U.S. Highway 136 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs for between Edison, Nebraska and Speedway, Indiana. It is a spur route of US 36 despite never intersecting its parent. Within the State of Nebraska it is a state highway that begins at a junction with US 6 and US 34 north of Edison and travels east across the southern part of the state to the Nebraska–Missouri state line in Brownville along the banks of the Missouri River. Throughout its length, the highway is known as the Heritage Highway, one of nine scenic byways in the state. The highway travels across the grassland prairies of southern Nebraska to the woods of the Missouri River Valley encountering winding rivers, farmlands, and historic settlements. These landscapes were featured in stories from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather recounting life on the Nebraska Plains during the end of the 19th century. For its entire length, US 136 is a two-lane highway with the exception of a stretch of divided highway within Fairbury.
Route description
Edison to Republican City
US 136 begins north of Edison at a junction with US 6 and US 34. The highway heads south into Edison within the Republican River Valley. The highway leaves Edison headed east before turning to the southeast as it runs parallel to the river through agricultural fields on its way to Oxford. Here it runs along the south side of the village and comes to an intersection with N-46 which it runs concurrently with for several blocks. On the southeast side of Oxford, the two highways diverge and US 136 continues southeast. As the highway approaches Orleans it meets up with N-89 for into town. Near the center of Orleans, N-89 departs to the south while US 136 continues east out of town. After of eastward travel, the highway comes to a junction with US 183. Together, both highways head south into Alma. Alma is home to the Harlan County Reservoir. This reservoir is one of the largest bodies of water within the North American Central Flyway and is a primary stopping point during migration for millions of birds including bald eagles, golden eagles, pelicans, osprey, ducks, geese, and gulls. The highway continues east through vast fields before entering Republican City. Just south of the city is the Harlan County Reservoir Dam, accessible by Corps Road A. The dam was built in 1952 to prevent large scale flooding in the Republican River Valley similar to the 1935 Republican River Floods.
Republican City to Hebron
From Republican City the US 136 continues east along the northern bluffs of the Republican River as it passes to the north of the small communities Naponee and Bloomington. The highway then comes to a junction with N-10 on the north side of Franklin. The two routes run south, concurrently, for a half mile () to the center of town there N-10 continues south and US 136 diverges to the east. The highway then continues east for another before entering Riverton, a small village on the Republican River. The highway continues east passing the community of Inavale before arriving at an intersection with US 281 in the Webster County seat of Red Cloud. Red Cloud was an important pioneer community as eight passenger trains per day passed through its train depot. It was also the childhood home of author Willa Cather whose early novels recounted life during the homestead frontier in the late 19th century. Her childhood home is one block south of US 136 on Cedar Street. The highway leaves Red Cloud, continuing due east for about before coming to an intersection with N-78 just north of Guide Rock. US 136 then continues due east through corn, sorghum, soybean, and wheat fields for the next before meeting up with N-14 north of Superior. The two highways run concurrently to the north for before US 136 breaks off and continues its easterly trek. The highway then passes the communities of Nora and Ruskin before arriving in Deshler at an intersection with N-5. Deshler was home to the one of the nation's largest broom factory in the 1950s and 1960s. The highway continues to the east, running parallel to Spring Creek as it approaches an intersection with US 81 just south of Hebron, home to the world's largest porch swing.