State: | KS |
Type: | KS |
Route: | 98 |
Maint: | KDOT and the city of Fowler |
Map Custom: | yes |
Map Notes: | K-98 highlighted in red |
History: | Established as K-56 on July 1, 1937;[1] renumbered to K-98 [2] [3] |
Length Mi: | 9.048 |
Direction A: | West |
Terminus A: | north of Meade |
Direction B: | East |
Terminus B: | south of Fowler |
Counties: | Meade |
Previous Type: | K 1948 |
Previous Route: | 97 |
Next Type: | K 1948 |
Next Route: | 98 |
Next Dab: | 1939–1961 |
K-98 is a 9.048adj=midNaNadj=mid state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. Entirely within Meade County, K-98's western terminus is at K-23 north of Meade, and its eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 54 (US-54) south of Fowler. With the exception of the eastern end, the highway travels through flat farmland and is a two-lane road for its entire length.
The highway that is now K-98 was designated as K-56 on July 1, 1937. In 1953, the highway was extended south to a new alignment of US-54. K-56 was redesignated as K-98 between 1956 and 1957 to avoid confusion with US-56. The highway was paved by 1957. The original K-98 was designated on July 1, 1937, and went from K-23 west to Meade State Park. On March 8, 1961, K-23 was realigned to follow the former K-98 to Meade State Lake then south over a previously unnumbered roadway to the Oklahoma border, which eliminated that K-98.
K-98's western terminus is at K-23 north of Meade. The highway begins travelling east along G Road through flat farmland, characteristic of the Great Plains. The roadway crosses an unnamed creek then begins to enter the Artesian Valley as it proceeds east.[4] K-98 continues through farmland before reaching a crossing over Crooked Creek. Soon after, the roadway enters the city of Fowler as Tenth Avenue. Approximately 0.25miles into the city the highway turns south onto Main Street. K-98 continues south as it passes by two schools, city hall and post office. The highway exits the city and reaches an at-grade crossing with a Union Pacific Railway track.[5] K-98 then reaches its eastern terminus at US-54 roughly 0.25miles later.[6]
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) tracks the traffic levels on its highways. On K-98 in 2020, they determined that on average the traffic varied from 285 vehicles per day west of Fowler to 875 vehicles per day between Fowler and US-54.[7] K-98 connects to the National Highway System at its eastern terminus.[8] All but 0.608miles of K-98's alignment is maintained by KDOT. The entire section within Fowler is maintained by the city.[9]
The highway that is now K-98 was designated as K-56 on July 1, 1937.[1] In a resolution passed on August 26, 1953, it was approved to build a new alignment of US-54 south of Fowler, and to extend K-56 to it.[10] On October 20, 1953, the SHC approved bids of $24,550 (equivalent to $ in dollars) for grading, $12,100 (equivalent to $ in dollars) for two box bridges, $1,320 (equivalent to $ in dollars) for seeding on the project.[11] K-56 was redesignated as K-98 between 1956 and 1957 to avoid confusion with US-56. The highway was paved by 1957.[2] [3] On August 21, 1957, the SHC approved a bid of $42,460 (equivalent to $ in dollars) for subgrade modification and an asphalt surface on K-98 from Fowler west to K-23.[12]
The original K-98 was designated on July 1, 1937, and went from K-23 west to Meade State Park.[1] On December 11, 1959, the Kansas and Oklahoma highway commissions held a joint meeting in Wichita. At that meeting, the Kansas Highway Commission resolved to connect K-23 with SH-23 to establish a "route number common to both states".[13] By February 6, 1961, the roadway had been brought up to state highway standards and in a March 8, 1961 resolution, K-23 was realigned to follow the former K-98 to Meade State Lake then south over a previously unnumbered roadway to the Oklahoma border.[14]