 U.S. Route 69 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US 69 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 1,136 mi[citation needed] (1,828 km) | |||
| Existed | 1926 (extended north 1934, south 1935)[citation needed]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |    US 96 /US 287 /SH 87 atPort Arthur, TX | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| North end |  MN 13 atAlbert Lea, MN | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| States | Texas,Oklahoma,Kansas,Missouri,Iowa,Minnesota | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
U.S. Route 69 (US 69) is a major north–southUnited States highway in thecentral United States. When it was first created, it was only 150 miles (241 km) long, but it has since been expanded into aMinnesota toTexas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus (as well as those ofUS-287 andUS-96) is inPort Arthur, Texas at an intersection withState Highway 87. Its northern terminus is inAlbert Lea,Minnesota atMinnesota State Highway 13.[1]
US-69 begins at its southern terminus withSH-87 in Port Arthur. This intersection is also the southern terminus forUS-96 andUS-287, which are concurrent with US-69. US-69, US-96, and US-287 continue in a northwest, then west, route until its intersection withI-10 in southernBeaumont. At this intersection, US-69, US-96, and US-287 merge with I-10. I-10/US-69/US-96/US-287 continue in a northerly direction through Beaumont for several miles. Just after the intersection withUS-90, I-10 splits from the multiplex and resumes its easterly course, leaving US-69, US-96, and US-287 heading northwest through Beaumont. US-69 north of I-10 is also known officially known asEastex Freeway, and is an official evacuation route, just asI-69/US-59 heading north from Houston is known as Eastex Freeway as well.
In Lumberton,US-96 splits from US-69 andUS-287 and heads northeast towardsJasper, while US-69 and US-287 continue on a northwest path towardsWoodville.
In Woodville, US-69 splits fromUS-287 a few blocks north ofUS-190. US-287 continues northwest towardsCorrigan while US-69 proceed north towardsLufkin. In this area, between US-190 in Woodville and FM-256 inColmesneil, US-69 is a part of theTexas Forest Trail. Before reaching Lufkin, US-69 forms another segment of the Texas Forest Trail betweenSH-63 inZavalla andFM-1818 northwest of Zavalla.
In Lufkin, US-69 is concurrent withUS-59 andState Loop 287 while the route through the city is named Business US-69. US-69, State Loop 287, and US-59 continue around the east side of Lufkin until US-59 separates at the intersection with US-59 Business northeast of Lufkin. US-69 and State Loop 287 continue until the intersection ofSH-103 and Business US-69 on the northwest section of Lufkin. At that point, US-69 is concurrent for a short distance with SH-103 and State Loop 287. At the intersection of US-69, State Loop 287 and SH-103, US-69 departs Lufkin and heads northwest while SH-103 and State Loop 287 head south.
US-69 continues on a north to northwest path through the towns ofAlto,Rusk,Jacksonville andBullard. Just south of Bullard, US-69 has a short concurrency withFM-2493. US-69 continues northward intoTyler.
In Tyler, US-69 continues northward through the city and makes up most of "S. Broadway Avenue" from the intersection withToll 49 until the intersection ofSH-110 andSH-155, where US-69 heads west and merges with SH-110 and SH-155 through Tyler. Around seven blocks from the intersection of US-69, SH-110, and SH-155, SH-155 separates from the concurrency and travels in a southwesterly direction, leaving US-69 and SH-110 traveling in a northwesterly direction. This continues until SH-110 separates from US-69 on the northwest side of Tyler. At this intersection, SH-110 heads west while US-69 continues north. Shortly after that, US-69 crossesLoop 323. From here toMineola, it is signed as "Mineola Highway" except when it is signed as "Main Street" inLindale.
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US-69 crossesI-20 at Lindale where it is signed as "Main Street". AtFM-16 in Lindale, US-69 begins its third and last segment as part of the Texas Forest Trail. Just before leaving Lindale, US-69 has a junction with Toll 49 at the terminus of Toll 49. US-69 from there continues north to northwest to Mineola, crossingUS-80 there. Before leaving town, at its intersection withSH-37, the Texas Forest Trail turns off of US-69 to share a segment with SH-37. US-69 takes a more northwest turn on its way through several small towns, includingEmory, on its way toGreenville. There, as it begins to enter the city, a Business route of US-69 turns off to the right to serve the downtown Greenville area, and then on to a junction withI-30. At the intersection with I-30, US-69 becomes concurrent withUS-380 at its terminus. The concurrency continues around the southern and western sides of Greenville until an intersection withSpur 302. At that intersection, US-380 heads west while US-69 continues north, until it reaches the northern end of its Business route, which has passed through the downtown Greenville area, then US-69 turns northwest, from Greenville toLeonard, where it encounters a brief concurrency withSH-78.
