K-8 (Kansas highway)

K-8 is the name of two separate state highways in Kansas, United States. The southern highway is a 1.275-mile-long (2.052 km) road, linking Oklahoma State Highway 8 (SH-8) to the town of Kiowa. The northern highway is a 1.275-mile-long (2.052 km) road, linking U.S. Route 36 (US-36) near Athol to Nebraska Highway 10 (N-10) near the town of Franklin.

K-8
Southern segment highlighted in red, northern segment highlighted in blue
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length	17.254 mi[1] (27.768 km)
Southern segment
Length	1.275 mi[1] (2.052 km)
South end	SH-8 near Kiowa
North end	K-2 in Kiowa
Northern segment
Length	15.979 mi[1] (25.716 km)
South end	US-36 near Athol
North end	N-10 near Franklin
Location
Counties	North: Smith South: Barber
Highway system
Kansas State Highway System Interstate U.S. State Spurs ← K-7 → K-9

Route description

Southern highway

Classified as a major collector road,[2] the southern K-8 is a continuation of SH-8, linking northern Oklahoma to the town of Kiowa.[3] Approximately halfway between the state line and the northern terminus, the highway crosses a single track originally belonging to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which is now part of BNSF Railway's Kansas Division.[4][5]

Northern highway

The northern K-8, also classified as a major collector road,[6] begins at an intersection with US-36 near Athol, traveling north through rural farmland in northern Smith County. The highway terminates at the Nebraska state line, where the roadway continues as N-10.[7]

History

K-8 was constructed between 1918 and 1932,[8][9] traveling south-north through the middle of the state. By 1940,[10] the highways were truncated to their current segments. US-281 has replaced the former statewide K-8 as the primary link between Oklahoma and Nebraska.[11] The northern section was renumbered as K-11. In 1959, K-11 was transferred back to K-8, and K-8 was on its current route.

Major intersections

Southern highway

The entire route is in Barber County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.000	0.000	SH-8 south – Burlington	Continuation into Oklahoma
Kiowa	1.275	2.052	K-2 (Main Street) – Hardtner, Hazelton	Northern terminus of southern section
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Northern highway

The entire route is in Smith County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.000	0.000	US-36 – Smith Center, Phillipsburg	Southern terminus of northern section
​	15.979	25.716	N-10 north – Franklin	Continuation into Nebraska
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 21, 2017.
2. Barber County (PDF) (Map). Functional Classification. Kansas Department of Transportation. January 12, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
3. Google (January 4, 2011). "K-8 South" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
4. Kansas Railroad Map (PDF) (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
5. Kansas Operating Division (PDF) (Map). BNSF Railway. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
6. Smith County (PDF) (Map). Functional Classification. Kansas Department of Transportation. November 4, 2003. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
7. Google (January 4, 2011). "K-8 North" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
8. Official Map Kansas State Roads (PDF) (Map). 1 in ≈ 10 mi. Kansas Highway Commission. August 7, 1918.
9. Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Kansas Highway Commission. 1932.
10. Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Kansas Highway Commission. 1940.
11. Google (January 4, 2011). "K-8 (Kansas highway)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 4, 2011.