I All Interstate Highways are identified with 36-inch route markers similar to these. Lettering and borders are white, with a red background for the word "Interstate" and a blue background for the state name and route number. The sign of safe, rapid, trou­ ble-free driving. Welcome to Kansas' Interstate Highways CoNSTRUCTION in Kansas The Interstate routes will be uniform in design of 803 miles of the new throughout the nation, and will give Kansas multi­ National System of Inter­ laned, controlled access freeways equal to any in state and Defense Highways will mean immeasurable America. The improved service to Kansas residents benefits for our state. and visitors, whether they are driving private or com­ These routes will be of great improvement to the mercial vehicles, will far outweigh the cost of building state's over-all highway system and will provide con­ these routes. These superhighways will save thou­ nections with major cities and industrial centers sands of lives each year, and greatly reduce the acci­ throughout the continental United States. dent rate. vVe welcome you to share in their excellent benefits. Happy and safe driving to you on Kansas Interstate In a state of such great distances and importance, freeways. the three Interstate routes crossing Kansas will be a boon in faster, safer, more comfortable travel. JOHN ANDERSON, JR., Governor of Kansas Addison H. Meschke Director of Highways KANSAS' INTERSTATE ROUTES ·-··-··-··-··---··-··-··-··--··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-. i l .. ----. : ). I ~~ ") . ~ I : : \ I GOODLAND 0 COLBY ...... ' 0 :KANSAS '\.ciTY RUSSELL 0 HAYS ··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··- --··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-·· THE INTERSTATE SYSTE The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways* four urban bypasses, as shown on the map in this booklet. is a network of 41,000 miles of the most modern and extensive The Kansas section of Interstate No. 70 totals 424 miles and highways ever built. crosses the state east to west, from Kansas City, Mo., to the It was authorized by Congress in 1956 to accommodate the Colorado border west of Goodland, Kan. greatly increasing volume of traffic and to be immediately This route will extend from Washington, D. C., and Balti­ available for rapid transportation requirements in case of a more, Md., to Central Utah, where it joins another Interstate national emergency. It connects all larger cities and all agri­ route leading to the west coast. Under alignments estab­ cultural, military, industrial and shipping centers of the lished by the states and federal government, I-70 coincides continental United States. Initially, it was scheduled for with the Kansas Turnpike between Kansas City and Topeka. completion by about 1972. Due to the condition of the federal Interstate 35 connects Kansas City, Mo., and the Oklahoma highway trust fund, the completion date could be delayed border south of Wichita, a distance of 2.'35 miles. It includes perhaps five years, unless additional funds are provided by that portion of the Kansas Turnpike from the Oklahoma line Congress. north and northeast to Emporia. Terminals of the national I-.'35 route are Duluth, Minn., and Laredo, Texas. Three Kansas Links The third, Interstate 35 West, extends 103 miles from Wich­ There are 803 miles of Interstate freeways designated for ita to Salina, and provides a connecting link between Inter­ Kansas. f The mileage is split among three major routes and state 70 at Salina and Interstate 35 at Wichita. * U. S. Interstate system map on back cover. t Map of Kansas Interstate routes on page 1. 2 These three freeways and the urban circumferential routes grades. The minimum speed on freeways will be 40 miles an around the state's three largest cities-Wichita, Kansas City hour to keep traffic moving at a rapid rate. and Topeka-constitute the Interstate system in Kansas. The Large, special-type reflectorized signs identify the different entire network of freeways is being constructed of high design Interstate routes, indicate entrances and exits, guide motorists standards for safer, faster, uninterrupted travel, mile after to their destinations and rest and service areas. Information­ mile. Except for voluntary halts for services, a motorist could service centers may be located along the Interstate routes at travel, for instance, from Kansas City, Mo., to Laredo, Texas, convenient intervals. or from Wichita to New York City without a single stop. Even at ordinary travel speeds this will mean great savings in time, costs and energy. KEEP TO THE RIGHT . • • PASS ON THE LEFT-Vehicle operators Freeway Characteristics should drive in the travel lane nearest the right shoulder, except when passing or when other lanes are specified by markings. Each Interstate route has at least two 12-foot-wide traffic lanes in each direction. Opposing lanes are separated by PASSING-Operator should signal his intention of moving into another grassed medians; hard surfaced shoulders are provided for lane to pass. Hand or automatic signal of change of