Interstate 470 Kansas
Overview
Interstate 470 in Kansas provides a bypass loop of I-70 and the Polk-Quincy Viaduct through Downtown Topeka. The western half, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Highway, constitutes a commuter route and part of U.S. 75, a major highway across Topeka. The eastern half runs along the tolled Kansas Turnpike between Interchanges 177 and 183.
The Interstate 70 realignment completed in 2001 at the East Topeka Interchange slightly extended I-470 east to a point beyond the site of the former Topeka Service Area.
History
The section of Interstate 470 that overlays the Kansas Turnpike was constructed in 1955 and 1956, with the entire turnpike opening on October 21, 1956. The portions of the Kansas Turnpike that carry I-35, I-70, and I-470 were approved as part of the Interstate Highway System by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1957. The remainder of I-470 west of the toll road was constructed in the 1960s.1
Interstate 470 was part of the proposed urban Interstate numerology in Kansas approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on November 10, 1958. 470 was selected for the circumferential highway around Topeka instead of 270 to avoid the duplication of route numbers, since U.S. 270 was already established in the state. Interstate Route 70S was a previous suggestion by the Kansas State Highway Commission submitted to AASHO on June 4, 1958:
In the case of Topeka, we chose to recommend that Route No. 70 pass through the heart of downtown Topeka, as in the case of the City of Wichita. It is our belief that the major route number should be carried on that part of the urban network that carries the major traffic volumes and should pass through or near the center of the metropolitan area. With this in mind, we suggest that the by-pass around the west, south and east parts of Topeka, be designated as No. 70S.
Route Information
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
The Topeka Inset in the 1960 Rand McNally Road Atlas showed Interstate 470 as Bypass I-70.
A substandard connection previously connected Interstate 70 with the original East Topeka Interchange and U.S. 75 Bypass was designated along the free portion of Interstate 470.
U.S. 75 Bypass was established along Interstate 470 until 1998, when the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved an application by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) on April 19 for both its elimination and the relocation of U.S. 75 from Topeka Boulevard through central Topeka.
A $94 million project started in 1997 redesigned the East Topeka Interchange on the Kansas Turnpike where I-70 and I-470 converge with U.S. 40 and K-4. A new alignment and main line toll plaza for Interstate 70 was constructed, bringing the freeway onto the Turnpike mainline via a high speed wye interchange at the east end of I-470. This eliminated a trumpet interchange and access road leading north to where I-70 presently meets Rice Road at Exit 365. The work also added access to the Oakland Expressway, the route of K-4 northward across the Kansas River to U.S. 24. The new East Topeka Interchange opened to traffic on August 1, 2001.2
East End
– Tecumseh, Kansas
East at
West at
I-70 follows the Kansas Turnpike through eastern Kansas, connecting Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka. The toll road is generally six lanes wide on this stretch due in part to efforts from a $54 million widening between the East Topeka and Lecompton Interchanges completed in 20073 and the Kansas Turnpike Authority’s 2010 Long-Term Needs Study.4
I-70 advances west from the Topeka Service Area to split with the Kansas Turnpike and I-470 at Exit 183. 10/31/16
Both Topeka interchanges from the Kansas Turnpike are connections to freeways: Exit 183 serves I-70 west, U.S. 40 and K-4 while Exit 177 joins I-470 with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Parkway through southwest Topeka. The 2001 revision of Exit 183 added ramps to K-4 (Oakland Expressway) and U.S. 40 east to Tecumseh. 10/31/16
Two lanes separate from the Kansas Turnpike (I-470) at Exit 183 for Interstate 70 west in a half mile. The toll road travels southwest from Topeka as I-335 to Emporia, where it meets I-35. I-35 overtakes the Turnpike from there to Wichita, Wellington and the Oklahoma state line by South Haven. 10/31/16
Opened in August 2001, the revised split of I-70/470 improved the connection for I-70’s westbound continuation as well as reduced delays at the toll plaza. Work added a new set of roadways for I-70 to directly connect the Kansas Turnpike with the preexisting freeway west from Rice Road. Additionally the original Topeka Service Plaza was demolished, with a new $14 million facility opened five miles to the east by July 2002.5 10/31/16
East at
Motorists partition into ramps for the Oakland Expressway within the directional interchange joining it with Interstate 70. The two lane expressway along K-4 is proposed to extend northward from U.S. 24 beyond the Kansas River bridge to NE 46th Street, but lack of funding has halted work since 2000. 10/06/21
West at
West End
– west Topeka, Kansas
West
North at
Ground level shields reference the overlaps of U.S. 40/K-4 along I-70 at the west end of I-470 in Topeka. This is typical KDOT practice for secondary routes along an Interstate mainline. U.S. 75 overlaps with I-70 east for 1.93 miles to a separate freeway spanning the Kansas River north to NW 46th Street. 10/31/16
East at
A simple wye interchange (Exit 355) connected I-70 east with I-470 east, with U.S. 75 Bypass south joining the belt route from nearby Wannamaker Road. U.S. 75 was relocated from its surface route through the capital city once the new freeway south from I-470 opened to traffic. AASHTO approved both the realignment of U.S. 75 to I-470 and the elimination of U.S. 75 Bypass on April 19, 1998. Photo by Michael Summa (1984).
West
South at
Sources:
- Kansas Interstate 50th Anniversary
- “New interchange opening – $94-million project will open more direct routes for Topeka commuters.” Journal-World (Lawrence, KS), August 1, 2001.
- “Two lanes of I-70 to stay open for games.” KUsports.com, August 25, 2005.
- “Kansas Turnpike lane widening planned from city to K-7.” Lawrence Journal-World (KS), April 4, 2010.
- “Turnpike travelers find service-area changes.” Lawrence Journal-World (KS), May 12, 2002.
Page updated June 30, 2022.