K-42 is a east-west state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. K-42's western terminus is at U.S. Route 281 in Sawyer and the eastern terminus is at Interstate 235 in Wichita. Along the way it intersects K-14, a major north-south highway, in Rago. K-42 was first designated as a state highway in 1927, and at that time extended from east of Coates to Rago. It then continued east through Milton and Conway Springs before intersecting US-81 west of Belle Plaine. By 1931, K-42 was realigned to turn north, north of Milton. It then turned east and went through Viola to Clearwater. Then it turned northeast and terminated in Wichita. It formally extended to US-54 and US-400, then in March 2001, the eastern terminus was tuncated to I-235 in March 2001.
Route description
K-42 begins at US-281 in Sawyer and travels east, and after crosses Sand Creek. Past the creek it coninues for, then turns south at Southeast 100th Avenue. The highway continues south for, then back east and begins to parallel Pratt-Barber county line, north of Isabel. It continues along the county line for, then enters Kingman. About past the county line, the highway turns south at Saint Leo Road. From here it continues south to Nashville, where it turns east again. Past Nashville, it continues east for about and reaches Zenda. Past Zenda, K-42 crosses the Kansas and Oklahoma Railway, and begins to parallel it as they both cross the Chikaskia River together. Roughly past the river, the highway enters Spivey. In Spivey, K-42 turns north at, then curves back east as it exits the city. It continues east for roughly, crosses the Kansas and Oklahoma Railway again, then intersects K-14 in Rago. Past K-14, K-42 crosses Copper Creek, then Duck Creek later. Past Duck Creek, the highway continues east and passes through Adams, where it crosses Deer Creek. From Adams, K-42 continues another, crossing Big Spring Creek and Clearwater Creekalong the way, before entering Norwich. About past Norwich, the roadway enters into Sumner County. Just after crossing the county line, it intersects the eastern terminus of K-2. Past K-2, the highway runs through Suppesville, then curves to the northeast, and enters into Sedgwick County. About into the county, K-42 intersects the northern terminus of K-49 in Viola. From K-49, the highway continues northeast and after crosses the Ninnescah River. It continues northeastward past the creek, then passes through Clonmel. Roughly past Clonmel, it changes from two-lane to four-lane as it enters Wichita. It continues through Wichita, along the south side of the airport, before reaching its eastern terminus at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-235 at exit 5. Past I-235 the roadway continues as West Southwest Boulevard. The Kansas Department of Transportation tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2018, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 250 vehicles near the western terminus to 18,600 vehicles just befored the eastern terminus. K-42 is not included in the National Highway System, a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility. K-42 does connect to the NationalHighway System at its junction with I-235 in Wichita.
History
K-42 was first designated as a state highway in 1927. At that time it extended from K-8 east of Coates, east through Sawyer and Nashville, to K-14 in Rago. It then continued east through Milton and Conway Springs before intersecting US-81 west of Belle Plaine. By 1931, K-42 was realigned to turn north, north of Milton. It then turned east and continued through Viola to Clearwater. From Clearwater, it zig-zagged northeastward to Wichita. The old alignment between north of Milton and US-81 became locally maintained. Also by 1931, K-8 was realigned to the east to go through Sawyer instead of Coats, and at that time K-42's western terminus was truncated to the new alignment in Sawyer. Between July 1938 and 1940, K-8 was renumbered to US-281. In a March 21, 1939 resolution, K-42 was realigned between Viola and Wichita. This realignment replaced a substandard section of highway, eliminated seven sharp curves, and bypassed Clearwater. In a January 28, 1949 resolution, K-42 was realigned from southwest of Viola, to Viola. The realignment eliminated two sharp curves. In a December 21, 1994 resolution, the overlap with K-2 was eliminated, as K-2 was truncated to its current northern terminus. Before 2001, K-42 continued past I-235 and terminated at US-54 and US-400. The route was truncated to its current eastern terminus at I-235 in March 2001.
