K-61 (Kansas highway)

K-61 is a 83.358-mile-long (134.152 km) northsouth state highway in the U.S. State of Kansas. K-61's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 54 (US-54) and US-400 on the east side of Pratt, and the northern terminus is at I-135 and US-81 south of McPherson. K-61 is signed as a northsouth but runs southwest and northeast.[1]

K-61
K-61 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and the city of Hutchinson
Length83.358 mi[1] (134.152 km)
Existed1932[2]–present
Major junctions
South end US-54 / US-400 in Pratt
  US-50 from South Hutchinson to Hutchinson
North end
I-135 / US-81 / US-81 Bus. south of McPherson
Location
CountiesPratt, Reno, McPherson
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
K-60 K-62

Route description

K-61 passes through the towns of Preston, Turon, Langdon (unincorporated) and Partridge, while paralleling a line of the Union Pacific Railroad, then beginning a six-mile (10 km) concurrency with US-50. It shares a short concurrency with K-14 and K-96 near South Hutchinson.

After breaking to the northeast from US-50, K-61 passes through the east side of Hutchinson (Where it is signed locally as the Ken Kennedy Freeway[3]). It bypasses Medora (unincorporated), Inman, and Groveland before ending at I-135 and US-81 south of McPherson.

Its last two miles share a "wrong-way" concurrency with US-81 Business.

K-61 is a two-lane highway from its south end until it meets US-50, and a four-lane highway for the rest of its route.

It has controlled access interchanges (with US-50) at North K-96, west of Hutchinson; South K-96, also signed To K-17 in South Hutchinson. After breaking away from US-50, K-61 has controlled access interchanges at Avenue A in Hutchinson, 56th Avenue in Hutchinson, 85th Avenue/Medora Road north of Hutchinson, and Cherokee Road in Inman. Near McPherson, the highway is a full freeway, with interchanges at K-153, K-153 Spur, and US-81 Bus.

History

K-61 was commissioned by 1932.[2] It appears on the 1932 state highway map.[4] K-61 originally ended in Hutchinson at US-50. Sometime between 1956 and 1962, K-61 was extended on a previous routing of K-17 between Hutchinson and McPherson.[5]

In a September 9, 2009 resolution KDOT slightly realigned K-61 southwest of McPherson, slightly realigned it to the west of Inman and realigned it westward slightly north-northwest of Hutchinson.[6]

In a project lasting several years,[7][8][9] the Kansas Department of Transportation turned the northern part of K-61 from Hutchinson to McPherson into a four-lane expressway.[10][11] Some intersections were changed to controlled-access interchanges, and the number of at-grade intersections was reduced. The original route went through Medora and Inman, but the new route bypasses both, west of its original route. As of August 2012, all lanes are open to traffic. The new section of the highway has been designated the John Neal Memorial Highway in memory of a major advocate of the project.[12]

Junction list

All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
PrattPratt0.0000.000 US-54 / US-400 Kingman, GreensburgSouthern terminus
RenoArlington34.11954.909 K-11 south KingmanNorthern terminus of K-11; former K-14 south
Center Township44.89372.248 US-50 west KinsleyPartial interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern end of US-50 concurrency
Reno Township50.40181.113 K-14 / K-96 west LyonsWest end of expressway; western end of K-14/K-96 concurrency
South Hutchinson51.91383.546 K-14 / K-96 east / Main Street northEastern end of K-14/K-96 concurrency
52.89685.128Scott Boulevard / McNew Road
Hutchinson54.02086.937 US-50 east NewtonInterchange; east end of expressway section; northern end of US-50 concurrency
55.62089.512Avenue AInterchange
ClayMedora
township line
96.509155.316E. 56th AvenueInterchange
Medora64.100103.159Medora Road / E. 85th AvenueInterchange
McPhersonInman70.668113.729Cherokee Road (CR-446)Interchange
King City Township78.771126.770 K-153 north McPhersonSouth end of freeway; northbound exit and southbound entrance
80.546129.626
K-153 Spur north McPherson
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; former US-81
80.796130.029
US-81 Bus. north McPherson
Southern end of US-81 Bus. concurrency
83.358134.152
US-81 Bus. ends / I-135 / US-81 Wichita, Salina
Northern terminus; northern end of US-81 Bus. concurrency; I-135 exit 58
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. Kennedy, Richie. "Kansas Highways Routelog". Kansas Highways 7.0. Archived from the original on 2005-09-06. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  3. Google Maps
  4. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1932 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  5. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1962 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. § F6-D8. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  6. State Highway Commission of Kansas (September 9, 2009). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Roads in McPherson County". Vermillion: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  7. Opening highway today is expected Archived 2013-01-25 at Archive.today The Hutchinson News October 20, 2011
  8. Roads unsnarling as work fades Archived 2013-01-26 at Archive.today The Hutchinson News May 11, 2012
  9. K-61, 30th open in all directions Archived 2013-01-25 at Archive.todayThe Hutchinson News June 14, 2012
  10. Comprehensive Transportation Program
  11. K-61 project progressing Archived 2010-10-28 at the Wayback Machine The Hutchinson News October 24, 2011
  12. K-61 dedication set for-Aug. 10 Archived 2013-01-25 at Archive.today The Hutchinson News July 23, 2012
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