InWhitewright,SH-11 intersects and becomes concurrent with US-69 southeast of town. This continues until the intersection withSH-160, at which time SH-11 continues on a northwestward route and US-69 continues north through Whitewright.
US-69 continues north, then northwest untilDenison, where it turns right to go north, at an intersection withSpur 503. US-69 goes north through downtown Denison, then at the north side of town, US-69 intersects and merges withUS-75, at which time US-69 becomes concurrent with US-75. Both head northeast across the Oklahoma/Texas state line at theRed River.
US-69 andUS-75 pass the Oklahoma border near the tiny town ofStaley. They remain concurrent all the way toAtoka, where US-69 heads northeast and US-75 heads northwest. US-69 and US-75 briefly merge with SH-3 in Atoka but SH-3 remains concurrent with US-75 instead of US-69 when they split. InStringtown, US-69 merges with SH-43. SH-43 splits from US-69 near theAtoka Reservoir and crosses it. US-69 passes right by the McAlester Ammunitions Depot. US-69 passes overEufaula Lake 6 times. NearMuskogee, US-69 merges withUS-64 and SH-2. At an intersection withUS-62, US-64 heads west concurrent with US-62 while US-69 and SH-2 continue to head north. South of Pryor Creek, US-69 is the westerly boundary of the MidAmerica Industrial Park, one of the largest industrial park in the nation. NearVinita, US-69 and SH-2 interchange withHistoric Route 66 andUS-60. The two highways turn east and merge with HR-66 and US-60. In Downtown Vinita, SH-2 heads north while US-69, US-60 and HR-66 head east, passingI-44 a short while later. At SH-85, the three highways make an unexpected northward turn. The three highways merge withUS-59 just south of I-44. Still south of I-44, US-60 heads northeast, paralleling I-44, while HR-66, US-69, and US-59 continue heading north, passing I-44. At SH-10, US-59 heads west concurrent with SH-10, while HR-66 and US-69 head north concurrent with SH-10. In DowntownMiami, SH-10 continues heading east, while HR-66 and US-69 turn northward. South ofPicher and west ofQuapaw, US-69 meetsUS-69 Alternate. US-69 splits from HR-66 and heads north through the town of Picher.
At the Oklahoma/Kansas state line, US-69 is joined byK-7. InColumbus, K-7 continues heading north, while US-69 turns east and merges withUS-160. US-69 and US-160 meet US-69 Alternate andUS-400 nearCrestline, and merges with US-400. East ofCherokee, US-400 splits from the concurrency and heads west toward Cherokee. US-69 and US-160 continue heading north. North ofFrontenac, US-160 splits from US-69 and heads east towardsLamar andSpringfield, Missouri. US-69 continues heading north. South ofFort Scott, US-69 merges with K-7 again. In Fort Scott,US-54 merges with US-69 andK-7. The three highways continue heading north. North of town, US-54 and K-7 split from US-69 and head west; US-69 continues to head north. South ofPleasanton, US-69 merges with K-52. Northeast ofTrading PointK-52 splits from US-69 and heads east. In theKansas City suburbs, US-69 merges withI-35 andUS-56/US-169. US-56, US-69, and US-169 split off from I-35 and heads east onShawnee Mission Parkway. US-69 then heads north onMetcalf Avenue, rejoining I-35 and heading north. A short while later US-69 breaks off from I-35 and heads north on the18th Street Expressway intoKansas City, Kansas. The highway then splits off and merges withI-70,US-24, andUS-40 and heads east. At the intersection withUS-169 at the 7th Street Trafficway, US-69 splits off and heads north. Just before reachingI-635, US-69 crosses into Missouri.
