K-7 / US-73 north / US-24 west / US-40 west Bonner Springs, LeavenworthExit number follows Kansas Turnpike mileposts; last free exit westbound; west end of US-24/US-40 overlap; southern terminus of US-73; westbound exits signed as exit 224A (south) and 224B (north)
409.19658.53410110th Street – Kansas SpeedwayExit numbers follow mileage of I-70.
410.48660.60411A-B 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
417.57672.01418A-B 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)West end of US-69 overlap; east 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. LouisEastbound exit and westbound entrance
420.68–
421.33
677.02–
678.06
422A US-69 north (7th Street Trafficway)East end of US-69 overlap
422B US-169 south (7th Street Trafficway)West 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
Kansas–Missouri line422.82680.46 I-70 / US 24 / US 40 east / US 169 north continue into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

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. 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.

KML is from Wikidata
Interstate 70
Previous state:
Colorado
Kansas Next state:
Missouri
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