K-33 (Kansas highway)

K-33 begins at an intersection with K-68 east of Ottawa in Franklin County. It starts travelling north on a two-lane road through rolling plains. After approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) the highway crosses Hickory Creek. It continues roughly 2.4 miles (3.9 km) then the route curves to the east momentarily before curving back to the north. The highway continues north for 2.6 miles (4.2 km) then intersects I-35 and US-50 at a diamond interchange. North of this interchange, K-33 enters the city of Wellsville as Poplar Street. It continues north through the city and soon crosses a BNSF Railway.[3] Continuing north, K-33 leaves the city at 1st Street.[4] The highway soon crosses Rock Creek then enters into Douglas County roughly.[5] About two miles (3.2 km) after crossing the county line, the highway ends at an intersection with US-56 east of Baldwin City.[6][7]

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2019, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 1570 vehicles per day near the southern terminus to 5130 vehicles per day between I-35/US-50 and Wellsville. The second highest was 2610 vehicles per day slightly south of I-35/US-50.[8] K-33 is not included in the National Highway System, which is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-33 does connect to the National Highway System at I-35/US-50 and at its northern terminus.[9][10]

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 majority of K-33's route closely follows the former New Santa Fe Trail, King of Trails and Ozark Trails.[11]

K-33 was first designated a state highway in 1927, and at that time ran from US-73W and US-50S in Ottawa east then north to Wellsville, then northeastward to US-50 in Edgerton.[2] By 1931 K-33's western terminus was extended southeastward to end at US-50S west of Waverly.[12] Between 1933 and 1934, US-73E was renumbered to US-73.[13][14] By April 1936, US-50S was realigned onto K-33 from south of Ottawa to K-31 east of Waverly and K-68 was extended west on the old US-50S alignment from Ottawa to US-75 by Lyndon. At that time, K-33 was truncated to end at US-50S and US-73 in Ottawa. On June 27, 1956, the AASHO Route Numbering Committee approved US-56 to be created. US-56 was routed over US-50 from Kansas City westward to US-59 then followed US-50N, which was eliminated. Also at this time US-50S was renumbered to US-50.[15] By 1963 the section of I-35 from Ottawa to Kansas City was built and US-50 had been realigned to overlap I-35.[16] By 1969, the overlap with K-68 was eliminated and K-33 was truncated to its current southern terminus.[17][18]

• Kansas Highways Routelog – K-33