K-254 (Kansas highway)


K-254 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas and links Wichita to El Dorado. K-254 begins at the intersection of Interstate 135, I-235, U.S. Route 81, K-15 and K-96 north of Wichita. It bypasses Kechi, Benton and Towanda, ending in downtown El Dorado at an intersection with US-54 and US-77. It is limited access from I-135 to just east of Kechi. It is then four-lane divided with at grade intersections to El Dorado with the exception of a diamond interchange at K-196. There is a stoplight interchange with I-35/Kansas Turnpike on the west side of El Dorado.

Route description

The entire length of K-254 is included in the National Highway System. The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. 2018 Annual average daily traffic on K-254 ranged from 11600 slightly east of Kechi to 18700 near the western terminus. Other AADT on the highway was 12400 north of Beacon, 12800 north of Benton, 13700 slightly west of Kechi, 13800 slightly west of K-196 junction, 15000 between K-196 and I-35 and 15800 at the end of the freeway section in El Dorado. The first of the route is paved with full design bituminous pavement, the next is paved with composite pavement, and the remaining to the eastern terminus is full design bituminous pavement.

History

K-254 was first authorized to become a state highway in a May 9, 1956 resolution once Butler and Sedgwick counties had brought the route up to state highway standards. Then by June 1957, Butler county had finished projects and in a June 26, 1957 resolution it was established as a state highway from the Sedgwick-Butler County line to K-196. Then sometime between June 26, 1957 and 1964 it was extended along K-196 through El Dorato to its current eastern terminus. In an August 12, 1959 resolution the section in Sedgwick County was established as a state highway because Sedgwick County had finished bringing it up to state highway standards. By April 1963, K-254 had become part of the federal aid primary system and due to this a section between Rechi and Wichita was realigned and made a four-lane highway. Then in an August 26, 1970 resolution, K-16 was rerouted along the first from the western terminus. This overlap lasted roughly 18 years, then in a June 14, 1988 resolution K-96 was rerouted along I-135 and the overlap was removed. The overlap with K-196 was removed on May 6, 1994 and K-196 was truncated to end at K-254 west of El Dorado. In a February 8, 1996 resolution it was approved to realign the highway to the north of Towanda and to realign the highway slightly north near Benton.

Future

The state is studying a northwestern bypass of Wichita, which would be US-54. If that happens KDOT would designate K-254 as US-54.

Major junctions