Interstate 70 in Kansas

Infobox road
route=70
state=KS
type=I

---

alternate_name=
length_mi=423
length_round=
length_ref=
length_notes=
year_established=
direction_a=West
terminus_a=Jct|state=CO|I|70 to Denver
junction=Jct|state=KS|I|135 in Salina
Jct|state=KS|I|470 in Topeka
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Missouri border
previous_type=US
previous_route=69
next_type=KS
next_route=71

Interstate 70 enters flat plains in Kansas. This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the interstate system. It is given the nickname "Main Street of Kansas" as the interstate extends from the Western border to the Eastern border covering 424 miles and passing through most of the state's principal cities in the process.

Route description

I-70 is joined with US-24 from the Colorado state line until US-24 splits at Levant and runs north of I-70. At Colby, I-70 begins to turn southeast until it reaches Oakley, where US-40 joins with I-70 for a concurrent journey through most of the state. The route remains flat until it reaches the county line between Russell and Ellsworth counties, where the road begins to travese rolling hills.

At Salina, Interstate 135 begins its journey southward toward Wichita, and I-70 continues through Abilene and Junction City, where the road begins to run through the Flint Hills.

In Topeka, I-70 intersects a child route, I-470, twice. The second time it is intersected, the Kansas Turnpike merges, making I-70 into a toll road. This is one of only two sections of I-70 that are tolled (see Interstate 75 for a similar configuration). I-70 carries this designation from Topeka to Bonner Springs. It is the eastern terminus of the turnpike, and from there to 18th Street, the highway is free.

I-70 enters Missouri via a main northern route on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct above the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River and a route designated "Alternate I-70" which has signs for I-70 as well as Interstate 670 just south of Kansas City main downtown area.

The southern route is called the "Jay B. Dillingham Memorial Highway" for a former Kansas City Stockyards chairman Jay B. Dillingham. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Kansas+City,+MIssouri&ie=UTF8&ll=39.099094,-94.607606&spn=0.00801,0.017338&z=16&om=1 Google map] ]

History

Exit list

References