U.S. Route 69 (US-69) is a major north-south U.S. Highway that runs from Port Arthur, Texas to Albert Lea, Minnesota. In Kansas, the highway runs in the far eastern part of the state, usually within five miles of the Missouri state line. Most of the highway north of Fort Scott runs as a freeway.

U.S. Highway 69 marker
U.S. Highway 69
Map
US 69 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT
Length163 mi (262 km)
Existed1935–present
Major junctions
South end US 69 at Oklahoma-Kansas state line
Major intersections
North end US 69 at Kansas-Missouri state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesCherokee, Crawford, Bourbon, Linn, Miami, Johnson, Wyandotte
Highway system
  • Kansas State Highway System
K-68 I-70

Route description

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US 69 south of Franklin, KS

US-69 enters Kansas just north of Miami, Oklahoma as a concurrency with the southern terminus of K-7. The highway crosses US-166 west of Treece before K-7 leaves the concurrency with the intersection of US-160 in Columbus, of which U.S. 160 begins another overlap with U.S. 69. The two routes head east for 7 miles (10 km) before US-400 joins the overlap in Crestline and head north, before U.S. 400 leaves the highway south of Pittsburg. As the two highways leave Pittsburg, the route becomes a short 4-lane expressway before US-160 leaves the highway as it exits Frontenac. Just after US-69 meets the eastern terminus with K-47 in Franklin, the route reverts back to a 2-lane highway before entering the town of Arma. US-69 then becomes a 4-lane expressway near Garland. US-69 meets with K-7 for a second time as a partial interchange and the two routes continue north to Fort Scott. As the undivided freeway begins, U.S. Route 54 joins the overlap for 1/2 mile (0.8 km); both US-54 and K-7 leaves the overlap just north of the city limits as US-69 continues north as a divided freeway. The freeway runs through the towns of Pleasanton and Trading Post, as well as more rural areas before entering the Kansas City metropolitan area at Overland Park.

In Overland Park, US-69 interchanges with Interstate 435/US-50 before beginning an overlap with I-35/US-169/US-56 in Lenexa. US-69 and US-56 leave I-35 in Merriam, traveling back into Overland Park. US-56 leaves the highway, running into KCM. US-69 rejoins I-35 again at an interchange with I-635. US-69 leaves I-35 again and runs along the 18th Street Expressway to I-70/US-40 in KCK. US-69 joins I-70/US-40 and leaves again at an interchange with I-670/US-169. US-69 enters Missouri just past the intersection with K-5, crossing the Missouri River.

History

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18th Street Expressway

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The 18th Street Expressway was the result of one of four feasibility studies conducted by the Kansas Turnpike Authority to extend the turnpike by providing easy access to northeast Johnson County. It was the only one of the four studies to be followed upon, with completion of the 18th Street Expressway Bridge over the Kansas River completed in 1959.[1] It replaced the Argentine Boulevard bridge over the river behind the modern-day BNSF railroad yard.

Originally, the highway was part of the original K-58.[2] Upon completion of the bridge, US-69 was rerouted onto the expressway from Southwest Boulevard (the section of which has since been renamed to Merriam Drive). In 1979,[citation needed] the K-58 designation was removed.

The section of 18th Street between I-70 and the southern end of the Kansas River bridge was tolled at least as late as 1984.[3]

Reconstruction

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In early April 2020, a $21.8 million construction project to finish a four-lane expressway from Pittsburg to Kansas City began. The project will expand a six miles (9.7 km) section of US-69 in Crawford County to a four-lane divided expressway, from the K-47 junction north to three miles (4.8 km) north of Arma. The project will be completed by Koss Construction Company of Topeka and will be completed by August 2021.[4]

Overland Park toll lanes

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As Overland Park has grown in recent years, US-69 south of 103rd Street has become the busiest four-lane highway in Kansas. On June 21, 2021, the Overland Park city council approved a toll lane to be added to both directions of US-69 between 103rd Street and 151st Street. Since then, the Kansas Turnpike Authority and the State Finance Council have also approved the project, which was required by a new Kansas law that allows toll lanes to pay for road expansion.[5]

Junction list

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CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
KansasOklahoma line0.0000.000 
 
US 69 south / Treece Road east / 10 Road west
 
 
K-7 begins
Southern end of K-7 overlap; continuation into Oklahoma
CherokeeLyonSpring Valley
township line
2.2343.595  US-166 – Chetopa, Baxter Springs
Columbus12.38119.925 
 
