Interstate 70 in Kansas

Interstate highway located primarily in the state of Kansas

This article is about the section of Interstate 70 in Kansas. For the entire route, see Interstate 70.

Interstate 70

I-70 highlighted in red

Route information
Maintained by KDOT and KTA
Length| 424.15 mi[1] (682.60 km)
Existed| 1956–present
NHS| Entire route
Major junctions
West end|  I-70 / US 24 at the Colorado state line
Major intersections|

* I-135 / US-81 in Salina
* I-470 / US-75 near Topeka
* I-470 / Kansas Turnpike / US-40 / K-4 near Topeka
* US-73 / K-7 near Bonner Springs
* I-435 in Kansas City
* I-635 in Kansas City
* I-670 in Kansas City

East end|  I-70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 at the Missouri state line
Location
Country| United States
State| Kansas
Counties| Sherman, Thomas, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Saline, Dickinson, Geary, Riley, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Douglas, Leavenworth, Wyandotte
Highway system

* Interstate Highway System

* Main
* Auxiliary
* Suffixed
* Business
* Future

* Kansas State Highway System

* Interstate
* US
* State
* Spurs

| ←  US-69| | →  K-71

|
|

Interstate 70 (I-70) is a mainline route of the Interstate Highway System in the United States connecting Cove Fort, Utah, to Baltimore, Maryland. In the US state of Kansas, I-70 extends just over 424 miles (682 km) from the Colorado border near the town of Kanorado to the Missouri border in Kansas City. I-70 in Kansas contains the first segment in the country to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. The route passes through several of the state's principal cities in the process, including Kansas City, Topeka, and Salina. The route also passes through the cities of Lawrence, Junction City, and Abilene.

The section of I-70 from Topeka to the Missouri border is co-designated as the Kansas Turnpike; only the section between Topeka and just west of Kansas City is tolled.

## Route description

[edit]

I-70 exit 1 in Kanorado

I-70 runs concurrently with U.S. Highway 24 (US 24) from the Colorado state line until US 24 splits at Levant and runs north of I-70. At Colby, I-70 begins to turn southeast until it reaches Oakley, where US 40 joins with I-70 for a concurrent journey through most of the state. Initially, the route remains high and unusually level as it follows a projection of the High Plains into the state. From exit 140 (Riga Road), the route lowers from the High Plains into the Blue Hills region, as indicated by gentle undulations in the road and the unusual appearance of stone posts in the countryside.[2] Approaching Russell, the route passes over three active sinkholes, the largest being the Crawford Sinkhole at mile 179.[2] Past Russell, the route follows a ridge between the Smoky Hill River and its tributary, the Saline River, where the highway passes through the Smoky Hills Wind Farm. Reaching the county line between Russell and Ellsworth counties, the road begins to traverse the Smoky Hills.

At Salina, I-135 begins its journey southward toward Wichita, and I-70 continues through Abilene and Junction City, where the road begins to run through the Flint Hills.

In Topeka, I-70 intersects a child route, I-470, twice. The second time it is intersected, the Kansas Turnpike merges, making I-70 into a toll road. This is one of only two sections of I-70 that are tolled (the other is along the Pennsylvania Turnpike); as of 2018[update], the maximum toll on this section of I-70 is $3.50.[3] I-70 and the turnpike are concurrent from Topeka to Bonner Springs, the turnpike's eastern terminus. From Bonner Springs to 18th Street and extending on to the Kansas eastern border, the highway is free.

I-70 crossing on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct over the Kansas River from Kansas to Missouri in Kansas City, as seen from Quality Hill

I-70 enters Missouri via a main northern route on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct above the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River and a route designated "Alternate I-70" which has signs for I-70 as well as I-670 just south of Kansas City main downtown area.

From exit 275 at Abilene to the Missouri state line, the road is named the Dwight D. Eisenhower–Harry S. Truman Presidential Highway. It retains the designation until exit 16 in Missouri at Independence, the location of Truman's presidential library.

## History

[edit]

Aerial view of exit 95 east of Grainfield, Kansas, 1960s

The section of I-70 that is now the Kansas Turnpike was finished by 1956 and opened to traffic.[4][5] West of Topeka, the freeway was constructed from Topeka west to Salina at its junction with US 81, as well as from Ogallah to Grainfield.[6] From Salina, the freeway was completed through Wilson the next year. On October 9, 1959, the section of I-70 opened from Junction City west to Abilene through a ribbon-cutting ceremony.[7] A segment of I-70 from Levant through Ogallah was finished by 1965.[8] Another section was built the following year connecting Wilson to Grainfield.[9] The freeway was completed through Kansas with a last section near the Colorado border in 1970.[10]

## Exit list

[edit]

Exit numbers correspond to the mileposts where they are located (numbered east from the Colorado border), except for those between Topeka and Kansas City, which are part of the Kansas Turnpike and use its mileposts (numbered nominally north from the Oklahoma border) instead.

