U.S. Route 81 in Kansas

U.S. Route 81 (US-81) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Fort Worth, Texas to the Pembina–Emerson Border Crossing near Pembina, North Dakota. In the U.S. state of Kansas, US-81 is a main north–south highway central part of the state. Wichita is the only metropolitan area US-81 serves in the state but the highway does serve several other larger towns in Kansas such as (from south to north) Wellington and Concordia.

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 81 in Kansas. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 81.

U.S. Route 81
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Major junctions
South end US-81 at Oklahoma state line
 
North end US 81 at Nebraska state line
Location
CountiesSumner, Sedgwick, Harvey, McPherson, Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, Republic
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
← K-80K-82 →

Route description
US-81 at US-166's western terminus

Nearly all of US-81 in Kansas is either freeway or expressway. The route enters Kansas as a two-lane near Caldwell. From South Haven to Wichita it closely parallels Interstate 35, which is also known as the Kansas Turnpike in that area. After South Haven, the only town of any significance along US 81 until Wichita is Wellington, which is just west of the Turnpike along U.S. Route 160.

US-81 concurrent with I-135 and K-15

At Wichita, US-81 joins Interstate 135. The two highways remain joined until Salina, with I-135's mile markers taking precedence. Interstate 135 ends at Interstate 70 but US-81 continues as a freeway to Minneapolis, then as an expressway passing through Concordia before exiting the state north of Belleville.

History
US-81 at the north end of I-135 at I-70

The alignment of US-81 from Wichita to Salina prior to the completion Interstate 135 is fully intact. The prior alignment ran from where current US-81 breaks off for Interstate 135 at 47th street, north through Wichita along Broadway street. Old US-81 roughly parallels Interstate 135 to Newton. Old US-81 follows current K-15 through Newton between an interchange with US-50 and Hesston Road, where old US-81 breaks northwest onto Hesston road. Old US-81 then travels through the small Kansas towns of Hesston, Moundridge, and Elyria, before turning to the north, and going through the town of McPherson as Main street. North of McPherson, old US-81 continues to Lindsborg, where it follows current K-4 until an interchange with Interstate 135. Old US-81 passes under Interstate 135 and continues to parallel it about 1/2 mile to the east. Old US-81 then travels through Assaria, where it encounters another brief overlap with K-4 and K-104. Old US-81 continues through the city of Salina as Ninth street. North of Salina, Old US-81 encounters brief overlaps with K-143 and K-18. Old US-81 follows K-106 to an interchange with current US-81, where the two alignments are joined back together.

K-155
LocationNear Lindsborg
ExistedAugust 24, 1966–March 29, 1961

In an August 24, 1966 resolution, a section of the new I-35W was to be built south of Lindsborg. At this time, K-155 was proposed to connect US-81 to the new I-35W. This plan was later cancelled in a March 29, 1961 meeting, when US-81 was realigned onto I-35W to current exit 72, then west along the proposed K-155 (modern Smoky Valley Road) to the old US-81 alignment.[1]

From Salina to the Nebraska state line, the highway is named the Frank Carlson Memorial Highway, in honor of the late Senator Frank Carlson. Senator Carlson was a native of Concordia who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1951-1969. Before serving in the Senate, he was Governor of Kansas from 1947–1950.

Major intersections
CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
SumnerCaldwell Township0.0000.000 US-81 south – EnidContinuation into Oklahoma
Caldwell K-49 north (Main Street north) – Conway SpringsSouthern terminus of K-49
South Haven US-177 south (Main Street south) – Blackwell OKNorthern terminus of US-177
US-166 east – Arkansas CityWestern terminus of US-166
Wellington US-160 west (8th Street) – HarperSouthern terminus of US-160 concurrency
US-160 east / 16th Street / A Street south – WinfieldRoundabout; northern terminus of US-160 concurrency
Belle Plaine Township K-55 east – Belle PlaineWestern terminus of K-55
Sumner–Sedgwick
county line		Belle Plaine–Salem
township line		 K-53 east to I-35 / Kansas Turnpike – MulvaneWestern terminus of K-53
SedgwickWichita I-135 south to I-35 / Kansas TurnpikeTolled; south end of freeway section; southern terminus of I-135 concurrency; I-135 exit 1A
Overlap with I-135
SalineSalina95A-B I-135 ends / I-70 / US-40 – Topeka, HaysNorthern terminus of I-135 concurrency; northern terminus of I-135; I-70 exit 250A-B; I-135 exit 95A-B; cloverleaf interchange
Elm Creek Township— K-143 southNorthern terminus of K-143
OttawaBennington Township— K-18 – Lincoln, Junction City
Concord Township— K-106 – MinneapolisNorth end of freeway section
Logan Township K-41 west – DelphosEastern terminus of K-41
CloudMeredith Township US-24 – Clay Center, BeloitInterchange
Concordia K-9 (Sixth Street) – Beloit, Clyde
RepublicLincoln Township K-148 – Norway, Agenda
Belleville US-36 – Washington, MankatoInterchange
Liberty Township US 81 north – HebronContinuation into Nebraska
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. State Highway Commission of Kansas (August 24, 1966). "Resolution for location, relocation and redesignation of roads using State-wide Funds as follows". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
U.S. Route 81
Previous state:
Oklahoma		 Kansas Next state:
Nebraska
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