Existed: 1926 – present Length 263.9 km | States: Kansas, Missouri Constructed 1926 | |
 | ||
West end: US-81 in South Haven, KS East end: I-44 / US 400 near Joplin, MO | ||
U.S. Route 166 (US 166) is a 164-mile (264 km) west–east United States highway. This route and US-266 are the only two remaining spurs of historic U.S. Route 66 (which was decommissioned in 1985), since US-666 was renumbered to US-491 in 2003.
Contents
Map of US-166, Kansas, USA
US-166 meets the old route of US-66, now designated US-69 Alternate, in Baxter Springs in the southeast corner of Kansas.
Kansas
US 166 is a west–east highway that meanders about 164 miles (264 km) along the Kansas–Oklahoma state line. The highway's western terminus is in South Haven, Kansas at an intersection with US-81, approximately 1-mile (1.6 km) north of the northern terminus of US-177. US 166's eastern terminus is an intersection with I-44 just inside the Missouri state line, near the boundary where Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri meet, which is shared by Cherokee County, Ottawa County, and Newton County, respectively.
About 4 miles (6.4 km) east from its intersection with US-81, the highway intersects with the Kansas Turnpike (I-35) at exit 4. Continuing east about 60 miles (97 km), US-166 crosses the Arkansas River into Arkansas City, where it travels concurrent with US-77 for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km), splitting off near Parkerfield.
Traveling 50 miles (80 km) east of Arkansas City, US-166 turns northeast, arcing above Cowley County Lake Dam and Cedar Vale. It dives south of Sedan. However, a business loop connects the main US-166 route with Sedan.
Continuing east from Sedan, about 34 miles (55 km) to Coffeyville, US-166 skims through Peru and Niotaze to an intersection with US-75 near Havana. The two routes turn south for a 3-mile (4.8 km) concurrency. US-166 splits off just north of Caney turning east again through Tyro to Coffeyville. US-166 has a brief concurrency with US-169 in the Coffeyville area.
Eastward about 50 miles (80 km) from Coffeyville to Baxter Springs, US-166 crosses the Verdigris River, bypassing Edna and Bartlett. US-166 passes through Chetopa, where US-166 and US-59 travel concurrent. Leaving Chetopa, US-166 crosses over the Neosho River and crosses US-69 Alternate, 6 miles (9.7 km) before Baxter Springs.
Heading east from Baxter Springs, US-166 crosses the Spring River. Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) later, US-166 intersects with US-400. US-166/US-400 then turn sharply southeast for 6 miles (9.7 km) to cross the Missouri state line.
Missouri
US 166's eastern terminus is its intersection with I-44, 0.6 miles (0.97 km) from the state line and about 1,000 feet (300 m) from the point where Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma meet.
History
US 166 is an original 1926 route and originally ran from South Haven to Baxter Springs, Kansas. In 1945, it was extended east through Joplin, Missouri, where it paralleled US 66 to Springfield. This extension absorbed Route 38, which had been formed in 1922 from Carthage to west of Springfield and realigned to Joplin in about 1930, with the former route becoming Route 38N and soon US 71 Alternate. In 1966, following the completion of the last section of I-44 in Missouri, the east end of US 166 was truncated back from Springfield to its current terminus. Most sections of US 166 between Joplin and Springfield were not upgraded to Interstate Highway standards and were renumbered as I-44 Business Loops, state highways (such as Route 174) or turned over to local or county jurisdiction.