K-196 was first established as a state highway on March 29, 1937, and at that time ran from US-81 and K-15 south of Newton to US-54 and US-77 in El Dorado.[1] Then between 1957 and 1968, K-254 was extended along K-196 through El Dorato to US-54 and US-77. The overlap with K-254 was removed on May 6, 1994, and K-196 was truncated to end at K-254 west of El Dorado.
Route description
K-196 westbound
K-196 begins at a diamond interchange with I-135 exit 25, which is co-designated as US-81 and K-15. It begins heading east through rural farmlands as it crosses Jester Creek. About three miles (4.8 km) past here it crosses West Wildcat Creek at South Woodlawn Road. Another two miles (3.2 km) east it crosses Wildcat Creek at Webb Road. About 1.9 miles (3.1 km) east from here, K-196 crosses Gypsum Creek. The highway then passes north of Whitewater Cemetery, crosses U.P. S.Y.S Railroad, then crosses into Butler County.[3] As K-196 enters the county, it passes south of Whitewater, and then curves east-southeastward. It then passes by Brainerd and soon crosses Dry Creek, then Whitewater River about one mile (1.6 km) later. The highway then curves east as it passes south of Potwin. Past Potwin, K-196 curves to a more southeast direction, then crosses Fourmile Creek. Just over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) past Fourmile Creek, it crosses Rock Creek. After another 1.3 miles (2.1 km) it curves south as it passes to the west of Baker Cemetery. After curving south it continues roughly four miles (6.4 km), then curves southeast for one mile (1.6 km) then ends at a diamond interchange with K-254 west of El Dorado, near I-35/Kansas Turnpike.[4][5][6]
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2018, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 1430 vehicles near Potwin, 2280 vehicles near the western terminus, to 2380 vehicles near the eastern terminus.[7][8] K-196 is not included in the National Highway System.[9] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-196 does connect to the National Highway System at each terminus.[10] As of 2017, the portion of the route in Harvey County is paved with partial design bituminous pavement and the portion of the route in Butler County is paved with full design bituminous pavement.[11][2]
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-196's western terminus (I-135, US-81, K-15) closely follows the Meridian Highway and South West Trail. The former eastern terminus (US-77, US-54) was part of the Atlantic and Pacific Highway, Fort Scott Wichita Road and Kansas-Oklahoma-Texas Highway.[12]
K-196 was first established as a state highway on March 29, 1937, by the State Highway Commission of Kansas, now known as Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).[1] In an April 10, 1946 resolution, K-196 was slightly realigned in Butler County northwest of El Dorado.[14] Before mid 1953, K-196 followed the railroad through Oil Hill, then in a May 19, 1953 resolution, K-196 was moved slightly southwest to a new alignment.[15] By June 1957, Butler county had finished projects on the new K-254 and in a June 26, 1957 resolution, it was established as a state highway from the Sedgwick–Butler County line to K-196 west of El Dorado.[16] Then sometime between June 26, 1957 and 1968, K-254 was extended along K-196 through El Dorato to US-54 and US-77.[16][17] In an October 8, 1958 resolution, K-196 Alternate (K-196 Alt.) was created on the west end of El Dorado.[13] In a January 27, 1967 resolution it was approved to build I-35W from the Sedgewick–Harvey County line north to the Harvey–McPherson County line and then realign K-15 and US-81 onto I-35W.[18] Then by 1970, I-35W was built and K-196 was truncated .479 miles (0.771 km) to it current western terminus.[18][19] I-35W was remembered to I-135 on September 13, 1976.[20] Then sometime between 1975 and 1981, K-196 Alt. was decommissioned.[21][22] The overlap with K-254 was removed on May 6, 1994, and K-196 was truncated to end at K-254 west of El Dorado.[23]
^ abBureau of Transportation Planning (2011). Harvey County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^ abBureau of Transportation Planning (2011). Butler County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^Official Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2007-2008 ed.). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
^Bureau of Transportation Planning (2019). Traffic Flow Map Kansas State Highway System(PDF) (Map). [c. 1:1,584,000]. Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
^Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^Bureau of Transportation Planning (1964). Butler County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^Bureau of Transportation Planning (1970). Harvey County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^"1970s". Kansas Celebrates 50 Years of Interstates. Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
^Bureau of Transportation Planning (1975). Butler County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^Bureau of Transportation Planning (1981). Butler County(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. General Highway Map. Topeka: State Highway Commission of Kansas. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
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