K-149 is a 6.098-mile-long (9.814 km) north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. Entirely within rural Morris County, K-149's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 56 (US-56) east of Herington and the northern terminus is at K-4 south of White City. The highway passes through grasslands characteristic of the Great Plains and is a two-lane road for its entire length.
K-149 was first designated as a state highway by the State Highway Commission of Kansas, now known as the Kansas Department of Transportation, on February 13, 1957. The highway's alignment has not changed since it was created.
Route description
K-149's southern terminus is at US-56 west of Council Grove. Aside from a 1⁄10-mile (160 m) jog to the east near its midpoint due to a survey correction, the highway travels due north through the Great Plains.[3] The roadway crosses the West Fork Neosho River and passes an abandoned schoolhouse before reaching its northern terminus at K-4 south of White City.[4][5]
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2020, they determined that on average the traffic was 160 vehicles per day on K-149.[6] The entire route is paved with partial design bituminous pavement.[2][7]
History
K-149 was first designated a state highway by the Kansas State Highway Commission (SHC), now known as KDOT, on February 13, 1957.[1] On June 5, 1957, the SHC asked for bids to pave the entire length of the new K-149.[8] In October 1957, the SHC placed a load limit of 8 short tons (7.1 long tons; 7,300 kg) per vehicle on the bridge over the West Fork Neosho River in accordance with new stricter federal regulations.[9] In November 1977, SHC approved a five-year statewide highway construction program at an estimated cost of almost $596 million (equivalent to $2.34 billion in 2023 dollars).[10] Included in the project were plans to rebuild the K-149 bridge over the West Fork Neosho River at an estimated cost of $180,000 (equivalent to $707,000 in 2023 dollars).[10][11] In early February 1978, it was announced that the existing 30-by-28-foot (9.1 m × 8.5 m) bridge will be replaced with a 132.5-by-28-foot-long (40.4 m × 8.5 m) concrete slab bridge.[12] In late February 1978, the Federal Highway Administration approved the design plans for the new bridge.[13] On August 31, 1978, the SHC asked for bids to be submitted by September 21, for the replacement bridge as well as grading and planting on a short section by the bridge.[14] The bridge was then replaced that next year.[15] K-149's alignment has not changed since it was created.[16][17]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Morris County.
| Location | mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0.000 | 0.000 |  US-56 – Council Grove, Herington | Southern terminus | |
| | 6.098 | 9.814 |  K-4 – White City, Dwight, Herington | Northern terminus | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ a b State Highway Commission of Kansas (February 13, 1957). "Resolution for Addition to State Highway System Morris County K-149". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ a b c Staff (2017). "Dist. 2 Condition Survey Report" (PDF). Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. pp. 69–70. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ General Highway Map of Morris County, Kansas (PDF) (Map). 1:126720. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. May 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Highway Planning Department (2012). Morris County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Google (January 18, 2022). "Overview map of K-149" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2021). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Staff (June 10, 2016). "Pavement Management Information System Glossary". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Road Projects". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. June 5, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Posting More Bridges For Load Limits". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. October 5, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ "One Local Project". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. November 10, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Plan New Bridge". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. February 2, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Receives Approval For Highway Work". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. February 23, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Asks Bids For Work On K-149 In County". Council Grove Republican. Council Grove, Kansas. August 31, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ bridgereports.com (2020). "K-147 Hwy over West Fork Neosho River". bridgereports.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1957–1958). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Kansas Department of Transportation (2021–2022). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 18, 2022.