K-61 (Kansas highway)

K-61
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length:	83.4 mi[1] (134.2 km)
Existed:	1932[1] – present
Major junctions
South end:	US-54 / US-400 in Pratt
North end:	I-135 / US-81 / US-81 Bus. south of McPherson
Location
Counties:	Pratt, Reno, McPherson
Highway system
Kansas numbered highways ← K-60 K-62 →

K-61 is a Kansas state highway originating at US-54 and US-400 on the east side of Pratt, and ends south of McPherson at I-135 and US-81. Signed as a north–south highway, K-61 is a diagonal highway running southwest and northeast. K-61 is 83.4 miles (134.2 km) long.

Route description

K-61 passes through the towns of Preston, Turon, Langdon (unincorporated) and Partridge, while paralleling a line of the Union Pacific Railroad, then beginning a six-mile (10 km) concurrency with US-50. It shares a short concurrency with K-14 and K-96 near South Hutchinson.

After breaking to the northeast from US-50, K-61 passes through the east side of Hutchinson (Where it is signed locally as the Ken Kennedy Freeway^[2]). It bypasses Medora (unincorporated), Inman, and Groveland before ending at I-135 and US-81 south of McPherson.

Its last two miles share a "wrong-way" concurrency with Business US-81.

K-61 is a two-lane highway from its south end until it meets US-50, and a four-lane highway for the rest of its route.

It has controlled access interchanges (with US-50) at North K-96, west of Hutchinson; South K-96, also signed To K-17 in South Hutchinson. After breaking away from US-50, K-61 has controlled access interchanges at Avenue A in Hutchinson, 56th Avenue in Hutchinson, 85th Avenue/Medora Road north of Hutchinson, Cherokee Road in Inman, and K-153, Spur K-153 and Business US-81 all in McPherson.

History

K-61 was commissioned by 1932.^[1] It appears on the 1932 state highway map.^[3] K-61 originally ended in Hutchinson at US-50. Sometime between 1956 and 1962, K-61 was extended on a previous routing of K-17 between Hutchinson and McPherson.^[4]

Four-lane expansion

In a project lasting several years,^[5][6][7] the Kansas Department of Transportation turned the northern part of K-61 from Hutchinson to McPherson into a four-lane expressway.^[8][9] Some intersections were changed to controlled-access interchanges, and the number of at-grade intersections was reduced. The original route went through Medora and Inman, but the new route bypasses both, west of its original route. As of August 2012 all lanes are open to traffic. The new section of the highway has been designated the John Neal Memorial Highway in memory of a major advocate of the project.^[10]

Junction List

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Pratt	Pratt	0.0	0.0	US-54 / US-400	Southern terminus
Reno	Arlington	34.1	54.9	K-11
	​	44.9	72.3	US-50 west	Southern end of US-50 concurrency
	​	50.4	81.1	K-14 / K-96 west – Lyons	Interchange; southern end of K-14/K-96 concurrency
	South Hutchinson	51.9	83.5	K-14 / K-96 east / Main Street north	Interchange; northern end of K-14/K-96 concurrency
				Scott Boulevard / McNew Road	Interchange
	Hutchinson	54.0	86.9	US-50 east	Interchange; northern end of US-50 concurrency
				Avenue A	Interchange
	​			E. 56th Avenue	Interchange
	​			Medora Road / E. 85th Avenue	Interchange
McPherson	Inman			CR-446	Interchange
	​	78.8	126.8	K-153 north – McPherson	Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
	​			K-153 Spur north – McPherson	Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
	​			US-81 Bus. north – McPherson	Interchange; southern end of US-81 Bus. concurrency
	​	83.4	134.2	I-135 / US-81 / US-81 Bus. – Wichita, Salina	Northern terminus; northern end of US-81 Bus. concurrency; I-135 exit 58
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

References

1. Kennedy, Richie. "Kansas Highways Routelog". Kansas Highways 7.0.
2. Google Maps
3. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1932 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
4. Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1962 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. § F6-D8. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
5. Opening highway today is expected The Hutchinson News October 20, 2011
6. Roads unsnarling as work fades The Hutchinson News May 11, 2012
7. K-61, 30th open in all directionsThe Hutchinson News June 14, 2012
8. Comprehensive Transportation Program
9. K-61 project progressing The Hutchinson News October 24, 2011
10. K-61 dedication set for-Aug. 10 The Hutchinson News July 23, 2012

Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2007-2008 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-05-05.

External links

• KDOT State Map