US Highway 59

Length: 210.439 miles

South Endpoint: Oklahoma State Line South of Chatopa

North Endpoint:Missouri State Line at Atchison

Counties Passed through:
Labette, Neosho, Allen, Anderson, Franklin, Douglas, Jefferson, Atchison

History

US 59 was established in 1936, replacing US 73 from the Oklahoma State line to Oswego and US 73W from Oswego to Nortonville, and co-designated with K-4 from Nortonville to the Missouri line at Atchison. US 59 was also concurrent with US 169 between Garnett and Earlton. At the time US 59 was designated, the road was generally paved or oiled except between the Oklahoma line and Oswego, from Altamont to Parsons, from the Neosho/Allen County line to Humboldt, and between Welda and Garnett. The Welda-Garnett segment was hard-surfaced by 1940, with the segment south of Oswego hard-surfaced by 1941.

In 1947, US 59 between Erie and Earlton in Neosho County was turned back to the county in exchange for an extension of K-47. US 59 now continued north along K-6, to the junction with K-39, then followed K-39 west to US 169 at Chanute. By 1962, 59 had been re-aligned once again, following a newly-constructed relocation of K-6 north from K-39 to K-31 near Kincaid, then along K-31 to Garnett. The K-6 designation was subsequently retired.

Meanwhile, in Atchison County, the “stairstep” alignment between Nortonville and Atchison was gradually straightened. The first segment was completed by 1950; the second segment, taking the roadway to Cummings, was completed by 1957; and the final segment between Cummings and Nortonville was completed by 1962.

In Douglas County, 73W/59 originally turned east at what is now 23rd Street, then followed Massachusetts Street through downtown to the Kansas River. By 1956, the present-day Iowa Street was built, and the US 59 designation was moved from 23rd Street and Massachusetts to Iowa Street. At about the same time, US 40 was moved from 7th Street to 6th Street, which also included the US 59 designation. In 1973, US 59 south of Lawrence was widened to four lanes for about 3 miles south of Lawrence, with a new alignment for another 2 miles south that could be expanded to 4 lanes. At the time, it was foreseen that US 59 would eventually be upgraded to a full freeway between Lawrence and Ottawa.

Plans to widen US 59 between Lawrence and Ottawa began in earnest in the Early 2000s, by which time the segment of 59 had a significantly higher accident rate than other 2 lane roadways in the state. A draft Environmental Impact Statement, with two alternatives, one parallel to the current 59, and one a mile east, was released in April 2002. There was significant opposition to the freeway proposal, and particularly to the “mile east” option. In the Final EIS, released in May 2003, the parallel option was selected. Ground was broken on the new 59 project on the Franklin County side in June 2007. The new freeway opened in two sections. The Franklin County segment opened March 30, 2010. The Douglas County segment opened October 18, 2012.

