 K @-@ 26 was first designated in 1937 over the former eastern segment of K @-@ 34 , a gravel road that ran from K @-@ 96 and US @-@ 69 in Crestline east to the Missouri state line . In 1941 , K @-@ 26 and the easternmost portion of K @-@ 96 switch designations . After this , K @-@ 26 ran from US @-@ 66 west of Galena north to K @-@ 96 and US @-@ 69 . This roadway was paved when K @-@ 26 was designated along it . Between 1948 and 1953 , the highway was extended east along US @-@ 66 to Galena and south from there to its current southern terminus at US @-@ 166 . In the mid @-@ 1980s when US @-@ 66 was decommissioned , the portion of K @-@ 26 along it was re @-@ signed as K @-@ 66 and the portion of the highway from US @-@ 66 to Crestline was designated as part of U.S. Route 69 Alternate ( US @-@ 69 Alt ) . 