County| Location| mi| km| Exit| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

Sherman| Stateline Township| 0.00| 0.00| |

I-70 west / US 24 west – Denver| Continuation into Colorado
1.35| 2.17| 1|  K-267 – Kanorado|
Lincoln Township| 9.32| 15.00| 9| County Road 11|
Logan Township| 12.27| 19.75| 12| County Road 14|
Goodland| 17.27| 27.79| 17|

US 24 Bus. east / K-27 – Sharon Springs, St. Francis|
19.25| 30.98| 19|

US 24 Bus. west – Goodland|
Washington Township| 27.22| 43.81| 27|  K-253 – Edson|
Thomas| West Hale Township| 36.34| 58.48| 36|  K-184 – Brewster|
East Hale Township| 45.83| 73.76| 45|
US-24 east – Levant| Eastern end of US-24 concurrency
Colby| 53.81| 86.60| 53|  K-25 – Leoti, Atwood|
Morgan Township| 54.80| 88.19| 54| Country Club Drive|
North Randall Township| 62.73| 100.95| 62| County Road K|
South Randall Township| 70.01| 112.67| 70|  US-83 – Oakley, Rexford|
Logan
| No major junctions
Gove| Oakley| 75.87| 122.10| 76|
US-40 west – Oakley, Sharon Springs| Western end of US-40 concurrency
Grinnell Township| 79.80| 128.43| 79| Campus Road|
85.75| 138.00| 85|  K-216 – Grinnell|
Grainfield Township| 93.72| 150.83| 93|  K-23 – Grainfield, Gove|
95.68| 153.98| 95|
K-23 north (via K-23 Spur) – Grainfield, Hoxie| Grainfield only signed westbound
Payne Township| 99.67| 160.40| 99|  K-211 – Park|
Quinter| 107.31| 172.70| 107| Castle Rock Road – Quinter| Former K-212
Trego| Collyer Township| 114.93| 184.96| 115|
K-198 north – Collyer|
119.84| 192.86| 120| Voda Road|
WaKeeney| 126.89| 204.21| 127|

US 40 Bus. east / US-283 – WaKeeney, Ness City|
127.93| 205.88| 128|

US 40 Bus. west to US-283 north – WaKeeney, Hill City|
Ogallah Township| 135.11| 217.44| 135|  K-147 – Ogallah|
140.23| 225.68| 140| Riga Road|
Ellis| Ellis| 145.29| 233.82| 145|  K-247 – Ellis|
Big Creek Township| 152.68| 245.71| 153| Yocemento Avenue|
Hays| 156.80| 252.35| 157|
US 183 Byp. – Hays, La Crosse|
159.00| 255.89| 159|  US-183 – Hays, Stockton|
Big Creek Township| 161.31| 259.60| 161| Commerce Parkway|
163.35| 262.89| 163| Toulon Avenue|
Herzog Township| 168.34| 270.92| 168|  K-255 – Victoria|
172.56| 277.71| 172| Walker Avenue|
Russell| Big Creek Township| 175.56| 282.54| 175| 176th Street – Gorham| Former K-257
Big Creek–Grant
township line| 180.56| 290.58| 180| 181st Street|
Russell| 184.54| 296.99| 184|  US-281 – Russell, Hoisington| Former US 40 Bus.
Grant Township| 188.56| 303.46| 189| 189th Street| Former US 40 Bus.
Center Township| 192.56| 309.90| 193| 193rd Street|
Dorrance| 199.09| 320.40| 199| Dorrance| Former K-231
Ellsworth| Wilson Township| 205.48| 330.69| 206|  K-232 – Wilson, Lucas|
209.50| 337.16| 209| Sylvan Grove|
Columbia Township| 215.52| 346.85| 216| Vesper|
Sherman Township| 218.54| 351.71| 219|
K-14 south – Ellsworth| Western end of K-14 overlap
221.44| 356.37| 221|
K-14 north – Lincoln| Eastern end of K-14 overlap
Garfield Township| 224.87| 361.89| 225|  K-156 – Ellsworth, Great Bend|
Lincoln| Madison Township| 232.96| 374.91| 233| Beverly, Carneiro|
Saline| Glendale Township| 237.96| 382.96| 238| Brookville, Tescott|
Pleasant Valley Township| 243.97| 392.63| 244| Hedville, Culver|
Elm Creek Township| 248.99| 400.71| 249| Halstead Road|
250.24| 402.72| 250A-B|
I-135 south / US-81 – Wichita, Concordia| I-135 exits 95A-B
Salina| 252.02| 405.59| 252|  K-143 (Ninth Street)|
Cambria Township| 253.09| 407.31| 253| Ohio Street|
Cambria–Dayton
township line| 259.49| 417.61| 260| Niles Road|
Dickinson| Solomon| 265.94| 427.99| 266| Solomon Road| Former K-221
Lincoln–Grant
township line| 272.00| 437.74| 272| Fair Road|
Abilene| 274.54| 441.83| 275|  K-15 – Abilene, Clay Center|
Grant Township| 277.09| 445.93| 277| Jeep Road|
Center Township| 280.30| 451.10| 281|  K-43 – Enterprise|
Noble Township| 285.54| 459.53| 286|  K-206 – Chapman|
Geary| Smoky Hill Township| 289.85| 466.47| 290| Milford Lake Road|
Junction City| 294.34| 473.69| 295|
US-77 / K-18 west – Marysville, Herington| Western end of K-18 overlap
295.92| 476.24| 296|

