Upcoming Kansas detour will divert traffic into Oklahoma

KIOWA, Kan. (KSNW) — Another bridge project will create a 30-mile detour, sending Kansas highway traffic into Oklahoma and back to Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation says that starting July 1, Kansas Highway 2, west of Kiowa to U.S. Highway 281, will close for bridge maintenance. The highway isn’t expected to reopen until May 2025.

Through traffic will be diverted to Kansas Highway 8 into Oklahoma, down to Highway 11, then from Highway 11 to U.S. 281 back into Kansas. The closest east-west highway north of K-2 is U.S. Highway 160, which is nearly 17 miles to the north, compared to Oklahoma 11, which is about 8 miles south of Kiowa.

There are no paved north-south roads between Kiowa and U.S. 281 along Highway 2. Highway 2 runs into K-42 in far northwest Sumner County and terminates at U.S. 281 in southern Barber County.

To view an interactive map of all current and upcoming road projects across the state, visit KanDrive.gov .

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