View source for U.S. Route 169

{{short description|Highway in the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox road
| country = USA
| type = US
| route = 169
|map={{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290
|type=line|from=U.S. Route 169 in Oklahoma.map
|type2=line|from2=U.S. Route 169 in Kansas.map
|type3=line|from3=U.S. Route 169 in Missouri.map
|type4=line|from4=U.S. Route 169 in Iowa.map
|type5=line|from5=U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota.map
}}
|map_custom=yes
| map_notes = U.S. 169 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 966
| established = 1930{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{Jct|country=USA|US|64}} at [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa, OK]]
| junction = {{plainlist|<!--Limit 10 junctions!-->
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|44}} at [[Tulsa, OK]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|35|US|50|US|56}} at [[Olathe, KS]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|435}} at [[Lenexa, KS]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|29|US|71|US|69}} at [[Kansas City, MO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|29}} at [[St Joseph, MO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|80|US|6}} at [[De Soto, IA]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|90}} at [[Blue Earth, MN]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|94}} at [[Brooklyn Park, MN]]
}}
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{Jct|country=USA|US|53}} near [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia, MN]]
| states = [[Oklahoma]], [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], [[Iowa]], [[Minnesota]]
| spur_type = US
| spur_of = 69
}}

'''U.S. Route 169''' ('''US 169''') is a north-south [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S highway]] that currently runs for 966 miles (1,555&nbsp;km) from the city of [[Virginia, Minnesota]], to [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], at Memorial Drive.

==Route description==

===Oklahoma===
{{Main|U.S. Route 169 in Oklahoma}}
US&nbsp;169 is a major north–south highway spanning {{convert|75.1|mi|km}} in [[Oklahoma]]. The southern terminus for US&nbsp;169 is Memorial Drive. The highway connects [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]] to the south with the [[Kansas]] state border to the north at [[South Coffeyville, Oklahoma]]. US&nbsp;169 travels through [[Tulsa County, Oklahoma|Tulsa]], [[Rogers County, Oklahoma|Rogers]], and [[Nowata County, Oklahoma|Nowata]] counties.

US&nbsp;169 has undergone several widening projects that have brought US&nbsp;169 to [[freeway]] and [[Limited-access road|expressway]] standards. The highway is two lanes between [[Talala, Oklahoma]] and [[South Coffeyville]] except for a short four-lane portion north of [[Nowata, Oklahoma]] and ending at [[Oklahoma State Highway 28|State Highway 28]].

An Alternate US&nbsp;169 passes through [[Nowata]] following the original path of US&nbsp;169. The alternate route begins at the intersection of Choctaw Avenue and reconnects with US&nbsp;169 south of [[Nowata]] at its intersection with Maple Street.

In January 2005, [[Oklahoma Department of Transportation]] began a $16.8 million widening project on a mile-long stretch of US&nbsp;169 (officially named 'Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway', although this name is rarely used by Tulsans) from [[Interstate 244 (Oklahoma)|Interstate 244]] (I-244) to [[Interstate 44 (Oklahoma)|I-44]]. The project widened the highway from four to six lanes, adding one lane in each direction. The project was completed in April 2006. This stretch of US&nbsp;169 is traveled by approximately 106,000 vehicles per day.

===Kansas===
{{Main|U.S. Route 169 in Kansas}}
US&nbsp;169 enters the state at Coffeyville as a four-lane road, and is a four-lane highway for about {{convert|8.8|mi|km}} till the edge of the Coffeyville Industrial Park. A segment runs around [[Chanute, Kansas|Chanute]] is a  [[freeway]] with fully controlled access with center concrete barrier, with two lanes in each direction. US&nbsp;169 runs concurrently with [[U.S. Route 59 (Kansas)|US&nbsp;59]] and [[K-31 (Kansas highway)|K-31]] starting about {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} south of [[Garnett, Kansas|Garnett]] and diverges northeast again immediately south of Garnett. The intersection immediately south of Garnett used to be a "braided" intersection with Stop and Yield signs. It was identified as a high crash location in 2001, and was rebuilt as a roundabout that opened in April 2006.<ref>[http://www.modot.org/tsc/2007documents/HighSpeedApproachRoundaboutsKS.pdf Slide 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Kansas Department of Transportation is rebuilding or planning to rebuild several other rural intersections as roundabouts for increased safety. In [[Garnett, Kansas|Garnett]], 6th Avenue (from US&nbsp;169 to US&nbsp;59 is also known as Business US&nbsp;169. Going south, it veers off from US&nbsp;169 about a mile and a half north of the US&nbsp;169/US&nbsp;59/K-31 roundabout intersection and travels west and south on 6th Avenue from US&nbsp;169 to US&nbsp;59/K-31 (Maple St.) before turning south onto US&nbsp;59/K-31 and running concurrently with them, ending at the US&nbsp;169/US&nbsp;59/K-31 roundabout intersection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roundabout Guide |url=http://www.ksdot.org/burtrafficeng/Roundabouts/Roundabout_Guide/Appendix_C.pdf |website=www.ksdot.org}}</ref><ref>[http://www.teachamerica.com/roundabouts/RA058A_ppt_King.pdf Slide 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> At [[Osawatomie, Kansas|Osawatomie]] the road becomes a full freeway; as well as, running concurrent with [[Kansas Highway 7|K-7]]. In southern [[Johnson County, Kansas|Johnson County]] 169 becomes an [[Limited-access road|expressway]] until its junction with [[Interstate 35|I-35]] in Olathe.