direction should safe, emergency parking and to reduce the chances of col­ be g;ven for convenience of motorists ahead and to the rear. lisions. There will be no stop signs or traffic signals, no rail or road intersections at grade. Railroads and other highways PARKING-Except in emergency, park only at rest stations or designated will be carried over or under the freeways. areas. For emergency parking, pull well onto shoulder. Never park Acceleration and deceleration lanes will be provided at on travel lane. points of access (interchanges) for traffic entering and leaving the freeway, in both rural and urban areas. EMERGENCY AID-When help is needed on an Interstate highway, watch In Kansas, Interstate routes are designed for speeds of 70 for and hail a passing Highway Patrol officer or emergency vehicle. The miles an hour, with wide surfacing, broad curves and reduced Interstate routes are regularly patrolled. 3 1. GRADIE SEPARATION 3. CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE 2. DIAMOND INTERCHANGE 4. DIRECTIONAL FLOW INTERCHANGE ·Types of Grade Separations They're Simpler Than They Look Study of the diagrams on the opposite page will show how DON'T HURRY-Guard against fatigue. Stop occasionally in a rest area, vehicles may transfer between Interstate routes and inter­ stretch, and walk about or take a nap if tired. If you become exhausted secting roads or highways. The arrows show direction of or ill and must stop along the highway, pull well onto shoulder. traffic flow. 1. Grade Separation: The simplest type of freeway grade WATCH THE WEATHER-vVeather changes vehicle operating conditions. separation for safe, unimpeded traffic flow, carrying local Adjust your driving to existing weather. traffic over the Interstate route. There is no interchange of traffic here. DON'T TAILGATE-i'vlaintain a safe stopping distance from the car ahead. 2. Diamond Interchange: A comparatively simple facility One car length per 10 miles of speed is recommended. with acceleration and deceleration lanes for transfer of traffic between separated grade levels. USERS PAY FOR ROADS-No funds except highway users funds are 3. Cloverleaf Interchange: This type eliminates left turns spent on highways in Kansas. All funds come from gasoline tax, drivers across opposing traffic lanes and is used when turning move­ licenses, registration fees, titles and special truck fees and permits. ments are heavy in all four directions. 4. Directional Flow Interchange: At many locations inter­ WILL SAVE MANY LIVES-Officials of the Federal Government and the change of large volumes of traffic is in two directions only. This is one example of such an interchange. American Association of State Highway Officials estimate that the Inter­ state network will save more than 5,000 lives a year. 5 Interstate Design Standards The Most of the Ve1·y Best Access Width and Number of Lanes Entrance to or exit from Interstate highways shall be only Traffic lanes not less than 12 feet wide. Four lanes or more at designated interchanges. required, with opposite lanes divided by median strips. Shoulders Railroad Crossings All-weather shoulders not less than 10 feet wide on outside Railroad grade crossings are eliminated on all through and six feet wide on inside of each two-lane section. traffic lanes. Right of Way Intersections To vary from 200 to 300 foot minimums. No grade level intersections. Bridges and Overpasses Travel Speeds Clearance of not less than 16 feet over entire roadway width. Routes designed for speeds up to 70 miles an hour through IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF-Travel on the Interstate highway system will all types of terrain. Slower speed limits will prevail in urban cost motorists only about half of that on present-day "stop and go" high­ areas. Rural areas will have 40 miles an hour minimum speed. ways. 6 A Big Boost to Business Kansas' 803 miles of Interstate routes are expected to have trade will increase due to easier parking and less congestion. a tremendous economic effect upon the state. Interchanges and paralleling frontage roads will permit easier ThE\ construction alone is furnishing jobs to hundreds of and safer turnoffs and parking than is generally possible along construction workers. Thousands of employees of materials the arterial roads. Traffic congestion will be reduced in the and equipment suppliers and in transportation are also affected. commercial areas by the absence of through traffic. The sweeping four and six-lane divided highways with their controlled access will be a model for future planning of other principal highways in Kansas. By facilitating automobile and truck travel at its best, these MANY MILES TO TRAVEL-Kansas has more than 125,000 miles of roads, roads built for the future instead of the present are bound to including federal, state, county and township facilities, ranking second be a potent inducement for more travel within the state and in total mileage among all the states. Only Texas, which has four times to bring more travelers and goods into Kansas, particularly the area of Kansas, has a larger roads system.