K-23 (Kansas highway)

K-23 begins its northerly journey at the Kansas-Oklahoma state line northwest of Forgan, Oklahoma, picking up northbound traffic from Oklahoma Highway 23. It traverses flat land with a few hills, passing near Meade Lake, then intersects U.S. Routes 54 and 160 in downtown Meade. After leaving Meade, it starts to traverse rolling hills until K-98, where the road levels out. K-23 intersects U.S. Route 56 on its way to Cimarron, where it junctions U.S. Routes 50 and 400. North of Cimarron, the route alternates between flat and hilly land through farmland. North of Cimarron, the route overlaps K-156 for five miles. After leaving K-156, the highway turns back north, levels out and heads toward Dighton, the only city in Lane County. There it intersects K-96. North of Dighton the route intersects K-4, and the two routes briefly run concurrent. After leaving K-4, it travels north to Gove City, and continues to Grainfield, where it intersects I-70 and U.S. Route 40, where the three routes overlap for two miles before K-23 turns north again. North of Grainfield, rolling hills alternate with the flatter land. In Hoxie, U.S. Route 24 is intersected. North of Hoxie, the road intersects K-123, turns west, then intersects K-223. K-23 continues west until its northern terminus at U.S. Route 83 and K-383.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2018, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 390 vehicles just south of K-156 to 1760 vehicles just south of Cimarron.[2][3] K-23 is not included in the National Highway System,[4] a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[5] K-27 does connect to the National Highway System at its junction with US-54 and US-160 in Meade, US-50 and US-400 in Cimarron, I-70 and US-40 by Grainfield, and its northern terminus at US-83 and K-383.[4]

K-23 was first designated as a state highway in 1927. At that time it began at K-96 in Dighton, and ran north and had a short overlap with K-52 east of Healy. It left the overlap and continued north through Gove to US-40S in Grainfield. From here, the highway continued north to US-40N in Hoxie. It continued past Hoxie northward to US-36 and K-22 in Dresden. It continued north, crossing K-2 in Oberlin, before terminating at the Nebraska state line.[1] By 1931, US-36 was realigned to go west into Colorado, and the old portion through Dresden became US-83. Also by 1931, K-23 was truncated to US-83, and US-183 was created to follow the former K-23, from US-83 to Nebraska.[6] By 1932, it was extended from Dighton southward to US-50N west of Kalvesta. Then continued south to US-50S in Cimarron, then to K-45 west of Ensign. From here it continued south and ended at US-54 and US-160 in Meade.[7] Between July 1938 and 1940, US-183 was realigned to go east from Oberlin, at this time K-23 was realigned to follow K-9 west to US-83, then north to US-36 and US-183 in Oberlin. Also K-123 was created and replaced the former K-23 from K-9 to Dresden.[8][9] This lasted until 1945, when K-23 was truncated to US-83, and US-83 replaced it from here north to Oberlin. Also the old alignment of US-83 from here to Nebraska became US-383.[10][11]

In an October 11, 1935 resolution, K-23 was slightly realigned by Gove.[12] In a January 11, 1938 resolution, the overlap with K-4, west of Shields, was moved 1 north.[13] In an August 7, 1941 resolution, K-23 was realigned one mile (1.6 km) to the east, just south of the K-9 junction, to eliminate several sharp curves.[14] In a May 8, 1957 resolution, it was realigned slightly on the north side of Gove to eliminate two sharp curves.[15] In a December 9, 1959 resolution, the future I-70 was to be built along with US-40 being realigned onto it. Also K-23 Spur was to be built from I-70 and US-40 north to K-23.[16] In a March 8, 1961 resolution, K-23 was realigned to follow the former K-98 to Meade State Lake, then south to the Oklahoma border.[17] Before 1990, K-23 continued directly west to US-83 at its northern terminus. Then in a March 12, 1990 resolution, US-83 was realigned, and at that time K-23 was realigned to curve north then intersect US-83, northeast of Selden.[18]