K-92 (Kansas highway)


K-92 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. K-92's western terminus is at K-4 south of the community of Rock Creek, and the western terminus is a continuation as Missouri State Route 92 at the Missouri border by the City of Leavenworth. K-92 is co-designated as U.S. Route 59 in Oskaloosa, K-16 from Oskaloosa to McLouth, and K-7 and US-73 in Leavenworth. When K-92 was first designated in 1927, it started south of Rock Creek and ended at the Missouri border.

Route description

The Kansas Department of Transportation tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2017, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 1560 vehicles slightly west of Leavenworth, 12700 vehicles along the overlap with US-73 and K-7, to 12800 vehicles slightly west of the Missouri border. The only section of K-92 included in the National Highway System is its overlap with US-73 and K-7. The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-92 also connects to the National Highway System at its western terminus, K-4.

History

Early roads

Before 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. K-92's western terminus was part of the South West Trail. The section of the highway that overlaps K-7 and US-73 closely follows or was part of the George Washington National Highway and King of Trails. The section of K-92 that overlaps with US-59 was part of the Corn Belt Route and South West Trail.

Establishment and realignments

K-92 was first designated as a state highway in 1927, extending from US-73W eastward to the Missouri border. By 1932, it was extended further west to end at K-4 south of Rock Creek. Also by 1932, K-24 was extended from Valley Falls along K-4 to US-73W, then south along US-73W to K-92, then east along K-92. K-24 then left K-92 and went southward and ended in Tonganoxie. Sometime between April 1933 and April 1936, US-73W was renumbered to US-59 and US-73E was renumbered to US-73. Also at this time K-24 was renumbered to K-16 due to US-24 being extended into Kansas. In a January 28, 1941 resolution, K-92 was realigned by Ozawkie to eliminate two turns and to fix some sharp curves. K-16, K-92 and US-59 originally followed Cherokee Street in Rock Creek. Then in a November 18, 1953 resolution, K-16, K-92 and US-59 was realigned slightly east onto Walnut Street. In a March 24, 1954 resolution, K-92 was realigned slightly south in Leavenworth to cross the new bridge crossing the river. By 1966 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had begun building Perry Lake. Then in a November 9, 1966 resolution, a roughly section of K-92 was realigned to make room for the new reservoir.

Major intersections