K-170 (Kansas highway)

K-170 is a 21.759-mile-long (35.018 km) state highway in the U.S. State of Kansas. K-170's western terminus is at K-99 about 12 miles (19 km) north of Emporia and the eastern terminus is at K-31 on the west side of Osage City, a mile south of the K-31 intersection with U.S. Route 56 (US-56). K-170 provides access, via county roads, to Lyons County State Fishing Lake.[3]

K-170
K-170 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length21.759 mi (35.018 km)
Existedc. 1931[1]–present
HistoryRenumbered from K-70 to K-170 on October 31, 1957[2]
Major junctions
West end K-99 west of Reading
East end K-31 in Osage City
Location
CountiesLyon, Osage
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← US-169→ K-171

The highway that became K-170 was first designated in 1931 as K-70, from K-11 and K-22 to Reading. K-11 was renumbered to K-99 and K-22 was decommissioned in 1938.[1] Then in 1946, the highway was extended to end in Osage City. In 1957, K-70 was renumbered to K-170 to avoid a numbering confusion with Interstate 70 (I-70).[2]

Route description

K-170 is signed as east–west its entire length, even though the section from West 301st Street to K-31 runs directly north–south.

K-170 begins at an intersection with K-99 northeast of Emporia and begins traveling east through flat rural farmlands. After about .5 miles (0.80 km) it crosses Badger Creek, a tributary of Neosho River. The highway continues east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) then intersects Road T, which travels north to Lyon County State Lake. It continues east for 5.3 miles (8.5 km) through more flat rural farmlands then enters the city of Reading. It travels approximately .8 miles (1.3 km) through the city. As the highway exits the city it also crosses into Osage County.[4][5] Soon after crossing the county line it crosses a BNSF Railway track. About one mile (1.6 km) after crossing the railroad it crosses Marias des Cygnes River. The highway then continues about two miles (3.2 km) east then crosses Cherry Creek. Roughly 1.2 miles (1.9 km) past Cherry Creek it crosses Little Cable Creek then Cable Creek about one mile (1.6 km) later. After crossing Cable Creek it intersects West 301st Street also known as Rural Secondary 1960 (RS-1960), which leads to the Eisenhower State Park. At this point K-170 curves north and travels approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) then crosses Mute Creek. It continues north for about .3 miles (0.48 km) then intersects West 269th Street, which leads west to the unincorporated community of Barclay. From this point it continues north roughly two miles (3.2 km) and enters Osage City. The highway then passes by Osage City Reservoir and crosses the BNSF Railroad track again then briefly exits the city. It then crosses Salt Creek as it reenters the city as Martin Street. It continues north through the city for about zero point six miles (0.97 km) then ends at K-31 in Osage City.[6][3]

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2017, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 430 vehicles per day east of Reading to 1150 vehicles per day south of the terminus of K-31.[7] K-170 is not included in the National Highway System.[8] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[9]

History

Early roads

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas 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 eastern terminus was part of the National Old Trails Road and Old Santa Fe Trail.[10]

Establishment and realignments

K-170 was commissioned as K-70 by 1931, starting from K-11 and K-22 and ending at Reading.[1] The K-22 designation was removed and K-11 was renumbered to K-99 between January and July 1938.[11][12] In a December 12, 1945 resolution, it was approved to extend K-70 from the Lyon–Osage County line east then north to Osage City as soon as Osage County had brought the road up to state highway standards.[13] Then in an October 23, 1946 resolution, it was extended, as the county had finished required projects.[13][14] On October 31, 1957, K-70 was renumbered to K-170 to avoid a numbering confusion with I-70.[2][15]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
LyonReading Township0.0000.000 K-99 – Emporia, Admire, AlmaWestern terminus; road continues as Road 250
OsageOsage City21.75935.018 K-31 – Lyndon, BurlingameEastern terminus; highway continues north as K-31 (Martin Street)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Clason Map Company (1931). "Kansas" (Map). Clason's Road Map of Kansas. 1:1,600,000. Denver: Clason Map Company – via Rumsey Collection.
  2. State Highway Commission of Kansas (October 15, 1957). "October 15, 1957 Resolution". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  3. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2007). Osage County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. Bureau of Transportation Planning (November 2003). City of Reading (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  5. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2007). Lyon County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  6. Bureau of Transportation Planning (January 2002). City of Osage City (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  7. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  8. Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  9. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  10. 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 June 15, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  11. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (January 1938 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  12. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (July 1938 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  13. State Highway Commission of Kansas (October 23, 1946). "Resolution on Osage County Road". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  14. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1950-51 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  15. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1962 ed.). Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved 2008-05-05.

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