K-33 (Kansas highway)

K-33 is a 10.405-mile-long (16.745 km) north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a two-lane expressway, linking K-68 in rural Franklin County (near Rantoul) to U.S. Route 56 (US-56) in Douglas County, just north of Wellsville. It provides an important link between US-56 and K-68 to Interstate 35 (I-35) and US-50 in Wellsville.

K-33
K-33 in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length10.405 mi[1] (16.745 km)
Existed1927[2]–present
Major junctions
South end K-68 east of Olathe
  I-35 / US-50 in Wellsville
North end US-56 east of Baldwin City
Location
CountiesFranklin, Douglas
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-32→ K-34

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas, there were auto trails. The majority of K-33's route closely follows the former New Santa Fe Trail, King of Trails and Ozark Trails. K-33 was first designated as a state highway in 1927.

Route description

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]

History

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]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
FranklinPeoria Township0.0000.000 K-68 to US-169 – OttawaSouthern terminus; road continues as Virginia Road
Franklin Township6.0449.727 I-35 / US-50 – Wichita, Kansas CityDiamond interchange; I-35 exit 198
DouglasPalmyra Township10.40516.745 US-56 (North 200 Road) – Baldwin City, OlatheNorthern terminus; road continues as E 2300 Road
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Staff (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  2. 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.
  3. "Kansas Railroad Map 2011" (PDF). Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. April 1, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  4. Bureau of Transportation Planning (April 1, 2011). City of Wellsville (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  5. Bureau of Transportation Planning (October 2009). Franklin County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  6. Google (February 13, 2013). "K-33 (Kansas highway)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  7. Bureau of Transportation Planning (May 2010). Douglas County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  8. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2020). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  9. Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  10. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  11. 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 November 3, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
  12. Clason Map Company (1931). "Kansas" (Map). Clason's Road Map of Kansas. 1:1,600,000. Denver: Clason Map Company – via Rumsey Collection.
  13. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1933). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  14. Continental Oil Company (1934). Kansas (Map). Denver: Continental Oil Company.
  15. Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Chronological History Documentation: US 56 (correspondence between ODOT, AASHO, and other DOTs)
  16. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1963). 1963-64 Kansas State Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  17. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1947). 1947 Franklin County Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  18. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1969). 1969 Franklin County Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

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