K-196 (Kansas highway)

K-196 westbound

K-196 begins at exit 25 of I-135, which is co-designated as US-81 and K-15, and begins heading due east. South of Whitewater, it begins curving more southeast, until, west of Potwin, it begins going due south. It then ends at K-254 west of El Dorado, near I-35/Kansas Turnpike.[3][4][5]

K-196 is not included in the National Highway System.[6] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-196 does connect to the National Highway System at each terminus.[7] 2018 Annual average daily traffic (AADT) on K-196 ranged from 1430 near Potwin, 1680 between Whitewater and Potwin, 1890 near Whitewater, 2280 near the western terminus and 2380 near the eastern terminus.[8][9] As of 2017, the portion of the route in Harvey County is paved with partial design bituminous pavement and the portion of the route in Butler County is paved with full design bituminous pavement.[10][1]

K-196 Alternate
Location	El Dorado
Length	1.190 mi[11] (1.915 km)
Existed	October 8, 1958[11]–c. 1978

K-196 was first established as a state highway on March 29, 1937 by the State Highway Commission of Kansas, now known as Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).[2] In an April 10, 1946 resolution K-196 was slightly realigned in Butler County northwest of El Dorado.[12] Before mid 1953 K-196 followed the railroad through Oil Hill, then in a May 19, 1953 resolution K-196 was moved slightly southwest to a new alignment.[13] By June 1957, Butler county had finished projects on the new K-254 and in a June 26, 1957 resolution it was established as a state highway from the Sedgwick–Butler County line to K-196 west of El Dorado.[14] Then sometime between June 26, 1957 and 1968 K-254 was extended along K-196 through El Dorato to US-54 and US-77.[14][15] In an October 8, 1958 resolution K-196 Alternate (K-196 Alt.) was created on the west end of El Dorado.[11] In a January 27, 1967 resolution it was approved to build I-35W from the Sedgewick–Harvey County line north to the Harvey–McPherson County line and then realign K-15 and US-81 onto I-35W.[16] By 1970 the new highway was built and K-196 was truncated .479 miles (0.771 km) to it current western terminus.[16][17] I-35W was remembered to I-135 on September 13, 1976.[18] Then sometime between 1975 and 1981 K-196 Alt. was decommissioned.[19][20] The overlap with K-254 was removed on May 6, 1994 and K-196 was truncated to end at K-254 west of El Dorado.[21]

• Kansas Highway Maps: Current