 
 
US-160 west / K-7 north – Oswego, Girard
Southern end of US 160 overlap; northern end of K-7 overlap
Shawnee Township19.40231.224 
 
 
 
 
US-400 east / US 69 Alt. south – Joplin, Miami
Southern end of US 400 overlap; northern terminus of US-69 Alternate
Pleasant View Township28.52045.898 
 
K-103 west – Weir
Eastern terminus of K-103
CherokeeCrawford
county line
Pleasant ViewBaker
township line
30.48749.064 
 
 
 
US-400 west / K-171 east – Parsons, Joplin
Northern end of US 400 overlap; western terminus of K-171
CrawfordPittsburg33.51353.934 
 
 
US 69 Bus. north – Pittsburg
Southern terminus of US-69 Bus.
35.83857.676  K-126 – McCune, Pittsburg
38.16761.424 
 
 
US 69 Bus. south – Pittsburg
Northern terminus of US-69 Bus.
40.17764.659 
 
US-160 east – Lamar
Northern end of US 160 overlap
Franklin43.21369.545 
 
 
 
 
K-47 west / US 69 Bus. north – Girard, Arma, Mulberry
Eastern terminus of K-47; southern terminus of US-69 Bus.
Washington Township46.20974.366 
 
 
US 69 Bus. south (Highway A)
Northern terminus of US-69 Bus.
BourbonScott Township61.32598.693 
 
K-7 south – Girard
Interchange; southern end of K-7 overlap
Fort Scott66.148106.455 
 
US-54 east – Nevada
Southern end of freeway; southern end of US 54 overlap
Scott Township67.048107.903 
 
 
 
US-54 west / K-7 north – Iola, Harding
Northern end of US 54/K-7 overlap
69.628112.055Poplar RoadDiamond interchange
Osage Township72.666116.945Soldier RoadDiamond interchange
76.719123.467 
 
K-31 west – Harding
Eastern terminus of K-31; diamond interchange
LinnSheridan Township  K-239 – PrescottDiamond interchange
Potosi Township 
 
K-52 west – Mound City
Southern end of K-52 overlap; diamond interchange
E. 1100 Road – PleasantonDiamond interchange
E. 1350 RoadDiamond interchange
Valley Township 
 
K-52 east – Butler
Northern end of K-52 overlap; diamond interchange
Lincoln Township  K-152 – La CygneDiamond interchange
MiamiSugar Creek TownshipW. 399th StreetPartial cloverleaf interchange
W. 359th StreetDiamond interchange
Sugar CreekMiddle Creek
township line
W. 335th StreetDiamond interchange
Middle Creek TownshipW. 311th StreetDiamond interchange
Louisburg  K-68 – Ottawa, LouisburgDiamond interchange
Wea TownshipW. 247th StreetDiamond interchange
W. 223rd StreetDiamond interchange
JohnsonOverland Park199th StreetDiamond interchange
179th StreetDiamond interchange
167th StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; partial diamond interchange
159th StreetDiamond interchange
151st StreetDiamond interchange
US-69 Express Lanes northFuture south end of Express Lanes
135th StreetPartial cloverleaf interchange
Blue Valley ParkwayNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; to become Express Lane only interchange
135th StreetFuture Express Lane interchange; southbound exit only
119th StreetDiamond interchange
College BoulevardPartial cloverleaf interchange
   I-435 / US-50I-435 exit 81; partial cloverleaf interchange; split into two exits (east/west) northbound
US-69 Express Lanes southFuture north end of Express Lanes
103rd StreetPartial cloverleaf interchange; southbound access is part of I-435 exit
95th StreetDiamond interchange
Lenexa87th Street ParkwayNo northbound entrance
75th StreetNorthbound exit only
 
 
I-35 south (US-56 west / US-169 south)
Southern end of I-35/US-56/US-169 overlap; southbound left exit and northbound left entrance; I-35 exit 225B
Overland ParkMerriam line22775th StreetExit numbers follow I-35; no northbound exit
Merriam228A67th Street
 
 
I-35 north
North end of freeway section; northern end of I-35 overlap; I-35 exit 228B
Overland ParkMission line 
 
 
 
US-56 east / US-169 north (Shawnee Mission Parkway east) / Metcalf Avenue south
Cloverleaf interchange; northern end of US-56/US-169 overlap
Metcalf LanePartial cloverleaf interchange; southbound exit and entrance
Johnson DriveRight-in/right-out interchange; southbound exit and entrance
58th StreetRight-in/right-out interchange; northbound exit and entrance
231A 
 
