K-292 (Kansas highway)

K-292 began at K-92 northeast of the unincorporated community of Springdale. It traveled southeastward, on what is now 227th Street, through a forested area along Stranger Creek, a tributary of the Kansas River. After roughly {{convert|0.8|mi|km}}, the roadway began to curve to the northeast. The highway continued for about {{convert|0.1|mi|m}} and crossed Stranger Creek via a covered bridge. K-292 continued past the bridge for a short distance before ending back at K-92.{{cite web|title=K292 Part|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r14MfPCxCvXSG_75gwcn-958cBEQp1kw&usp=sharing|website=Google Maps|publisher=Google, Inc.|accessdate=March 31, 2021|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801183857/https://accounts.google.com/_/bscframe|url-status=live}}

File:Covered Bridge, Spanning Stranger Creek near Highway K-92, Springdale vicinity (Leavenworth County, Kansas).jpg

In the mid 1800s, wagon trains coming to and from the Frontier Army's Fort Leavenworth were slowed down due to having to ford Stranger Creek. On June 12, 1858, the Leavenworth County commissioners appointed surveyors to plan a road between Leavenworth and Ozawkie, which crossed Stranger Creek along the way. On July 12, 1858, the county board appropriated $4,500 ({{inflation|US-GDP|4500|1859|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) for construction of the bridge. On February 9, 1859, an additional $1,500 ({{inflation|US-GDP|1500|1859|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) was appropriated to finish the bridge. In 1859, the Springdale Covered Bridge was completed at a cost of $6,000 ({{inflation|US-GDP|6000|1859|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}).{{cite news|page=32|work=The Kansas City Times|accessdate=March 31, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64385641/destruction-of-springdale-bridge/|date=October 16, 1958|title=Destruction of Covered Bridge Wipes Out One of Kansas Most Famous Relics|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801183913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64385641/destruction-of-springdale-bridge/|url-status=live}} In 1926, K-92 was designated as a state highway, which crossed the covered bridge.{{cite map |author = Rand McNally and Company |author-link = Rand McNally |year = 1926 |map = Kansas |title = Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas of the United States, including a Brief Description of the National Parks and Monuments |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally and Company |pages = 56–57}} Three other covered bridges built in Easton, Farmington, and Jarbalo, were removed in the 1930s.{{cite news|page=32|work=The Kansas City Times|accessdate=March 31, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74554023/k31-k65-flooding/|date=June 14, 1952|title=Wooden Bridge Dating From 1858 Still Carries Kansans Across Stranger Creek|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801183855/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74554023/k31-k65-flooding/|url-status=live}} In 1932, a new $32,000 ({{inflation|US-GDP|32000|1932|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) steel-concrete bridge was completed about {{convert|1/4|mi|m}} north and K-92 was realigned onto it. In 1936, a grass fire lit the approaches to the covered bridge, but was quickly extinguished. After this incident one {{convert|50|USgal|liter|adj=mid| steel barrel}} was kept full of water at each end of the bridge. The covered bridge remained in use until May 24, 1943, when it was closed due to breaks in the wooden decking of the bridge.

In a December 12, 1945 resolution, due to the historical significance, it was approved to add the covered bridge and the roadways running to it to the state highway system as K-292. In 1946, the State Highway Commission started a restoration project on the bridge, which included a new roof and siding. On September 21, 1958, at 2 a.m. Central Daylight Time, farmers in the area reported hearing a lightning strike. Around 5:30 a.m., eyewitnesses reported that the bridge collapsed into the creek due to the fire.{{cite web |author = lostbridges.org |date = 2018 |url = http://lostbridges.org/details.aspx?id=KS/16-52-01x&loc=n |title = Springdale, Leavenworth County |location = Topeka |publisher = lostbridges.org |access-date = April 22, 2020}} Due to the bridge being burned down and the state highway serving no purpose, K-292 was removed from the highway system in a June 22, 1960 resolution.

{{Jcttop|state=KS|county=Leavenworth|location=Alexandria Township|length_ref=|former=yes}}

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|road={{Jct|state=KS|K 1948|92|name1=Springdale Road}}

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{{KSint

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|road={{Jct|state=KS|K 1948|92|name1=Springdale Road}}

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{{Attached KML}}

• [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Kansas Department of Transportation State Map]
• [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp KDOT: Historic State Maps]

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