I-70 Across Kansas?

[Ridgerunner3]

For any of you who have driven across Kansas on I-70 in the last few weeks, is there much construction slowdown activity on I-70 east & west across Kansas in July 2015.

I am crossing Kansas in a few weeks. Google Maps shows a number of construction sites. Not sure how many of those are significant slowdowns.

[jt1911man]

I crossed it recently during the last week of June. I hit some one-lane construction zones in Topeka. It wasn't a problem because I didn't hit it during any rush hours. None of the other areas were problematic either.

[Ridgerunner3]

Thank you. That is good to hear.

[FishinHatteras]

We drove thru in late May. Construction is present, but we encountered minimal slowdowns. Very short periods of one lane traffic. I just wish there was more to see. It is the breadbasket of this country tho, so if you like farming & implements, you'll be in heaven.
Gavin

[SilverBuddha]

Try the Kansas Dept. of Transportation website at KDOT: Home for construction updates.

Safe Travels

[ghaynes755]

Unless you are in a hurry or just love I-70 go a bit north and take US36 across the state. Great drive, scenic, small towns to stop and take a break, museums, sites etc. Road is perfect. And not the jarring ride the is prevalent on parts of I-70.

[mayco]

X2 on rt36. Drove it from Illinois to Denver in April. I wont be taking I70 or I80 again when traveling west. Rt 36 was absolutely a joy to drive.

Mike

[dznf0g]

Can't have smooth roads without a little construction......jus' sayin'....can't have it both ways....

[gmw photos]

Regarding passing through Topeka, I always take the I-470 bypass around the south side of the city. Less traffic, wider road, and right now anyway, no road construction compared to I-70 through the center of the city.
And yes recently there is some construction further west on I-70, but nothing that really slows you down much.
I've crossed Kansas on just about every possible route on my many trips to Colorado. I too like US36. Good road, light traffic. US 36 has long claimed to be "the shortest route Indianapolis to Denver". Little trivia for 'ya there.

[KJRitchie]

Drove the whole stretch of I70 from Denver to Kansas city about a month ago. Few sections of 1 lane but the traffic is light enough so there were no backups.

Between Topeka and Kansas City is a toll road. Its not very long yet they built service areas to gas up etc including elaborate access bridges to it because the service area is in the center median. Seems strange to have such a system for such a short stretch of highway unless they plan to extend it westward which wouldn't surprise me.

Kelvin

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Drove the whole stretch of I70 from Denver to Kansas city about a month ago. Few sections of 1 lane but the traffic is light enough so there were no backups.

Between Topeka and Kansas City is a toll road. Its not very long yet they built service areas to gas up etc including elaborate access bridges to it because the service area is in the center median. Seems strange to have such a system for such a short stretch of highway unless they plan to extend it westward which wouldn't surprise me.

Kelvin

Actually Kelvin, the Kansas Turnpike pre-dates the interstate. It runs, as you say, from Kansas City out to Topeka ( roughly 65 miles ), and then turns south to Wichita and then on to the Oklahoma border.

[Ridgerunner3]

Originally Posted by gmw photos

Regarding passing through Topeka, I always take the I-470 bypass around the south side of the city. Less traffic, wider road, and right now anyway, no road construction compared to I-70 through the center of the city.
And yes recently there is some construction further west on I-70, but nothing that really slows you down much.
I've crossed Kansas on just about every possible route on my many trips to Colorado. I too like US36. Good road, light traffic. US 36 has long claimed to be "the shortest route Indianapolis to Denver". Little trivia for 'ya there.

What about highway 400 running south of I-70 across Kansas? Is it a decent way to cross Kansas?

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner3

What about highway 400 running south of I-70 across Kansas? Is it a decent way to cross Kansas?

Well, US400 runs across the southern edge of the state, and runs through Wichita. So first of all, if you are wanting to run across the southern part of the state, then I reckon it's a way to do do it.

Generally, I'd say my experience has been that the routes across the northern part of the state "are more pleasant" from a travel standpoint. Smaller towns, less traffic, and in my opinion, somewhat nicer scenery.
US24 is also a nice drive across the state, but it's a little slower and a few more towns to pass through than US36.

Across the middle of the state is US50, but it's not my favorite.

To put all of it in perspective though, I should throw in this disclaimer: "I like the rural ag nature of the great plains".
And I think US36 and US24 give the best experience of that.

Other folks think Kansas is flat and boring, which is why a lot of them just prefer to get on I-70, set the cruise at about "point nine mach".....and be done with it.

[Hiho Silver]

It depends on where you are going. We like state highways 56 and/or 54 thru Kansas if you are going thru Liberal

[Ridgerunner3]

Originally Posted by Hiho Silver

It depends on where you are going. We like state highways 56 and/or 54 thru Kansas if you are going thru Liberal

I am traveling from northwest South Carolina to Pueblo CO. I am looking for the least painful path.

I have never crossed Kansas (east to west). When traveling from SC to Kansas City I usually cross southern MO to Springfield MO to avoid St Louis and the really rough interstates of Illinois.

[gmw photos]

Well yes, if you are going to Pueblo, then going all the way up to US36 puts you on a track that is pretty far north and out of your way.
Just to be clear ( and I know Hiho knows this ), the highways 54 and 56 he mentions are actually "US" ( federal ) roads, not state roads. So to the OP, if you're looking for those, you'll be looking for the "US shield" on the map.

[Hiho Silver]

Whoops. That is correct. My mistake. Thanks
Sandy


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[ghaynes755]

Shhh... Let's quit encouraging folks to use US36. Otherwise the Mach .92 folks will move and we will have traffic congestion on US 36, 54 and 50. Happy Saturday morning

[Blueliner]

We drove from Denver to Fort Riley last week in the AS and it was not bad at all. A few one lane areas, but with light traffic.