US-69 entersRiverside, merges withI-635, then almost immediately exits and merges with MO-9, heading east. A half-mile later, US-69 exits from MO-9 and heads north. US-69 passes through Riverside,Northmoor,Gladstone,Claycomo,Pleasant Valley and parts of Kansas City proper before merging withI-35 for a second time, nearLiberty. US-69 stays merged with I-35 for 7 miles (11 km) before it exits. After exiting the highway, US-69 immediately merges with MO-33 and heads northeast. At State Route B, in rural Liberty, MO-33 heads north-northeast and US-69 continues northeast. US-69 stays somewhat parallel to I-35 as it heads through Missouri, sometimes passing under it. West ofAltamont, US-69 merges with MO-6. The highways turn north and a short while later MO-6 splits from US-69 and heads west, while US-69 continues heading north. Southwest ofBethany, US-69 merges withUS-136 and heads east into Bethany. In downtown Bethany, US-136 heads east, while US-69 heads north. Still paralleling I-35, US-69 passes intoIowa from Missouri 22 miles (35 km) later.
InLamoni, US-69 makes a sharp turn toward the east. West ofLeon, US-69 merges withIowa Highway 2. In downtown Leon, US-69 heads north, while Iowa Highway 2 heads east. East ofLake Ahquabi State Park, US-69 merges withUS-65. The two highways continue to head north. At the intersection withIowa Highway 5, US 65 heads east concurrent Iowa Highway 5 and US 69 continues to head north through Des Moines and Ankeny. InAmes, US 69 makes a left turn, then a right turn, and continues heading north. East ofClarion, US 69 briefly merges withIowa Highway 3. The two highways soon split with Iowa Highway 3 heading east and US-69 heading north throughBelmond, Iowa. NearGarner, US-69 briefly heads west concurrent withUS-18, but soon splits off from it and heads north. North ofForest City, US 69 merges withIowa Highway 9 and continues heading north. Iowa Highway 9 soon branches off to the west. Just south ofEmmons, US-69 crosses into Minnesota.
US-69 enters the state atEmmons and travels north-northeast through southern Minnesota, passing throughTwin Lakes. The roadway runs along the eastern shore ofPickerel Lake before enteringAlbert Lea, where the highway terminates atState Highway 13, formerlyUS-16.
The Minnesota portion of the highway is 12.5 mi (20.1 km) in length.[2]
When it was first commissioned in 1926, US-69 extended only fromLeon, Iowa toKansas City, Missouri. The part in Missouri had beenRoute 11 since 1922.
The route was extended north into Minnesota in 1934, mostly along what had previously been marked State Highway 13, ending at U.S. 16 in Albert Lea.[3][4] At this time, it entered the state at Emmons and turned eastward along Lake Street and State Line Road, briefly re-entering Iowa to curve around the south shore ofState Line Lake. In 1940, it was realigned to run north-northeast directly to Twin Lakes.[5][6] The full extent of the roadway in Minnesota was paved in 1941.[7][8]
In Kansas, US-69 is gaining express lanes from 103rd street to 151st street (6 miles). This project is adding 1 express (toll) lane in each direction without the removal of any existing lanes. This project is scheduled to be complete in late 2025.[9]
US 96 /US 287 inPort Arthur. US 69/US 96 travels concurrently to south ofLumberton. US 69/US 287 travels concurrently toWoodville.
I-10 inBeaumont. The highways travel concurrently through Beaumont.
US 90 in Beaumont
US 190 in Woodville
Future I-69 /US 59 inLufkin. The highways travel concurrently through Lufkin.
US 84 inRusk
US 79 inJacksonville
US 175 in Jacksonville
I-20 inLindale
US 80 inMineola
I-30 /US 67 /US 380 inGreenville. US 69/US 380 travels concurrently through Greenville.
US 82 inBells
US 75 inDenison. The highways travel concurrently toAtoka, Oklahoma.
US 70 inDurant
US 270 on theMcAlester–Krebs city line
I-40 southwest ofChecotah
US 266 in Checotah
US 64 inMuskogee. The highways travel concurrently through Muskogee.
US 62 in Muskogee. The highways travel concurrently through Muskogee.
