K-123 is a 5+1⁄2-mile-long (8.9 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. The southern terminus is at K-23 north of Hoxie, and the northern terminus is at K-383 in Dresden. Along the way K-123 intersects the western terminus of K-9 south of Dresden.
 K-123 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 K-123 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by KDOT | ||||
| Length | 5.544 mi[3] (8.922 km) | |||
| Existed | c. 1940[1][2]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  K-23 north of Hoxie | |||
| North end |  K-383 in Dresden | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Kansas | |||
| Counties | Sheridan, Decatur | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Between 1938 and 1940, K-23 was realigned to follow K-9 west to US-83, then north to US-36 and US-183 in Oberlin and at this time K-123 was created to replace the former alignment of K-23 from K-9 to Dresden. Between 1944 and 1945, K-9 was realigned to end at US-83 in Dresden. Then between 1953 and 1956, K-9 was realigned to start at K-123 south of Dresden. On April 1, 1981, K-123's northern terminus was renumbered from US-383 to K-383.
Route description
editK-123 begins at K-23 north of the city of Hoxie and begins travelling east through rural farmlands. After one mile (1.6 km) it curves north at an intersection with 10E and 140N. Another one mile (1.6 km) farther north it intersects the western terminus of K-9, and enters into Decatur County.[4] The highway begins to transition to rolling hills as it continues north for about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) then crosses and unnamed creek. The landscape begins to transition back to rural farmlands and then another 1.8 miles (2.9 km) farther north, K-123 enters the city of Dresden. The highway continues north through the city for a short distance before reaching its northern terminus at K-383. Past K-383 the roadway continues as locally maintained Kings Avenue.[5][6][7]
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 240 vehicles at its northern terminus to 255 vehicles at its southern terminus.[8] K-123 is not included in the National Highway System,[9] a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[10] K-123 does connect to the National Highway System at its junction with K-383.[9]
History
editBefore state highways were numbered in Kansas 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 former Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway followed K-123's northern terminus.[11]
In 1927, the highway that became K-123 was established as K-23.[12] Then between July 1938 and 1940, US-183 was realigned to go east from Oberlin along US-36. At this time K-23 was realigned to follow K-9 west to US-83, then north to US-36 and US-183 in Oberlin and K-123 was created to replace the former alignment of K-23 from K-9 to Dresden.[1][2] Between 1941 and 1944, US-183 and US-83 were swapped within Nebraska and a small portion into Kansas. At this time K-23 was truncated to its present-day northern terminus at US-83 and K-9 was truncated to end at K-23.[13][14] Between 1944 and 1945, K-9 was realigned to end at US-83 in Dresden.[14][15] In a December 20, 1950 resolution, it was approved to realign K-9 to start at K-123 south of Dresden.[16] Then between 1953 and 1956, construction had finished and K-9 was realigned to start at K-123 south of Dresden.[17][18] On April 1, 1981, K-123's northern terminus was renumbered from US-383 to K-383.[19]
Major intersections
edit| County | Location | mi[3] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheridan | Sheridan–Union township line | 0.000 | 0.000 | K-23 – Hoxie | Southern terminus |
| Sheridan–Decatur county line | Union–Lyon township line | 2.000 | 3.219 |   K-9 east – New Almelo | Western terminus of K-9 |
| Decatur | Dresden | 5.544 | 8.922 | K-383 – Oakley, Norton, Jennings | Northern terminus; former US-383 |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b Kansas State Highway Department (1938). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Kansas State Highway Department (1940). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Kansas Department of Transportation (2016). "Pavement Management Information System". Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (November 2009). Sheridan County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (February 1, 2005). City of Dresden (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. KDOT City Maps. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (November 2009). Decatur County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1: 211,200]. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ "Overview map of K-123" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ Bureau of Transportation Planning (2018). 2018 Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ a b Federal Highway Administration. National Highway System: Kansas (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. 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. 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 10, 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. Retrieved October 10, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1941). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ a b State Farm Insurance Companies Travel Bureau (1944). "Kansas" (Map). State Farm Road map: Kansas. 1:1,235,520. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. Retrieved July 26, 2020 – via Rumsey Collection.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1945). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (December 20, 1950). "Resolution for relocation and redesignation of road in Decatur and Sheridan Counties". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1953). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ Kansas State Highway Department (1956). Kansas State Highway System (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Highway & Transportation Map. Topeka: Kansas State Highway Department. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- ^ State Highway Commission of Kansas (April 1, 1981). "Resolution to withdraw the designation of and redesignate the remainder of a highway in Logan County, Thomas County, Sheridan County, Decatur County, Norton County, Phillips County". Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved October 10, 2020.