K-61 (Kansas highway)
Encyclopedia
K-61 is a Kansas
state highway
originating at US-54 and US-400 on the east side of Pratt
. Signed as a north–south highway, K-61 is a diagonal highway running southwest and northeast. K-61 is 80 miles (128.7 km) long.
, Turon
, Langdon
(unincorporated) and Partridge
before beginning a six-mile (10 km) concurrency with US-50. It has a short concurrency with K-14
in and near Arlington
.
After breaking to the northeast from US-50, K-61 goes through the east side of Hutchinson
(Where it is signed locally as the Ken Kennedy Freeway). It goes through Medora (unincorporated) and Inman
before ending at Interstate 135 and US-81 south of McPherson
.
Its last two miles share a "wrong-way" concurrency with Business US-81.
Most of K-61 is two lanes. There are four-lane segments during its US-50 concurrency as well as most of its route in McPherson County.
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, Cherokee Road in Inman
, and Spur K-153
, K-153
and Business US-81 all in McPherson.
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.
is planning to turn K-61 into a four-lane expressway from northeast of Hutchinson to McPherson. As of October 2011 the new four-lane alignment in McPherson County is open to traffic, though the section of highway between Hutchinson and the county line is still two lanes. The project is estimated to be completed in spring 2012.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
originating at US-54 and US-400 on the east side of Pratt
Pratt, Kansas
Pratt is a city in and the county seat of Pratt County in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,835. Pratt is home to Pratt Community College.-19th century:Pratt was founded in 1884 and named after Caleb S...
. Signed as a north–south highway, K-61 is a diagonal highway running southwest and northeast. K-61 is 80 miles (128.7 km) long.
Route description
K-61 runs through or beside the towns of PrestonPreston, Kansas
Preston is a city in Pratt County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 158.-19th century:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Preston to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was...
, Turon
Turon, Kansas
Turon is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 387.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Turon to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to...
, Langdon
Langdon, Kansas
Langdon is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Langdon to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to...
(unincorporated) and Partridge
Partridge, Kansas
Partridge is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 248.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Partridge to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended...
before beginning a six-mile (10 km) concurrency with US-50. It has a short concurrency with K-14
K-14 (Kansas highway)
K-14 is a north–south state highway which runs most of the length of the U.S. state of Kansas. The highway runs through the central part of the state.-Route description:...
in and near Arlington
Arlington, Kansas
Arlington is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 473.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Arlington to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended...
.
After breaking to the northeast from US-50, K-61 goes through the east side of Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
(Where it is signed locally as the Ken Kennedy Freeway). It goes through Medora (unincorporated) and Inman
Inman, Kansas
Inman is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,377.- History :It was founded in 1887 as Aiken. It was renamed Inman, in 1889, after Inman Lake which is located approximately east of the town...
before ending at Interstate 135 and US-81 south of McPherson
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
.
Its last two miles share a "wrong-way" concurrency with Business US-81.
Most of K-61 is two lanes. There are four-lane segments during its US-50 concurrency as well as most of its route in McPherson County.
It has controlled access interchanges (with US-50) at North K-96
K-96 (Kansas highway)
K-96 is a state highway in central and southern Kansas. Its western terminus is at the Colorado state line east of Towner, Colorado, where it continues as Colorado State Highway 96; its eastern terminus since 1999 is at U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 east of Wichita.The eastern terminus was once at...
, west of Hutchinson; South K-96, also signed To K-17
K-17 (Kansas highway)
K-17 is a Kansas state highway originating at US-54 and US-400 between Kingman and Cheney near the unincorporated community of Waterloo. It ends at K-96 near South Hutchinson, Kansas.K-17 is long...
in South Hutchinson
South Hutchinson, Kansas
South Hutchinson is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States, and a suburb of Hutchinson. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,457.-History:Founded in 1887 by Benjamin Blanchard of Terre Haute, Indiana.-Geography:...
. After breaking away from US-50, K-61 has controlled access interchanges at Avenue A in Hutchinson, Cherokee Road in Inman
Inman, Kansas
Inman is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,377.- History :It was founded in 1887 as Aiken. It was renamed Inman, in 1889, after Inman Lake which is located approximately east of the town...
, and Spur K-153
K-153 (Kansas highway)
- Route description :The route begins at K-61 on a partial interchange . The route ends at US-56. The road continues north as McPherson County Route 1961....
, K-153
K-153 (Kansas highway)
- Route description :The route begins at K-61 on a partial interchange . The route ends at US-56. The road continues north as McPherson County Route 1961....
and Business US-81 all in McPherson.
History
K-61 was commissioned by 1932. It appears on the 1932 state highway map.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.
Future
The Kansas Department of TransportationKansas Department of Transportation
The Kansas Department of Transportation is a state government organization in charge of maintaining public roadways of the U.S. state of Kansas.-Organization:*Secretary of Transportation...
is planning to turn K-61 into a four-lane expressway from northeast of Hutchinson to McPherson. As of October 2011 the new four-lane alignment in McPherson County is open to traffic, though the section of highway between Hutchinson and the county line is still two lanes. The project is estimated to be completed in spring 2012.