K-147 is an approximately north-south state highway in west-central Kansas. It runs from K-4 east of Brownell to Ogallah, just north of the junction with Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40. K-147 serves Cedar Bluff State Park via locally maintained CC Road. The highway south of I-70 and US-40 is part of the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway. K-147 was first established on August 1, 1956, from the Trego County line north to US-40. Then on June 12, 1957 it was extended south to K-4. Then by 1960, I-70 was complete from south of Collyer to southeast of Ogallah. At that time US-40 was re-routed along I-70, and K-147 was extended east along old US-40 to its present northern terminus.
Route description
From its southern terminus at K-4 east of Brownell, K-147 heads northward and crosses into Ness County. From the county line, the highway continues north for roughly, and intersects CC Road, which leads to Cedar Bluff State Park. From here it continues north for just over, and crosses the bridge over the Cedar Bluff Dam and Smoky Hill River. Just over father north from the bridge, K-147 turns west at South Road, continues for, then turns north again at South Road. It continues north from here about, and crosses Big Creek. The highway continues north from here roughly, and intersects exit 135 of I-70 and US-40, at a diamond interchange. Past I-70 and US-40, K-147 continues north a short distance, then turns east for along Old US-40 and ends in Ogallah at Centre Street. Past its terminus in Ogallah, it continues as locally maintained Old US-40. The Kansas Department of Transportation tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2018, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 145 vehicles near the southern terminus to 275 vehicles between I-70 and its northern terminus. K-147 is two lanes and undivided for its entire length. The section of K-147 between its southern terminus to I-70 and US-40 is part of the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway. K-147 is not included in the National Highway System. The NationalHighway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-147 does connect to the National Highway System at its junction with I-70 and US-40.
K-147 was first approved in a December 20, 1955 resolution, as soon as Ness and Trego counties had brought the roadway up to state highway standards. By August 1956, Trego County had brought the highway up to state highway standards, and K-147 was established from the Trego County line north to US-40 in an August 1, 1956 resolution. Then in a June 12, 1957 resolution, it was extended south to K-4, as Ness County had fininshed required projects. In a February 26, 1958 resolution, a new roadway was approved to be built from south of Collyer to southeast of Ogallah, which would be the new I-70. US-40 was re-routed along I-70 as well, and by 1960, K-147 was extended east to its present northern terminus. On June 26, 2019, KDOT closed the bridge that carries K-147 over the Cedar Bluff Reservoir spillway. The steel arch bridge, originally built in 1952, was closed due to safety concerns about structural deficiencies that were found during a recent inspection. While the bridge is closed, traffic will be detoured using I-70, US-283 and K-4. Construction on the new $2.2 million bridge began in early February 2020. The project, being done by Wildcat Construction of Wichita, is expected to be completed in late August.
