U.S. Route 81 in Kansas

Nearly all of US-81 in Kansas is either freeway or expressway. The route enters Kansas as a two-lane highway near Caldwell. From South Haven to Wichita, it closely parallels Interstate 35 (I-35), which is also known as the Kansas Turnpike in that area. After South Haven, the only town of any significance along US-81 until Wichita is Wellington, which is just west of the turnpike along US-160.

At Wichita, US-81 joins I-135. The two highways remain joined until Salina, with I-135's mile markers taking precedence. I-135 ends at I-70, but US-81 continues as a freeway to Minneapolis, then as an expressway passing through Concordia before exiting the state north of Belleville.

All but 5.3 miles (9 km) of US-81's alignment is maintained by KDOT. The entire 3.128-mile (5.034 km) section within Wellington is maintained by the city.^[1] The section within Wichita from the south city limit to I-135 is maintained by the city.^[2] The entire 2.123-mile (3.417 km) section within Concordia is maintained by the city.^[3]

The alignment of US-81 from Wichita to Salina prior to the completion I-135 is fully intact. The prior alignment ran from where current US-81 breaks off for I-135 at 47th street, north through Wichita along Broadway street. Old US-81 is roughly paralleled by I-135 to Newton. Old US-81 follows current K-15 through Newton between an interchange with US-50 and Hesston Road, where old US-81 breaks northwest onto Hesston road. Old US-81 then travels through the small Kansas towns of Hesston, Moundridge, and Elyria, before turning to the north, and going through the town of McPherson as Main street. North of McPherson, old US-81 continues to Lindsborg, where it follows current K-4 until an interchange with I-135. Old US-81 passes under Interstate 135 and continues to be paralleled by it about 1/2 mile to the east. Old US-81 then travels through Assaria, where it encounters another brief overlap with K-4 and K-104. Old US-81 continues through the city of Salina as Ninth street. North of Salina, Old US-81 encounters brief overlaps with K-143 and K-18. Old US-81 follows K-106 to an interchange with current US-81, where the two alignments are joined back together.

In the 2020s, the US 81 corridor north of Wichita was designated as an Alternative Fuel Corridor for electric vehicles.^[4]

Quick facts K-225, Location ...

K-225
Location	Wichita
Length	.466 mi (750 m)
Existed	June 8, 1960[5]–c. 1979

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In a June 8, 1960, resolution, K-225 was assigned from US-81 east to I-35W (modern I-135).^[5] K-225 became a section of US-81 by 1979, when US-81 was moved from its former alignment in Wichita to run along I-135.^[6][7][8]

K-226 was first designated as a state highway in a March 8, 1961, resolution.^[9] The highway remained the same, then between 1979 and 1981, US-81 had been realigned onto I-35W and at this time K-226 was decommissioned.^[7][10]

Quick facts K-155, Location ...

K-155
Location	Near Lindsborg
Existed	August 24, 1966–March 29, 1961

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In an August 24, 1966, resolution, a section of the new I-35W was to be built south of Lindsborg. At this time, K-155 was proposed to connect US-81 to the new I-35W. This plan was later cancelled in a March 29, 1961, meeting, when US-81 was realigned onto I-35W to current exit 72, then west along the proposed K-155 (modern Smoky Valley Road) to the old US-81 alignment.^[11]

From Salina to the Nebraska state line, the highway is named the Frank Carlson Memorial Highway, in honor of the late Senator Frank Carlson. Senator Carlson was a native of Concordia who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1951 to 1969. Before serving in the Senate, he was Governor of Kansas from 1947 to 1950.