US 40 Bus. east (Washington Street)|
297.29| 478.44| 298| East Street / Chestnut Street|
Grandview Plaza| 298.28| 480.04| 299| Flinthills Boulevard ( US 40 Bus. / K-57) / J Hill Road|
299.18| 481.48| 300|

US 40 Bus. west / K-57 – Council Grove| No westbound entrance
Jefferson Township| 300.33| 483.33| 301| Fort Riley, Marshall Field|
302.28| 486.47| 303|
K-18 east – Manhattan| Eastern end of K-18 overlap
303.42| 488.31| 304| Humboldt Creek Road|
Wingfield Township| 306.87| 493.86| 307| McDowell Creek Road|
Jackson Township| 311.22| 500.86| 311| Moritz Road|
313.26| 504.14| 313|  K-177 – Council Grove, Manhattan|
Riley| Zeandale Township| 315.44| 507.65| 316| Deep Creek Road|
317.61| 511.14| 318| Frontage Road|
Wabaunsee| Wabaunsee Township| 321.76| 517.82| 322| Tallgrass Road|
323.25| 520.22| 324| Wabaunsee Road|
326.73| 525.82| 328|  K-99 – Wamego, Alma|
Wabaunsee–Newbury
township line| 329.26| 529.89| 330|  K-185 – McFarland|
Newbury Township| 331.19| 533.00| 332| Spring Creek Road|
332.18| 534.59| 333|  K-138 – Paxico|
334.28| 537.97| 335| Snokomo Road|
Newbury–Maple Hill
township line| 337.24| 542.74| 338| Vera Road|
Maple Hill Township| 340.22| 547.53| 341|  K-30 – Maple Hill|
341.23| 549.16| 342| Keene-Eskridge Road|
342.21| 550.73| 343| Ranch Road| Private interchange put in for the Brethour Ranch
Shawnee| Dover Township| 345.20| 555.55| 346| Carlson Road|
346.70| 557.96| 347| West Union Road|
349.22| 562.02| 350| Valencia Road|
350.24| 563.66| 351| Frontage Road| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Mission Township| 352.26| 566.91| 353|
K-4 west (Auburn Road)| Western end of K-4 overlap
Topeka| 354.65| 570.75| 355|

I-470 east / US-75 south – Topeka| Western end of US-75 overlap; I-470 exit 1A to 70 east westbound.
355.24| 571.70| 356| Wanamaker Road|
356.38–
356.85| 573.54–
574.29| 357A| Fairlawn Road| Signed as exit 357 eastbound
357B| Danbury Lane| Westbound exit only
357.16–
357.54| 574.79–
575.40| 358A|
US-75 north - Holton| Eastern end of US-75 overlap; signed as exit 358 eastbound
358B| Gage Boulevard| Signed as exit 358 eastbound
358.56| 577.05| 359| MacVicar Avenue|
360.23–
360.94| 579.73–
580.88| 361A| 1st Avenue| Provides access to Topeka Boulevard; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
361B| 3rd Street / Monroe Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
361.04–
361.66| 581.04–
582.04| 362A| 4th Street| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
362B| 8th Avenue| Signed as exit 362 eastbound
362C| 10th Avenue / Madison Street| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
362.11| 582.76| 363| Adams Street / Branner Trafficway|
363.08–
363.82| 584.32–
585.51| 364A| California Avenue|
364B| Carnahan Avenue / Deer Creek Trafficway|
364.58| 586.73| 365| Rice Road|
365.39| 588.04| 366|