US 412 inChouteau
I-44 inBig Cabin
US 60 west-southwest ofVinita. The highways travel concurrently to northeast ofAfton.I-44 in VinitaUS 59 northeast of Afton. The highways travel concurrently to north ofDotyville.I-44 /US 60 northeast of Afton
US 166 inBaxter Springs
US 160 northeast ofColumbus. The highways travel concurrently toFrontenac.
US 400 north ofCrestline. The highways travel concurrently to south ofPittsburg.
US 54 inFort Scott. The highways travel concurrently to north of Fort Scott.
I-435 /US 50 inOverland Park
I-35 /US 56 /US 169 inLenexa. I-35/US 69 travels concurrently toMerriam. US 56/US 69/US 169 travels concurrently to the Overland Park–Mission city line.
I-35 /I-635 in Mission. I-35/US 69 travels concurrently toKansas City.
I-70 /US 24 /US 40 in Kansas City.
I-670 in Kansas CityI-70 /US 24 /US 40 /US 169 in Kansas CityI-635 inRiverside. The highways travel concurrently through Riverside.US 169 southeast ofNorthmoor
I-29 /US 71 inGladstoneI-35 inKansas CityI-435 inClaycomoI-35 inPleasant Valley. The highways travel concurrently toLiberty.I-35 south ofCameron
Future I-72 /US 36 in CameronI-35 southwest ofWinstonI-35 north-northwest ofAltamont
US 136 southwest ofBethany. The highways travel concurrently to Bethany.I-35 on theIowa state line south ofLamoniI-35 east of Lamoni
US 34 inOsceola
US 65 south ofIndianola. The highways travel concurrently toDes Moines.
I-235 in Des Moines
I-35 /I-80 in Des Moines
US 30 inAmes
US 20 south ofBlairsburg
US 18 inGarner. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of Garner.
MN 13 / CR 46 inAlbert Lea U.S. Route 69 Alternate | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ottawa County, Oklahoma– Cherokee County, Kansas |
| Length | 20.3 mi[11] (32.7 km) |
U.S. Route 69 Alternate is a special route of U.S. Highway 69, traveling 20.3 miles (32.7 km) between junctions east ofCommerce, Oklahoma and north ofCrestline, Kansas.
US 69 Alt., cosigned withHistoric Route 66, splits from mainline US-69 south ofPicher and west ofQuapaw. US 69 Alt. and HR-66 head ENE through the towns of Quapaw andBaxter Springs, Kansas. North of Baxter Springs,US-400 joins the concurrency. West ofRiverton,Historic US-66 heads east alongK-66, while US-69 Alt. and US-400 head north. North ofCrestline, US-69 Alt. and US-400 meet US-69 andUS-160 from the west. US-69 Alt. terminates as US-69 and US-160 merge with US-400. The concurrency of US-69, US-400, and US-160 continues north.
| State | County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Ottawa | | 0.00 | 0.00 |  US 69 /Historic US 66 west –Commerce,Picher | Southern terminus; south end of Historic US 66 overlap; highway continues as US 69 south/Historic US 66 west |
| Kansas | Cherokee | Baxter Springs | 9.0 | 14.5 | US-166 (12th Street) –Chetopa | |
| 9.7 | 15.6 | Historic US 66 east (3rd Street) | North end of Historic US-66 overlap | |||
| | 11.2 | 18.0 |  US-400 east | South end of US-400 overlap | ||
| Riverton | 13.0 | 20.9 |  K-66 east / Beasley Road (Historic US 66) | Roundabout | ||
| | 20.3 | 32.7 |  US-69 /US-160 /US-400 west –Pittsburg,Columbus | Northern terminus; north end of US-400 overlap; highway continues north as US-69/US-160/US-400 | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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There was also a Business U.S. 69 in Fort Scott, Kansas (about 25 minutes north of the Frontenac, Kansas area), from about 1965 to 1990. Signs from the former Business Route still exist today; however, it no longer officially exists.
Routes initalics are no longer a part of the system. Highlighted routes are considered main routes of the system. |
| Browse numbered routes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
← I-69 | TX | → SH 69 | ||
← SH-67 | OK | →US 70 | ||
← K-68 | KS | →I-70 | ||
← Route 68 | MO | →I-70 | ||
| ←US 67 | IA | → Iowa 70 | ||
← MN 68 | MN | → MN 70 | ||