Junction Guide

KDOT Milepost	Total Miles	Junction
59-50/0.000	0.000	Oklahoma/Kansas State Line
59-50/2.187	2.187	South city limts Chetopa
59-50/2.579	2.579	East Junction US 166
59-50/3.129	3.129	9th/Maple, Chetopa
59-50/4.073	4.073	West Junction US 166
59-50/4.078	4.078	North city limits Chetopa
59-50/11.647	11.647	South city limits Oswego
59-50/12.193	12.193	East Junction US 160, 6th/Commercial, Oswego
59-50/13.334	13.334	North city limits Oswego
59-50/22.051	22.051	West Junction US 160
59-50/30.376	30.376	South city limits Parsons
59-50/33.357	33.357	Main Street, Parsons
59-50/34.145	34.145	US 400, Parsons
59-50/34.339	34.339	North city limits Parsons
59-50/35.429 59-67/0.000	35.429	Labette/Neosho county line
59-67/9.229	44.658	South Junction K-47
59-67/10.151	45.580	North Junction K-47
59-67/11.551	46.980	Neosho River Bridge
59-67/12.900	48.329	South Junction old K-108
59-67/13.401	48.830	North Junction old K-108
59-67/15.413	50.842	K-146
59-67/20.922	56.351	West Junction K-39
59-67/26.096	61.525	Old K-201
59-67/28.107	63.536	East Junction K-39
59-67/29.115 59-1/0.000	64.544	Neosho/Allen county line
59-1/1.004	65.548	Old K-202
59-1/3.896	68.440	Old K-203
59-1/12.406	76.950	South city limits Moran
59-1/13.134	77.678	Junction US 54, Moran
59-1/20.020	84.564	South city limits Mildred
59-1/20.148	84.692	Third St., Mildred
59-1/20.302	84.846	North city limits Mildred
59-1/21.193 59-2/0.000	85.737	Allen/Anderson county line
59-2/3.041	88.778	South junction K-31
59-2/15.178	100.915	South junction US 169
59-2/19.396	105.133	North junction US 169, south of Garnett
59-2/20.592	106.329	South city limits Garnett
59-2/20.817	106.554	North junction US 169B, Garnett
59-2/21.468	107.205	North junction K-31
59-2/21.752	107.489	North city limits Garnett
59-2/28.528 59-30/0.000	114.265	Anderson/Franklin county line
59-30/0.501	114.766	South city limits Richmond
59-30/1.003	115.268	North Street, Richmond
59-30/1.048	115.313	North city limits Richmond
59-30/7.362	121.627	South city limits Princeton
59-30/7.425	121.690	North city limits Princeton
59-30/12.942	127.207	South city limits Ottawa
59-30/13.184 35-30/15.084	127.449	South Junction I-35
35-30/17.395	129.760	15th Street, Ottawa
35-30/19.407	131.772	Junction K-68, Ottawa
35-30/20.660 59-30/18.760	133.025	North Junction I-35
59-30/26.515 59-23/0.000	140.780	Franklin/Douglas county line
59-23/3.043	143.823	US 56 (Baldwin Junction)
59-23/12.646	153.426	K-10/South junction US 40
59-23/12.740	153.520	South city limits Lawrence
59-23/14.223	155.003	23rd/Iowa, Lawrence
59-23/16.304 40-23/15.053	157.084	6th/Iowa, Lawrence
40-23/16.372	158.403	Massachuseetts Street, Lawrence
40-23/17.661	159.692	Junction I-70/KTA, Lawrence
40-23/18.040	160.071	North city limits Lawrence
40-23/18.291 24-23/3.991	160.322	Junction US 24/40 (Teepee Junction), north of Lawrence
24-23/1.817	162.496	E1400 Rd/Wellman Rd. (Midland Junction)
24-23/0.000 24-44/18.705	164.313	Douglas/Jefferson county line
24-44/14.345 59-44/4.360	168.673	North junction US 24, Williamstown
59-44/14.491	178.804	South jct K-16 and K-92
59-44/14.990	179.303	South city limits Oskaloosa
59-44/15.451	179.764	North junction K-92, Oskaloosa
59-44/15.990	180.303	North city limits Oskaloosa
59-44/23.557	187.870	North jct K-16/Junction K-192
59-44/29.230	193.543	Junction K-4, south of Nortonville
59-44/29.529	193.842	Junction US 159, Nortonville
59-44/29.763 59-3/0.000	194.076	Jefferson/Atchison county line
59-3/4.806	198.882	Junction K-116
59-3/14.125	208.201	West Junction US 73
59-3/14.356	208.432	West city limits Atchison
59-3/15.538	209.614	North jct US 73/Junction K-7/10th Street, Atchison
59-3/16.239	210.315	Missouri River
59-3/16.363	210.439	Kansas/Missouri State Line

Average Annual Daily Traffic (2019)

