K-66 (Kansas highway)

K-66
Route information
Length:	5 mi (8 km)
Major junctions
West end:	US-69 Alt. / US-400 in Riverton
East end:	Route 66 near Galena
Location
Counties:	Cherokee
Highway system
Kansas numbered highways ← US-66 K-67 →

K-66 is a 5-mile-long (8.0 km) state highway in the southeastern corner of the state. Its eastern terminus is on the Missouri state line near Galena (where it continues as Route 66), while its western terminus is at Alternate U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Route 400 at Riverton. This road is noteworthy in the fact that it used to be part of the famed U.S. Route 66. After 1961, the nearby Interstate 44 offered a more direct route between Missouri and Oklahoma. In 1985, US 66 was decommissioned nationally. Kansas replaced the US-66 designation with K-66 on that portion of historic highway not numbered as alternate U.S. Route 69.

History

The easternmost section of K-66 was not US-66 until 1979. Prior to 1979, US-66 came in from Missouri as Front Street and turned south on Main Street before joining K-66. US-66 then followed K-66 to Riverton, where K-66 ends. Original US-66 through Kansas continues as a county road to the north and west of U.S. Route 69 Alternate to Baxter Springs, and joins US-69 Alternate to the Oklahoma state line. The 13 miles (21 km) of US-66 in Kansas retain much of the character of the Mother Road.

Thus the final (1985) alignment of US-66 perfectly matches present U.S. Route 69 Alternate and K-66. US-69 Alternate was formed in 1985 when US-66 was decommissioned.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Cherokee County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Riverton	0.0	0.0	US-69 Alt. / US-400	Western terminus
Galena			K-26
​			Route 66	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

External links

• Route 66 in Kansas
• NRHP Application for Kansas Route 66 Historic District - East Galena

U.S. Route 66
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