:K-244 (Kansas highway)

File:US 77 at K-57 and K-244 (28267194533).jpg

K-244's western terminus is at Milford Lake Road northwest of Junction City. West of Milford Lake Road, the highway continues as 3200 Avenue. Milford Lake Road travels south to K-18, then further south to I-70 and US-40 at exit 290. K-244 heads east to a junction with West Rolling Hill, which travels north to West Rolling Hills Park. The highway proceeds east, passing by one of the southern legs of Milford Lake, before reaching the southern terminus of K-244 Spur. The spur route allows access from eastbound K-244 to northbound K-57, and from southbound K-57 to westbound K-244, which can't be achieved at the western end of the K-57 and K-244 overlap. K-244 curves northeast then reaches an at-grade intersection with K-57. K-244 begins to overlap K-57 in a southeast direction as a divided four-lane highway. The highway proceeds a short distance then reaches its eastern terminus at US-77 north of Junction City. Past US-77 the highway continues as K-57 southbound.{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=KS-244+E&daddr=KS-244+E&hl=en&sll=39.057584,-96.889973&sspn=0.082778,0.204449&geocode=FYIAVAIdi784-g%3BFcwbVAId8c85-g&gl=us&mra=pr&t=m&z=13|title=Overview of K-244|accessdate=April 24, 2022}}{{cite map |author = Bureau of Transportation Planning |date = February 1, 2008 |url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/PastPublishedCounty/gearyFeb2008.pdf |title = Geary County |scale = [c. 1:211,200] |series = General Highway Map |location = Topeka |publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation |access-date = April 24, 2022}}

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways. On K-244 in 2020, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 525 vehicles per day near the western terminus to 615 vehicles per day slightly west of K-57.{{cite map |author = Bureau of Transportation Planning |year = 2021 |url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/CountMaps/Districts/insetmap2020.pdf |title = 2021 Traffic Flow Map - City Insets Kansas State Highway System |scale = [c. 1:1,584,000] |location = Topeka |publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation |access-date = April 24, 2022}} K-244 connects to the National Highway System at its eastern terminus with US-77.{{cite map |author = Kansas Department of Transportation|date = August 2, 2019 |url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/GISMaps/NHS_2019.pdf |title = National Highway System on the State System |scale = Scale not given |location = Topeka, Kansas |publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation|access-date = April 24, 2022}}

K-244 was created by a resolution adopted by the State Highway Commission of Kansas, now known as KDOT, on June 12, 1964. It was created as the most direct route between the existing state highway system and Milford Lake.{{cite web|url=https://idmweb.ksdot.org/publiclib/doccontent.dll?LibraryName=PublicDocs^dt00mx38&SystemType=2&LogonId=8362f2e9b156bd0b46ba26f9524301b5&DocId=003709535:1|title=Resolution for Location and Designation of Road in Geary County|date=June 12, 1964|publisher=Kansas State Highway Commission|accessdate=August 18, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On January 20, 1966, the SHC opened bids for the construction of the new highway.{{cite news|work=The Salina Journal|page=11|access-date=April 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95084709/k82-us36-k9-k15-k115/|title=Bid Opening Set For Milford Area Highways|date=January 5, 1966}} On February 3, 1966, the SHC announced an approved bid of $1,959,798 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|1959798|1966}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} for grading the new K-244 as well as the relocation of US-77 and K-82. Also, a bid of $19,984 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|19984|1966}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} was approved for a bridge on the new K-244.{{cite news|work=The Wichita Beacon|page=3|access-date=April 22, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100244837/road-work-near-milford-dam-let-k244/|title=Road Work Near Milford Dam Let|date=February 3, 1966}} The new K-244 was opened in 1967.{{cite news|work=The Manhattan Mercury|page=14|access-date=April 24, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100369713/roads-ready-for-dedication-k244-k57/|title=Roads Ready For Dedication|date=May 12, 1968}}