Location	Count	Truck %
Oklahoma State Line to Chetopa	2,030	11.6%
Chetopa City Limits to US 166 (3rd Street)	2,520	11.3%
Maple Street from 3rd to 9th, Chetopa	4,270	17.8%
9th/Maple to West junction US 166	4,060	19.0%
From US 166 to Oswego	2,360	14.2%
South city limits Oswego to east junction US 160	3,790	9.2%
East junction US 160 to west city limits Oswego	4,290	7.7%
Oswego to MP 19	3,630	9.0%
MP 19 to West junction US 160	3,420	9.8%
US 160 to Parsons	3,920	8.3%
In Parsons	8,030	7.5%
North of Parsons	8,800	6.8%
South of K-47	3,350	16.7%
US 59/K-47 concurrency	4,460	19.4%
K-47 to Erie	3,190	21.5%
Erie to K-146	2,950	20.5%
K-146 to K-39	1,730	19.3%
West junction K-39 to Stark	1,180	25.0%
Stark to east junction K-39	1,260	23.0%
East Junction K-39 to Elsmore	875	19.4%
South of Moran	1,440	12.5%
In Moran	2,100	12.6%
North of Moran	1,260	21.4%
South of Mildred	1,100	19.5%
Mildred to south junction K-31	1,080	21.8%
South junction K-31 to south junction US 169	1,140	19.7%
South junction US 169 to 1400 Road	5,520	29.9%
1400 Road to north junction US 169	4,990	29.9%
From North Juction US 169 to North Junction US 169B	3,280	20.4%
From North Junction US 169B to North Junction K-31	7,290	8.8%
North Junction K-31 to Richmond	4,950	13.3%
In Richmond	5,530	10.0%
Richmond to Princeton	5,710	11.6%
North of Princeton	6,500	10.8%
South of I-35	10,200	6.6%
On I-35 from US 59 to K-68	22,200	21.1%
On I-35 from K-68 to US 59	23,800	19.7%
North of I-35	5,090	10.1%
At Old US 59 north of Ottawa	4,840	10.0%
At the Franklin/Douglas County Line	7,910	6.1%
From US 56 to Douglas CR 460	9,400	6.6%
From Douglas CR 460 to CR 458	10,400	5.6%
From Douglas CR 458 to K-10/US 40	12,200	5.2%
On Iowa Street from K-10 to 31st Street	19,000	4.0%
On Iowa Street from 31st Street to 15th Street	25,800	3.3%
On Iowa Street from 15th Street to 6th Street	21,900	4.7%
On 6th Street from Iowa Street to the Kansas River bridge	22,800	4.5%
Kansas River Bridge, Lawrence	22,900	4.1%
Kansas River to I-70, Lawrence	14,600	6.8%
US 40/59 from I-70 to US 24	10,400	12.8%
US 24/59 from US 40 to Midland Junction	6,410	12.5%
US 24/59 from Midland Junction to North Junction US 24	3,630	17.9%
North Junction US 24 to Oskaloosa	3,000	6.7%
In Oskaloosa	5,020	4.9%
Oskaloosa to K-16/K-192	1,390	12.2%
K-16/K-192 to K-4	1,350	14.8%
K-4 to K-116	2,410	23.0%
North of K-116	2,830	23.0%
South of Atchison	3,940	20.3%
US 73 to K-7, Atchison	8,330	11.9%
K-7 to Missouri River, Atchison	7,410	12.8%