 
 
I-635 north / I-35 south
South end of freeway section; exit number is to I-635, no exit number northbound; southern end of I-35 overlap; I-35 exit 231B; I-635 exit 1A
JohnsonWyandotte
county line
MissionKansas City line232ALamar Avenue
WyandotteKansas City 
 
I-35 north – Des Moines
North end of freeway section; northern end of I-35 overlap; I-35 exit 232B
South end of 18th Street Expressway
Merriam LaneSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Steele Road
Metropolitan Avenue / Ruby AvenueTrucks prohibited
 
 
K-32 west (Kansas Avenue)
Eastern terminus of K-32
420B18th Street north
 
 
 
 
 
 
I-70 west / US-24 west / US-40 west – Topeka
North end of 18th Street Expressway; southern end of I-70/US-24/US-40 overlap; exit numbers follow I-70; exit number is to 18th St. north, no exit number northbound; I-70 exit 420A
421ARR Yard (No outlet)Railroad use only; southbound exit and northbound entrance
421B 
 
I-670 east
Northbound left exit and southbound entrance
 
 
  I-70 east (US-24 / US-40 east) / US-169
North end of freeway section; northern end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 422A
Sunshine Road (K-5 west)Eastern terminus of K-5
Missouri River163262US 69 Missouri River Bridge
KansasMissouri line
 
 
US 69 north
Continuation into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Special routes

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Alternate route

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U.S. Route 69 Alternate
LocationOttawa County, Oklahoma
Cherokee County, Kansas
Length20.3 mi (32.7 km)

U.S. Route 69 Alternate (US-69 Alt.) is a special route of U.S. Highway 69, traveling 20.3 miles (32.7 km) between junctions east of Commerce, Oklahoma and north of Crestline, Kansas.

US-69 Alt., cosigned with Historic Route 66, splits from mainline US 69 south of Picher and west of Quapaw. US-69 Alt. and HR-66 head ENE through the towns of Quapaw and Baxter Springs, Kansas. North of Baxter Springs, US 400 joins the concurrency. West of Riverton, HR-66 heads east along K-66, while US-69 Alt. and US 400 head north. North of Crestline, US-69 Alt. and US 400 meet US 69 and US 160 from the west. US-69 Alt. terminates as US 69 and US 160 merge with US 400. The concurrency of US 69, US 400, and US 160 continues north.

Pittsburg Business loop

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U.S. Highway 69 Business
LocationPittsburg

U.S. Route 69 Business (US 69 Business) is a business route of US 69 running through Pittsburg. Its southern terminus is at US-69 and its northern terminus is at US-69.

Major Intersections

The entire route is in Pittsburg, Crawford County.

mikmDestinationsNotes
0.000.00   US-69 / US-160Southern terminus
  K-126 (4th Street)
   US-69 / US-160 (West Atkinson Road / Parkview Drive)Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Arma business loop

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U.S. Highway 69 Business
LocationArma

U.S. Route 69 Business (US-69 Business) is a business route of US-69 running through Arma. Its southern terminus is at US-69 and K-47 and its northern terminus is at US-69.

Major Intersections

The entire route is in Crawford County.

LocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Franklin0.000.00 
 
K-47 west
  US-69
Southern terminus; eastern terminus of K-47; highway continues west as K-47
Washington Township  US-69 – Fort Scott, PittsburgNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Route transition

References

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  1. ^ Lamb, Sherry; Dr. Theodore A. Wilson (December 1986). Milestones: A History of the Kansas Highway Commission and the Department of Transportation. Kansas Department of Transportation. pp. 4–19 to 4–20.
  2. ^ Kansas (Map) (1974 ed.). Cartography by H.M. Gousha. Texaco. Kansas City inset.
  3. ^ Road Atlas and Travel Guide (Map). Rand McNally. 1984. p. 71. Kansas City inset.
  4. ^ Kimberly Barker (February 28, 2020). "$21.8 million U.S. Highway 69 construction project in Kansas to begin". joplinglobe.com. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. ^ Roxie Hammill (July 6, 2021). "Johnson County FAQ — express toll lanes on U.S. 69 Highway in Overland Park". shawneemissionpost.com. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
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  U.S. Route 69
Previous state:
Oklahoma
Kansas Next state:
Missouri