From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Nov. 14, 1972:

• The two planned southbound lanes were the first priority in construction of the four-lane U.S. 59 highway south of Lawrence, according to Joe McCourt, Lawrence engineer for the state Highway Commission. During the project, the existing highway was to be torn up. When traffic was discontinued on the existing 59, the new southbound lanes would serve as the alternate roadway. New bridges over the Wakarusa River were the first order of business, but McCourt said today that their completion depended on “if the weather cooperates.”
• Lawrence residents might have been shivering this morning, but at least they had dodged a snowy bullet overnight as the season’s first layer of snow had limited itself to northern Kansas, with totals of up to a foot falling on Bird City, Goodland, and Axtell. Lawrence farmers and builders still had reason to be discouraged by the long-range forecast, as another bout of cold rain was expected to add to soggy field conditions in the area.