Timeline

• 1936:
  • US 59 established, replacing US 73 from the Oklahoma state line to Oswego and US 73W from Oswego to Nortonville. Concurrent with K-4 from Nortonville to the Missouri state line at Atchison.
    • Gravel from the Oklahoma State line to Oswego
    • Blacktop from Oswego to Altamont
    • Gravel from Altamont to Parsons
    • Blacktop from the Parsons to Earlton
    • Paved from Earlton to the Neosho/Allen County line
    • Gravel from the Neosho/Allen County line to Humboldt
    • Paved from Humboldt to Bassett
    • Paved from Iola to Welda
    • Paved from Garnett north 3 miles
    • Blacktop from 3 miles north of Garnett to 4.5 miles north of Garnett
    • Paved from 4.5 miles north of Garnett to Atchison.
  • After US 59 was designated, the gravel section south of Humboldt was paved.
  • New gravel alignment between Welda and Garnett
  • New railroad overpass built at the Anderson/ Franklin county line south of Richmond.
• 1937:
  • New gravel alignment from 9th and Maple in Chetopa to the north junction with US 166 just north of Chetopa.
  • New alignment, including railroad overpass, north of Parsons. 16th Street in Parsons paved from Main Street to Gabriel Avenue, the rest of the alignment initially gravel.
  • New railroad overpass in Chanute.
  • Approaches to the railroad overpass at the Anderson/ Franklin county line paved.
• 1938:
  • New alignment north of Parsons blacktopped
  • New gravel alignment from west of Atchison to the new Mo-Kan Free Bridge.
• 1939:
  • New alignment, including railroad overpass, northwest of Oswego. approaches to the bridge are concrete paved, remainder initially gravel.
  • New railroad underpass on the south side of Chanute.
  • Paved near Welda.
  • New Paved alignment from US 169 south of Garnett to 7th and Maple Streets in Garnett, including two railroad underpasses.
  • Traffic Signal at 4th and Utah in Atchison.
• 1940:
  • Medium blacktop from the Oklahoma state line to Oswego, including a realignment to replace two “stairstep” turns with gentler curves 2 miles south of Oswego.
  • Paved from Welda to Garnett
  • New restricted-access grade-separated junction with US 50S south of Ottawa. US 59 widened to 4 lanes from US 50S south 3/4 mile
  • Gravel alignment west of Atchison paved.
• 1946:
  • Blacktop from 3/4 mile north of the Labette/Neosho county line to K-57 west of St. Paul.
  • US 59 from K-6 north of Erie to US 169 near Earlton turned back to Neosho County.
    • US 59/K-57 relocated via K-6 north to K-39 west.
• 1947: 1946 relocation paved from north of Erie to K-39.
• 1948: New paved alignment south from Iola to Bassett. US 59/169 moved from Washington Street to State Street in Iola.
• 1949:
  • New paved alignment in Oswego.
  • New heavy blacktop alignment in Humbolt.
  • New heavy blacktop alignment replacing 4 staristep curves with 2 gentler curves south of Bassett.
• 1950:
  • Railroad underpass in Parsons.
  • Medium asphalt from the east junction with K-39 the 3 miles east of Chanute.
  • Paved from 3 miles east of Chanute to Chanute.
  • US 59/K-39 moved from Main Street to Elm Street in Chanute
• 1952:
  • New paved alignment west of Lawrence. 2 lanes from 23rd Street to University Drive, with an auxiliary lane northbound near 19th Street, 4 lanes from University Drive north to 6th Street. US 59 moved from 23rd/Massachusetts Street to Iowa Street/6th Street. 23rd Street from Massachusetts Street to Iowa Street re-designated K-10.
  • New paved alignment of US 24 near Williamstown. West junction of US 24 and US 59 relocated south ~800 feet. Section of K-76 reconstructed and re-designated US 59.
• 1953:
  • US 59/169/Santa Fe Avenue in Chanute reconstructed and widened to 4 lanes from Beach Street to the north city limits.
  • New 4-lane alignment in Oskaloosa, moving from Cherokee Street to Walnut Street.
• 1954: New paved alignment on the south side of Humboldt
• 1955:
  • Reconstruction and new medium blacktop alignment from the Allen/Anderson County line to Welda, including a railroad overpass south of Welda.
  • New paved alignment from Cummings to Atchison
• 1956:
  • Reconstruct paved alignment in Garnett. New heavy blacktop alignment from Garnett north 3 miles
• June 28, 1960: AASHTO approves re-alignment of US 59 via K-6, K-52, and K-31.
• March 30, 2010: New freeway alignment between I-35 northeast of Ottawa and the Franklin/Douglas county line opened to traffic. US 59 routed along I-35 around between the existing highway south of Ottawa and a new route. Interim tie in with existing US 59 at the Franklin/Douglas county line
• October 18, 2012: New US 59 freeway opened to traffic between Franklin/Douglas county line and Lawrence. Tie into old 59 eradicated.