From this point to the Missouri state line, US&nbsp;169 alternates between freeways and surface streets. It follows I-35 to Shawnee Mission Parkway in Overland Park, then travels east to Rainbow Boulevard. US&nbsp;169 then follows surface streets to its junction with [[Interstate 70|I-70]] near downtown [[Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City]]. US&nbsp;169 and I-70 enter Missouri together just after crossing the Kansas River.<ref>{{AASHTO minutes|year=2008A|link=yes}}</ref>

===Missouri===
{{main|U.S. Route 169 in Missouri}}
[[Image:Kc-broadway-bridge.jpg|thumb|left|The Buck O'Neil Bridge carries US&nbsp;169 over the Missouri River in Kansas City]]
US&nbsp;169 exits I-70 shortly after both roads enter Missouri via the [[Lewis and Clark Viaduct]]. It crosses the Missouri River by the [[Buck O'Neil Bridge]] and serves [[Kansas City Downtown Airport]]. Northbound, US&nbsp;169 becomes a freeway at 5th Street south of the Missouri River, however southbound it ceases being a freeway north of the airport. An at-grade private driveway exists just south of the intersection with [[Missouri Route 9|Route 9]] as well as for airport access. At the northern end of the city, an intersection was reconstructed at NE 108th Street in November 2013. US 169 is a freeway through I-435. This segment is also known as [[Arrowhead Trafficway]], although this road neither passes nor approaches [[Arrowhead Stadium]].

US&nbsp;169 is a four-lane rural expressway until it reaches [[Smithville, Missouri|Smithville]], where it reverts to a two-lane rural highway. In St. Joseph, it forms most of the Belt Highway, a major commercial strip on the eastern edge of town, paralleling just inside I-29. US&nbsp;169 angles northeastward out of St. Joseph, passing through many rural communities before exiting Missouri north of [[Grant City, Missouri|Grant City]].

US&nbsp;169 intersects [[Interstate 29|I-29]] three times in Missouri: once in Gladstone, and twice in St. Joseph.

===Iowa===
{{update|date=January 2018}}
[[File:US&nbsp;169, Kossuth County, IA 003.jpg|right|thumb|US&nbsp;169 runs north in [[Kossuth County, Iowa]]]]
US&nbsp;169 enters Iowa just south of [[Redding, Iowa|Redding]]. It intersects [[Interstate 80|I-80]] near [[De Soto, Iowa|De Soto]]. US&nbsp;169 becomes an [[Limited-access road|expressway]] at [[U.S. Route 20|US&nbsp;20]], south of [[Fort Dodge, Iowa|Fort Dodge]]. At [[Iowa Highway 7]] on the northwest side of Fort Dodge it reverts to a two-lane highway again. US&nbsp;169 passes through Humboldt and [[Algona, Iowa|Algona]] before it leaves Iowa north of [[Lakota, Iowa|Lakota]].

===Minnesota===
{{Main|U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota}}
US&nbsp;169 is a major north–south highway in Minnesota. It enters the state at [[Elmore, Minnesota|Elmore]]. Shortly after, it junctions with [[Interstate 90|I-90]] at [[Blue Earth, Minnesota|Blue Earth]]. It passes [[Mankato, Minnesota|Mankato]], crossing the [[Minnesota River]]. Between Mankato and the [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul|Twin Cities]], US&nbsp;169 is largely a rural highway. Before entering [[Le Sueur, Minnesota|Le Sueur]], US&nbsp;169 crosses the Minnesota River again. At [[Shakopee, Minnesota|Shakopee]], US&nbsp;169 becomes a [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]], crossing the Minnesota River for a third time. The freeway ends in [[Champlin, Minnesota|Champlin]]. US&nbsp;169 crosses the [[Mississippi River]] at [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]] and follows concurrently with [[U.S. Route 10|US&nbsp;10]] to [[Elk River, Minnesota|Elk River]], where US&nbsp;169 splits off northbound through central Minnesota. The rest of the route in Minnesota is largely rural. The route passes the western side of [[Mille Lacs Lake]]. It terminates at [[U.S. Route 53|US&nbsp;53]] in [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]], in the [[Iron Range]].

==History==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{Expand section|date=April 2015}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2015}}
}}
In Kansas, US&nbsp;169 used to run concurrent with US&nbsp;69 from I-35 through Downtown Kansas City, Kansas and the Fairfax District across the Platte Purchase Bridge to I-635 until splitting at I-29 in Missouri.

