K-55 (Kansas highway)

K-55 is a 12.049-mile-long (19.391 km) west–east state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. K-55's western terminus is at U.S. Route 81 (US-81) roughly 11 miles (18 km) north of Wellington and the eastern terminus is at K-15 in Udall. It passes through the town of Belle Plaine.

K-55
K-55 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length12.049 mi[1] (19.391 km)
Existed1927[2]–present
Major junctions
West end US-81 west of Belle Plaine
East end K-15 in Udall
Location
CountiesSumner, Cowley
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← US-54K-57 →

The road's westbound terminus is a triangle-type intersection. Just before the western terminus, the road passes under the Kansas Turnpike, although there is no intersection. Turnpike access is available at K-53 to the north and US-160 to the south near Wellington.

K-55 was first designated a state highway in 1927, and at that time ran from K-12 in Oxford, northwestward to US-81 in Belle Plaine. By 1931 it was changed to an alignment from US-81 in Belle Plain east to US-77 south of Rock. Then by 1932, K-55 was truncated to K-15 west of Udall. Then in a January 1, 1941 resolution, K-15 was realigned from southeast of Mulvane to Udall, and at that time K-55 was extended east to Udall.

Route description

K-55 begins at US-81 north of Wellington and begins travelling east. It crosses under Interstate 35 (I-35) and continues for another two miles (3.2 km), then crosses the BNSF Railway as it enters the city of Belle Plaine. About 2.2 miles (3.5 km) past the city, the highway crosses Cowskin Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Another roughly two miles (3.2 km) past here, K-55 crosses the Arkansas River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. It continues east, crosses Antelope Creek, then crosses into Cowley County. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) past the county line, the roadway enters the city of Udall. It continues through Udall until it reaches Clark Street, where it turns north and intersects K-15, K-55's eastern terminus.[3]

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 805 vehicles near the eastern terminus to 2050 vehicles just east of Belle Plaine.[4][5] K-55 is not included in the National Highway System,[6] a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[7] K-55 does connect to the National Highway System at its junction with K-15.[6]

History

K-19 was first designated by KDOT in 1927, and at that time ran from K-12 in Oxford, northwestward to US-81 in Belle Plaine.[2][8] By 1931 this alignment had been abandoned, and instead K-55 ran from US-81 in Belle Plain east to US-77 south of Rock, creating a short overlap with K-15.[9] Then by 1932, K-55 was truncated to K-15, and the old alignment of K-55 between K-15 and US-77 became a new alignment of K-15.[10][11] Before 1941, K-55 ended west of Udall at K-15. Then in a January 1, 1941 resolution, K-15 was realigned from southeast of Mulvane to Udall, and at that time K-55 was extended east to Udall.[12]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
SumnerBelle Plaine Township0.0000.000 US-81 – Wellington, WichitaWestern terminus; highway continues south as US-81 (west as 90th Avenue North)
CowleyUdall12.04919.391 K-15Eastern terminus
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 22, 2017.
  2. National Map Company (1927). "Kansas" (Map). Sectional paved road map. 1:1,600,000. Indianapolis: National Map Company. pp. 18–19 – via Rumsey Collection.
  3. Microsoft; Nokia (April 16, 2020). "Overview map of K-55" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  4. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  5. Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). Traffic Flow Inset Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  6. Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  7. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  8. 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.
  9. Rand McNally and Company (1931). "Kansas" (Map). Clason's Road Map of Kansas. 1:2,000,000. Denver: Clason Map Company. p. 87 – via Rumsey Collection.
  10. State Highway Commission of Kansas (1932). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. OCLC 1007837202. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  11. Kennedy, Richie. "Kansas Highways Routelog". Kansas Highways 7.0. Archived from the original on 2005-09-06. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  12. State Highway Commission of Kansas (January 13, 1941). "Resolution for relocation and redesignation of road in Sumner and Cowley Counties". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved April 15, 2020.

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