Kansas Highways Routelog

Kansas Highway 18

A18
Length: 232 miles
West Endpoint:
Junction US 24 north of Bogue

East Endpoint:
Junction K-99 east of Waubunsee

Counties Passed through: Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Russell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Dickinson, Geary, Riley, Wabaunsee
Full Description

History

In 1929, K-18 ended at K-15, and was gravel between Vesper and Bennington, and dirt along the reat of the route. In 1932, K-18 was gravelled between Vesper and Waldo and hard-surfaced west out of Bennington. By the end of 1935, it was gravelled east out of Plainville and hard-surfaced between Bennington and Vesper. By the end of 1936, 18 had been gravelled from Bennington east to the Saline/Ottawa County line and from Waldo west to Paradise, and hard-surfaced from Vesper west to Sylvan Grove. In addition, K-18 was extended along a new gravel alignment from K-15 east to Junction City. By 1940, K-18 was sealed from Bennington west to Natoma, and was gravelled from Plainville west to Damar. By 1941, K-18 had been hard-surfaced from K-15 to Junction City, and gravelled along the rest of the route.

By 1950, K-18 had been hard-surfaced from K-15 to Bennington. By 1953, K-18 had been extended east from Junction City to K-13 as part of a "straight shot" between Junction City and Topeka, and the remainder of K-18 had been hard-surfaced. By 1956, the "straight shot" had been completed and re-designated as US 40, and the original US 40 beteen Junction City and Manhattan was re-designated as K-18. By 1960, 18 was extended east, replacing K-29.

By 1962, K-18 had been four laned from Manhattan to Ogden. By 1977, a new alignment had been built between Odgen and I-70, bypassing the original US 40 through Fort Riley.