K-19 is a 33.915-mile-long (54.581 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. From U.S. Route 50 (US-50) to K-19 Spur it is signed as north–south and from K-19 Spur to US-281 it is signed as east–west. K-19's southern terminus is at US-50 in Belpre, and the eastern terminus is at US-281 east of Seward.
Before state highways were numbered in Kansas, there were auto trails. The southern terminus follows the former New Santa Fe Trail. The northern terminus of K-19 Spur follows the former National Old Trails Road and Old Santa Fe Trail. K-19 was first designated in 1926, and at that time started in Belpre and ended in Larned. Then between 1931 and 1932, K-19 was extended east, from south of Larned, along the former K-37 designation to K-8, now US-281.
Route description
K-19 runs north–south for its first 15.1 miles (24.3 km), and east–west for its final 18.8 miles (30.3 km). The first leg begins at US-50 in Belpre and near the Arkansas River south of Larned, K-19 turns east for its second leg, bypassing both Radium and Seward to the south before ending at US-281.[3][4]
K-19 begins at US-50 in Belpre and shortly crosses an Amtrak track then leaves Belpre. It then continues northward for three miles (4.8 km) through flat rural farmlands before entering into Pawnee County. Approximately four miles (6.4 km) north of the county line it crosses Pickle Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River, and passes Zook. From there it continues northward for roughly seven miles (11 km) then reaches the terminus of K-19 Spur. At this point it is redesignated as an east–west route. K-19 Spur crosses the Arkansas River and ends about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) later at US-56 in Larned.[3][4][5]
From K-19 Spur, K-19 travels eastward for about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) before crossing Pickle Creek again. From there it continues eastward for roughly another 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and crosses into Stafford County, traveling south of Radium 1 mile (1.6 km) after crossing the county line. After roughly another 5.5 miles (8.9 km) it reaches the terminus of the former K-219, a .995-mile-long (1.601 km) spur that served Seward until it was decommissioned in 2013.[6] It then continues another 2.5 miles (4.0 km) and reaches its eastern terminus at US-281.[3][4][5]
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2017, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 540 vehicles per day at the terminus of former K-219 to 1390 vehicles per day slightly south of the terminus of K-19 Spur.[7] K-19 is not included in the National Highway System.[8] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-19 does connect to the National Highway System at each terminus, US-50 and US-281, as well as to US-56 via K-19 Spur.[9]
History
Prior to the formation of the Kansas state highway system, there were auto trails, which were an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. The southern terminus follows the former New Santa Fe Trail. The northern terminus of K-19 Spur follows the former National Old Trails Road and Old Santa Fe Trail.[10]
K-19 was first designated as a state highway in 1926, and at that time ran from US-250 in Belpre northward to K-37 by Larned. Also at that time the segment from K-19 Spur eastward to then K-8 was designated as K-37.[1] By 1927, US-250 was renumbered to US-50S.[11] Between 1931 and 1932, the K-37 designation was removed and K-19 was extended along its old alignment to K-8 which later became US-281.[12][13] In 1956, K-19 was extended .4 miles (640 m) southward in Edwards County when US-50, at the time US-50S, was slightly realigned within Belpre.[14][15][3] In Pawnee County, K-19 was slightly realigned just south of K-19 Spur to eliminate some sharp curves.[16][4] The right of way for this relocation from Zook to K-19 Spur was purchased in Spring of 1959.[17] In 1958, the Larned Chamber of Commerce proposed to extend K-19 east 30 miles (48 km) to a junction with K-14 and K-96. This was never implemented.[18]
In Stafford County, K-19 originally turned north on present day Radium Road towards Radium, then followed NW 150th Street east to end at US-281, passing just to the south of Seward along the way.[19] In a September 25, 1946 resolution, the turn to the north at Radium Road was eliminated and K-19 was realigned to continue eastward to its current eastern terminus.[20][21]
Major junctions
| County | Location | mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards | Belpre | 0.000 | 0.000 |  US-50 – Hutchinson, Kinsley | Southern terminus |
| Pawnee | Pleasant Grove Township | 15.142 | 24.369 |    K-19 Spur north (Broadway Street) – Larned | Southern terminus of K-19 Spur; K-19 changes from south–north to west–east |
| Stafford | South Seward Township | 33.915 | 54.581 |  US-281 – Great Bend, St. John | Eastern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
K-19 Spur
K-19 Spur is a 0.8-mile-long (1.3 km) spur route of K-19. K-19 Spur begins at an intersection with K-19, just south of where it crosses the Arkansas River, and travels northward to US-56 in Larned. 2017 AADT on K-19 Spur was 2650 vehicles per day.[7][4] The section of K-19 Spur within Larned is maintained by the city.[22]
Major junctions
The entire route is in Pawnee County.
| Location | mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Grove Township | 0.000 | 0.000 |  K-19 to US-281 – Belpre | Southern terminus | |
| Larned | 0.800 | 1.287 |  US-56 – Great Bend, Kinsley | Northern terminus | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
See also
References
- ^ a b Rand McNally and Company (1926). "Kansas" (Map). Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas of the United States, including a Brief Description of the National Parks and Monuments. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. pp. 56–57.
- ^ a b c Kansas Department of Transportation (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Bureau of Transportation Planning (2011). Edwards County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Bureau of Transportation Planning (October 2010). Pawnee County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Google (December 29, 2015). "Overview of K-19" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (April 15, 2013). "State Highway Resolution for Highway K-219". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Federal Highway Administration (May 8, 2019). National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:3,900,000]. Federal Highway Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Rand McNally and Company (1924). "Kansas" (Map). AutoTrails Map, Southern Nebraska, Eastern Colorado, Kansas, Northeastern New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma. 1:1,600,000. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. OCLC 2078375. Retrieved October 31, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (1932). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. OCLC 1007837202. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (January 27, 1956). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Edwards County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1940). Edwards County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1940). Pawnee County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ "Bid Opening Slated for Highway Relocation". Great Bend Tribune. Great Bend, Kansas. September 16, 1959. p. 9. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Road Work In Central Kansas Area". Great Bend Tribune. Great Bend, Kansas. March 9, 1958. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1941). Stafford County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (September 25, 1946). "Resolution for Relocation and Redesignation of Road in Stafford County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Highway Planning Department (1955). Stafford County (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (April 1, 1981). "Resolution Designating City Connecting Links in State Highway System". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2020.