| U.S. Route 159 | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Auxiliary route of US 59 | |
| Length: | 85 mi (137 km) |
| Existed: | 1935[1] – present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end: | US-59 / K-4 Alt. in Nortonville, KS |
|
US-73 from Horton, KS to Falls City, NE I-29 in Fortescue, MO |
|
| North end: | US 59 in New Point, MO |
| Highway system | |
|
United States Numbered Highways |
|
U.S. Highway 159 is a "child" route of U.S. Highway 59. It currently runs for 85 miles (137 km) from Nortonville, Kansas at U.S. Highway 59 to New Point, Missouri at U.S. Highway 59. The highway permits through traffic on U.S. 59 to bypass the cities of Atchison, Kansas and Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Contents |
US-159 begins at US-59 in Nortonville. It joins with U.S. Route 73 in Horton. The two highways overlap to the Nebraska border, passing through Hiawatha before leaving the state north of Reserve.
U.S. 159 clips the far southeastern corner of Nebraska. It enters south of Falls City concurrently with U.S. Route 73. In Falls City U.S. 159 turns east. It leaves the state via the Rulo Bridge at the Missouri River in Rulo.
US 159 enters northwestern Missouri near Big Lake. It crosses Interstate 29 near Fortescue before ending at US 59 near New Point. Its total length in Missouri is approximately 16 miles (26 km).
When the route was commissioned in 1934, U.S. Route 159 only went between Nortonville, Kansas and Horton, Kansas. In 1945, it was extended north to Craig, Missouri via Falls City, Nebraska. After 1975, the route in Missouri was altered to go east from the Fortescue area to what is now its current terminus near New Point, Missouri. The old route which went to Craig is now Route 111.[2]
In March 2009, a new bridge, which will replace the current Rulo Bridge, was approved by Nebraska Department of Roads. It will be located about 650 feet south of the current bridge..[3][4]
| Browse numbered routes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ← K-156 | KS | US-160 → | ||
| ← US 138 | NE | I-180 → | ||
| ← Route 158 | MO | US 160 → | ||