K-2 is a state highway in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 281 east of Hardtner and its northern terminus is at an intersection with K-42 west of the town of Viola. K-2 was established as a state highway on January 7, 1937.
From its southern terminus in Barber County, K-2 proceeds northbound for to the town of Kiowa, where it forms the northern terminus of the brief southern leg of K-8. In Kiowa, K-2 turns to the north and then to the northeast, running parallel to a BNSF Railway track for about, skirting the town of Hazelton and crossing into Harper County. K-2 then runs eastward for about to Anthony, where it forms the western terminus of K-44 and turns northward. Six miles north of Anthony, K-2 intersects with US-160, which it overlaps for the next four miles. Three miles north of that intersection, K-2/US-160 turn to the east, through the town of Harper. On the eastern edge of Harper, US-160 continues east, while K-2 goes north and then northeast. It continues northeast for, clipping the southeast corner of Kingman County and crossing briefly into Sumner County, where it ends at K-42 west of Viola. K-2 is not included in the National Highway System. The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. 2017 Annual average daily traffic on K-2 ranged from 590 slightly northeast of Hazelton to 3820 slightly north of Anthony.
History
K-2 was originally designated in 1927 from Norton to Colorado. Then by 1931, K-2 became part of US-36 when it was extended into the state. The current K-2 was designated on January 7, 1937 and went from US-160 to K-42 in Norwich. Until 1950, K-2 turned northward south of Norwich and ended at K-42 in Norwich. Then in a January 1, 1950 resolution the turn was eliminated and it continued northeastward to end at K-42 east of Norwich. In 1963, K-2 was extended in both directions, eastward to overlap with K-14 to US-281 and westward to overlap K-42 to US-54. Then in two separate December 24, 1994 resolutions, the concurrency with K-42 became K-42 only, and the concurrency with K-14 became K-2 only.