I-470 west / Kansas Turnpike west / US-40 east / K-4 east – Wichita| Last free exit eastbound; eastern end of US-40/K-4 overlap
366.29| 589.49| 183|

I-470 west / Kansas Turnpike west to I-335 south – South Topeka, Wichita| Western end of Kansas Turnpike overlap; eastern terminus of I-470; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Tecumseh Township| 370.90| 596.91| Topeka Service Area
Douglas| Kanwaka Township| 379.96| 611.49| 197|
K-10 east (South Lawrence Trafficway) – Lecompton, Lawrence| Access to Lecompton provided by CR-438 (North 1800 Road)
Lawrence| 384.71| 619.13| 202|

To US-59 south – Lawrence|
386.25| 621.61| 204|
US-40 / US-59 to US-24 – Lawrence|
Leavenworth| Reno Township| 391.71| 630.40| Lawrence Service Area
Tonganoxie| 394.55| 634.97| 212| Tonganoxie, Eudora|
Wyandotte| Bonner Springs| 406.29| 653.86| 224|

US-24 west / US-40 west / US-73 north / K-7 – Bonner Springs, Leavenworth| Last free exit westbound; western end of US-24/US-40 overlap; westbound exits signed as exit 224A (south) and 224B (north)
Kansas City| 409.19| 658.53| 410| 110th Street – Kansas Speedway| Exit numbers correspond to I-70
410.48| 660.60| 411|  I-435| I-435 exits 12A-B; signed as exits 411A (south) and 411B (north)
413.20| 664.98| 414| 78th Street|
414.35| 666.83| 415| Turner Diagonal / College Parkway| Diverging Diamond Interchange
415.93| 669.37| 417| 57th Street|
417.57| 672.01| 418|  I-635 – St Joseph, Wichita| Signed as exits 418A (north) and 418B (south) eastbound; westbound access is part of exit 419; I-635 exits 4A-B
418.04| 672.77| 419| Park Drive / 38th Street|
419.32| 674.83| 420|
US-69 south (18th Street Expressway) / 18th Street north

Kansas Turnpike ends| Signed as exits 420A (south) and 420B (north); eastern terminus of Kansas Turnpike
421.12| 677.73| 421A| Railroad Yard – No outlet, railroad use only| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
421B|

I-670 east (I-70 Alt.) to I-35 south – St. Louis| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
420.68–
421.33| 677.02–
678.06| 422A|
US-69 north (7th Street Trafficway)| Eastern end of US-69 overlap
422B|
US-169 south (7th Street Trafficway)| Western end of US-169 overlap
422C| Pacific Avenue|
422D| Central Avenue|
421.68–
422.26| 678.63–
679.56| 423A| 5th Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
423B| James Street / 3rd Street| Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
423C|  Minnesota Avenue / Washington Boulevard / Lewis and Clark Trail| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
423D| Fairfax District| Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
422.82| 680.46| |

I-70 east / US 24 east / US 40 east / US 169 north / Lewis and Clark Trail – Kansas City, St. Louis| Continuation into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

* Concurrency terminus
* Incomplete access
* Tolled

## Auxiliary routes

[edit]

I-70 has two auxiliary routes in Kansas. I-470 is a loop around the southern side of Topeka that is signed as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway and overlaps the Kansas Turnpike on the southeast side of town. I-670 is an alternate route for I-70 travelers through downtown Kansas City that is signed as the Dillingham Freeway and as Alternate I-70.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Route Log and Finder List — Interstate System — table 1". Federal Highway Administration. October 31, 2002. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
2. ^ a b Rex C. Buchanan; James R. McCauley (1987). Roadside Kansas. University Press of Kansas (Kansas Geological Survey). pp. 96–102\. ISBN 978-0-7006-0322-0.
3. ^ "Tolls". Kansas Turnpike Authority.
4. ^ "Big Impact Seen For Local Area In Superhighway". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. October 24, 1956. pp. 1–2.
5. ^ "KTA Officials Say Traffic Heavy on Pike This Morning". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. October 20, 1956.
6. ^ 1963-1964 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
7. ^ "Abilene-JC I-70 Section Opened". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. October 9, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved March 23, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ 1965 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
9. ^ 1966 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
10. ^ 1970 Kansas State Highway Map (Map). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 27, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/Interstate 70 in Kansas

KML is from Wikidata

* Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Big Ol' Windfarm in Kansas on YouTube \- video of the Smoky Hills Wind Farm around mile 230 on Interstate 70, near Ellsworth

Interstate 70

Previous state:
Colorado |  Kansas  | Next state:
Missouri
*[NHS]: National Highway System
*[mi]: Miles
*[km]: Kilometers