In [[Missouri]], US&nbsp;169 replaced [[Missouri Route 1 (pre-1926)|Route&nbsp;1]] from [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] to [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]], [[Missouri Route 4 (decommissioned)|Route&nbsp;4]] from [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]] to [[Stanberry, Missouri|Stanberry]], and all of '''Route 29''' from Stanberry to [[Iowa]]. The part of Route&nbsp;1 north of Kansas City had been [[Missouri Route 33|Route&nbsp;33]] south of, and '''Route 50''' north of, [[Grayson, Missouri|Grayson]] from 1922 to 1926.

Prior to 2008, US&nbsp;169 traveled east on I-435 in [[Lenexa, Kansas|Lenexa]] and [[Overland Park, Kansas]], and then it traveled north on Metcalf Avenue.

Prior to 1981, US&nbsp;169 entered the [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]].

==Major intersections==
;Oklahoma
: {{jct|country=USA|US|64}} in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]]. The highways travel concurrently through Tulsa.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|44}} in Tulsa
: {{jct|country=USA|I|244|US|412}} in Tulsa
: {{jct|country=USA|US|60}} in [[Nowata, Oklahoma|Nowata]]
;Kansas
: {{jct|country=USA|US|166}} in [[Coffeyville, Kansas|Coffeyville]]. The highways travel concurrently to east-northeast of Coffeyville.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|160}} south-southwest of [[Cherryvale, Kansas|Cherryvale]]. The highways travel concurrently for approximately {{convert|0.9|mi|km}}.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|400}} north-northeast of Cherryvale
: {{jct|country=USA|US|54}} east of [[Iola, Kansas|Iola]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59}} northeast of [[Welda, Kansas|Welda]]. The highways travel concurrently to south of [[Garnett, Kansas|Garnett]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|35|US|50|US|56}} in [[Olathe, Kansas|Olathe]]. I-35/US&nbsp;169 travels concurrently to [[Merriam, Kansas|Merriam]]. US&nbsp;50/US&nbsp;169 travels concurrently to [[Lenexa, Kansas|Lenexa]]. US&nbsp;56/US&nbsp;169 travels concurrently to the [[Westwood, Kansas|Westwood]]–[[Mission Woods, Kansas|Mission Woods]] city line.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|435|US|50}} in Lenexa
: {{jct|country=USA|US|69}} in Lenexa. The highways travel concurrently to [[Overland Park, Kansas|Overland Park]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|35}} in [[Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|70|US|24|US|40|US|69}} in Kansas City. I-70/US&nbsp;24/US&nbsp;40/US&nbsp;169 travels concurrently to [[Kansas City, Missouri]].
;Missouri
: {{jct|country=USA|I|35}} in Kansas City. The highways travel concurrently through Kansas City.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|69}} southeast of [[Northmoor, Missouri|Northmoor]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|29|US|71}} in [[Gladstone, Missouri|Gladstone]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|435}} in Kansas City
: {{jct|country=USA|I|29|US|71}} in [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|36}} in St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|I|29|US|71}} in St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|US|136}} in [[Stanberry, Missouri|Stanberry]]. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of [[Darlington, Missouri|Darlington]].
;Iowa
: {{jct|country=USA|US|34}} in [[Afton, Iowa|Afton]]. The highways travel concurrently to west of [[Thayer, Iowa|Thayer]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|80|US|6}} in [[De Soto, Iowa|De Soto]]. US&nbsp;6/US&nbsp;169 travels concurrently to [[Adel, Iowa|Adel]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|30}} in [[Ogden, Iowa|Ogden]]. The highways travel concurrently to east-southeast of [[Beaver, Iowa|Beaver]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|20}} south of [[Fort Dodge, Iowa|Fort Dodge]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|18}} in [[Algona, Iowa|Algona]]
;Minnesota
: {{jct|country=USA|I|90}} in [[Blue Earth, Minnesota|Blue Earth]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|14}} on the [[North Mankato, Minnesota|North Mankato]]–[[Mankato, Minnesota|Mankato]] city line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|494}} in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|212}} on the [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]–[[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]] city line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|394|US|12}} on the [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]]–[[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]] city line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|94|I|694|US|52}} on the [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]]–[[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]] city line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|10}} in [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Elk River, Minnesota|Elk River]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|2}} in [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]]. The highways travel concurrently through Grand Rapids.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|53}} in [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]]
<ref name=randmcnally>{{cite book |author = Rand McNally |year = 2014 |title = The Road Atlas |edition = Walmart |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally |pages = 38, 41, 54-55, 58, 83|isbn = 978-0-528-00771-2}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Special routes of U.S. Route 169]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
* [http://usends.com/169.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 169]

{{start srbox}}
{{ks browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=166|route=[[List of Kansas numbered highways|KS]]|next_type=KS|next_route=170}}
{{mo browse|previous_type=MO|previous_route=168|route=[[Missouri State Highway System|MO]]|next_type=I|next_route=170}}
{{ia browse|previous_type=IA|previous_route=165|route=[[List of Iowa state highways|IA]]|next_type=IA|next_route=173}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 169| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|69-1]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Kansas|69-1]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Iowa|69-1]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 69|1]]