K-2
K-2 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KDOT and the cities of Anthony and Harper
Length	61.516 mi[1] (99.000 km)
Existed	January 7, 1937[2]–present
Major junctions
South end	US-281 east of Hardtner
Major intersections	US-160 north of Anthony US-160 in Harper
North end	K-42 west of Viola
Location
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Counties	Barber, Harper, Kingman, Sumner
Highway system
Kansas State Highway System Interstate US State Spurs
← K-1 → K-3

K-2 is a 61.516-mile-long (99.000 km) 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 (US-281) east of Hardtner and its northern terminus is at an intersection with K-42 west of the town of Viola. Along the way K-2 passes through the cities of Kiowa, Hazelton, Anthony and Harper. Between the latter two, it has an overlap with US-160.

Before state highways were numbered in Kansas, there were auto trails. A short section of K-2 west of Kiowa follows the former Oklahoma-Kansas-Colorado Highway. K-2 was designated on January 7, 1937, and went from US-160 north to K-42 in Norwich. Between 1961 and 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. On December 24, 1994, the overlaps with K-42 and K-14 were eliminated.

Route description

K-2's southern terminus is at US-281 east of Hardtner in Barber County. The highway proceeds east for 1.7 miles (2.7 km) through flat rural farmlands then crosses Little Mule Creek. The highway continues east for another 1.7 miles (2.7 km) then curves south at Coats Street. K-2 then quickly curves back east at Bare Road and continues for another .45 miles (0.72 km) then enters Kiowa as Main Street. The highway has an at-grade crossing with a BNSF Railway. K-2 then intersects the northern terminus of the southern leg of K-8 (4th Street). K-2 continues east for .2 miles (0.32 km) then turns north onto 7th Street. The highway continues north through the city then begins to curve northeast at Hardtner Street and soon exits the city as it passes by a school.^[3] K-2 continues northeast, parallel to the railroad track, for roughly .9 miles (1.4 km) then crosses Medicine Lodge River. The highway continues through rural farmlands for another 1.6 miles (2.6 km) then crosses Lone Tree Canyon. It continues another roughly three miles (4.8 km) along the railroad track then enters Hazelton. K-2 continues for about .5 miles (0.80 km) then exits the city into rural farmlands.^[4] The highway continues to parallel the railroad track for another three miles (4.8 km) then crosses Salty Creek. It continues through rural farmlands for another 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and crosses into Harper County.^[5] As K-2 enters the county it crosses Little Sandy Creek then curves east away from the railroad. The highway continues east through rural farmlands for 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and crosses Sandy Creek, then Camp Creek 2.3 miles (3.7 km) later. It continues east for about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) then intersects 80 Avenue, which travels south to Waldron.^[6]

The roadway continues through more farmlands for 2.5 miles (4.0 km) and crosses Beaver Creek, then Bluff Creek about 3.2 miles (5.1 km) later. K-2 continues for another 1.7 miles (2.7 km), crosses Spring Creek, and then enters Anthony as Main Street about .35 miles (0.56 km) later. After about .35 miles (0.56 km) K-2 turns north, at the western terminus of K-44. K-2 continues north for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) then exits the city.^[7] The highway continues through flat rural farmlands for about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) then intersects US-160, which it begins to overlap. The two routes continue north for about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) and enter Harper. The highway continues past the Harper Municipal Airport then turns east onto 14th Street, which is the southern terminus of K-14. K-2 and US-160 continue through the city for 1.1 miles (1.8 km) then K-2 turns north and US-160 continues east. K-2 heads north for a short distance then curves northeast and exits the city.^[8] The highway then crosses over a BNSF railroad track then crosses Sand Creek. It continues northeast through more farmlands for 3.9 miles (6.3 km) then crosses Spring Creek. K-2 continues northeast, passing through Runnymede, then crosses Chikaskia River. The highway continues for roughly 1.9 miles (3.1 km) then enters into Kingman County.^[6] K-2 continues northeast through farmlands for 2.7 miles (4.3 km) at junction of SE 150th Avenue, which travels north to Norwich. The highway continues for 2.3 miles (3.7 km) then crosses a Kansas and Oklahoma Railway. It continues another .6 miles (0.97 km) then enters into Sumner County.^[9] It then reaches its northern terminus at K-42 west of Viola.^[10]

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways, and in 2019, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 500 vehicles per day slightly northeast of Hazelton to 3960 vehicles per day slightly north of Anthony.^[11] K-2 is not included in the National Highway System.^[12] The National Highway System is a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.^[13] The 1.128-mile (1.815 km) section of K-2's alignment within Anthony is maintained by the city.^[14] The section of K-2 in Harper from K-14 to the north city line is maintained by the city.^[15]

History

Prior to the formation of the Kansas state highway system, there were auto trails, which were an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. A short section of K-2 west of Kiowa follows the former Oklahoma-Kansas-Colorado Highway.^[16]

K-2 was originally designated in 1927, from Norton west to the Colorado border.^[17] Then between 1930 and 1931, K-2 became part of US-36 when it was extended west into Colorado.^[18][19] The current K-2 was designated on January 7, 1937, and went from US-160 to K-42 in Norwich.^[2] Until 1950, K-2 turned northward onto current SE 150th Avenue 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.^[20] Between 1961 and 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.^[21][22] In mid May 1967, the SHC approved a bid of $88,694 (equivalent to $597,027 in 2022 dollars)^[23] to rebuild the junction with K-42 east of Norwich.^[24] 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.^[25][26]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Barber	Kiowa Township	0.000	0.000	US-281 – Alva Okla., Medicine Lodge	Southern terminus
	Kiowa	4.511	7.260	K-8 south (4th Street) – Cherokee OK	Northern terminus of K-8; serves Kiowa District Hospital
Harper	Anthony	33.666	54.180	K-44 east (Main Street) to K-49 / K-179	Western terminus of K-44
	Township 5	39.700	63.891	US-160 west – Attica, Medicine Lodge	Southern end of US-160 concurrency
	Harper	42.715	68.743	K-14 north – Kingman	Southern terminus of K-14
		43.827	70.533	US-160 east (14th Street east) – Wellington	Northern end of US-160 concurrency
Kingman	No major junctions
Sumner	Eden Township	61.516	99.000	K-42 – Norwich, Wichita	Northern terminus; K-42 east is former K-2 north
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

External links

• Kansas Department of Transportation State Map
• KDOT: Historic State Maps