In a resolution passed on May 10, 1967, it was approved to extend K-57 northward over the Milford Dam and back to US-77. At this time, K-244 Spur was approved to be built.{{cite web |author = State Highway Commission of Kansas |date = May 10, 1967 |url = https://dmsweb.ksdot.org/AppNetProd/docpop/pdfpop.aspx?KT142_0_0_0=003709531&clienttype=html&doctypeid=114 |title = Resolution for location and designation of road using state-wide funds in Geary County |location = Topeka |publisher = State Highway Commission of Kansas |access-date = August 3, 2021 }} In May 1968, work began to build the extension of K-57 over the dam.{{cite news|work=The Salina Journal|page=30|access-date=March 23, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98199429/highways-in-shape-for-heavy-traffic-k57/|title=Highways in Shape For Heavy Traffic|date=May 12, 1968}} The project was completed by 1969.{{cite map |author = State Highway Commission of Kansas |year = 1969 |url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/HistoricStateMaps/1969Mapside.pdf|title = 1969 Kansas State Map |scale = Scale not given |location = Topeka |publisher = State Highway Commission of Kansas |access-date = April 24, 2022 }} In July 1970, the SHC announced that flashing warning beacons will be added at the junction of K-57, K-244 and US-77. This was due to numerous accidents at the site including six being killed in one month. In addition to the flashing lights, the speed limit was lowered on K-57 and US-77 leading up to the intersection.{{cite news|work=The Wichita Eagle|page=17|access-date=March 23, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98250322/corner-near-junction-city-slated-for/|title=Corner Near Junction City Slated for Safety Actions|date=July 2, 1970|location=Wichita, Kansas}}

{{Jcttop|state=KS|county=Geary|location=Smoky Hill Township|ctdab=yes|length_ref=}}

{{KSint

|mile=0.000

|mspan=2

|road=3200 Avenue

|notes=Continuation past western terminus}}

{{KSint

|mile=none

|road={{jct|state=KS|to1=to|I|70|road|Milford Lake Road|location1=Milford Wildlife Area}}

|notes=Western terminus}}

{{KSint

|mile=2.229

|road={{Jct|state=KS|KS-Spur|244|dir2=north}}

|notes=Southern terminus of K-244 Spur}}

{{KSint

|type=concur

|mile=3.940

|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|57|dir1=north}}

|notes=West end of K-57 concurrency; no eastbound access to K-57 north, no westbound access from K-57 south

}}

{{KSint

|type=concur

|mile=4.306

|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|57|dir1=south|US|77|city1=Junction City|city2=Marysville|city3=Herington}}

|notes=Eastern terminus; east end of K-57 concurrency; road continues as K-57 south

}}

{{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}

{{infobox road small

|state=KS

|type=KS-Spur

|route=244

|length_mi=0.800

|length_ref=

|location=NW of Junction City

|established=May 10, 1967

}}

{{Attached KML|display=inline|from=K-244 Spur (Kansas highway)}}

K-244 Spur is a {{convert|4/5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}}, north–south marked spur that links K-244 to K-57 northwest of Junction City and slightly south of the Milford Lake dam. The highway allows access from eastbound K-244 to northbound K-57, and from southbound K-57 to westbound K-244. K-244 Spur begins at K-244 and meanders in northeast direction to K-57.{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=KS-244+E&daddr=KS-244+Spur&hl=en&sll=39.057584,-96.889973&sspn=0.082778,0.204449&geocode=FcEAVAIdqF85-g%3BFYImVAIdSHc5-g&gl=us&mra=pr&t=m&z=13|title=K-244 spur route|accessdate=August 18, 2013}} On K-244 Spur in 2020, KDOT determined that on average the traffic was 115 vehicles per day.

In a resolution passed on May 10, 1967, it was approved to extend K-57 northward over the Milford Dam and back to US-77. At this time, K-244 Spur was approved to be built. The project was completed by 1969. On July 21, 1993, floodwaters washed out a {{convert|175|ft|m|-long|adj=mid}} section of K-244 Spur down to the bedrock. The highway was reopened in mid-October 1993.{{cite news|work=Council Grove Republican|page=4|access-date=April 24, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100373018/milford-lake-spur-open-to-traffic-k244/|title=Milford Lake Spur Open To Traffic|date=October 20, 1993}}

;Major intersections

{{Jcttop|state=KS|county=Geary|location=Smoky Hill Township|ctdab=yes|length_ref=}}

{{KSint

|mile=0.000

|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|244|US|77|K|57|to2=yes|nolink1=yes}}

|notes=Southern terminus}}

{{KSint

|mile=0.800

|road={{Jct|state=KS|K|57|US|77|to2=yes|city1=Junction City}}

|notes=Northern terminus

}}

{{Jctbtm}}

{{Clear}}

File:end244.jpg|Western end

File:spur244.jpg|K-244/K-244 spur split

File:k244.jpg|Eastern end

{{reflist}}

{{Attached KML}}

• [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps.asp KDOT State Map]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002207/http://www.route56.com/highways/highways.cgi?hwy1=360&fulldesc=1&hist=1&I=1&photos=1 Kansas Highways Routelog]

244

Category:Transportation in Geary County, Kansas