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K-4 (Kansas highway)
Encyclopedia
K-4 is the longest designated state highway
in Kansas
traversing from north of Scott City
at US-83 to US-59 near Nortonville
in northeast Kansas. A segment of the highway in McPherson County
overlaps Interstate 135, and a section in Topeka
runs concurrent with Interstate 70
.
between its western terminus and the K-14
junction in Rice County
. The route begins in rural Scott County at an intersection with U.S. Route 83. Sixteen miles (26 km) east of here, it passes through the town of Healy
. Six miles (10 km) further east, it has a 2 mi (3 km) concurrency
with K-23. K-4 next serves the towns of Shields, Utica
, Arnold
, and Ransom
, before intersecting US-283. After passing through Brownell
, K-4 serves as the southern terminus of K-147. K-4 then turns southward to bisect McCracken
before turning to the east to cross US-183 in La Crosse
, the county seat of Rush County
.
From La Crosse, K-4 heads due east, running through Otis
as it approaches the Barton County
line. It then meets US-281 in a T-intersection and begins an overlap with it. This overlap carries the two routes through to Hoisington
, where they split up. K-4 then runs through Redwing
and Claflin
. East of Claflin, K-4 has a full folded diamond interchange with K-156. K-4 bypasses Bushton
(which can be accessed via K-171
) and cuts through Frederick
before having a junction with K-14
. It then runs just north of Geneseo
and along the Rice/Ellsworth County
line. The highway then moves fully into Ellsworth County, where it meets the south end of K-141.
. It runs just north of Marquette
(which lies at the opposite end of K-175
) before heading to downtown Lindsborg
. In Lindsborg, K-4 encounters US-81 Business, which it concurs with heading north of town and into Saline County
. US-81 BUS then ends at Interstate 135/US-81. K-4 merges onto the northbound Interstate at Exit 78. It splits off again at Exit 82. It then bypasses Assaria
to the west before heading north to spawn a child route, K-104
, after which it turns due east once again. K-4 next serves Gypsum
and Carlton
before intersecting K-15
. It then continues east to Hope
, serving as the southern terminus for K-43
in the latter.
K-4 then runs north of the town of Herington
. Near Herington, K-4 junctions with two north–south highways that connect through town: K-218
and US-77. Also near Herington, K-4 gets within two miles (3 km) of US-56, but never actually intersects it. It then zig-zags northeast through Latimer
before turning north at the northern end of K-149. K-4 then runs through White City
and Dwight
, where K-4 serves as a terminus yet again, this time for K-57. K-4 then has a brief concurrency with K-177
, and 14 miles (23 km) after that concurrency ends, it forms another one with K-99
. The two routes split apart in Eskridge
. K-4 then serves Dover
before merging onto eastbound Interstate 70 at Exit 353.
I-70 and K-4 (which are also concurrent with US-40 at this point) then enter the state capital, Topeka. The next interchange, Exit 355, is for Interstate 470
and is also where US-75 joins, forming a four-way overlap. US-75 then splits off on its own freeway at Exit 358A. The freeway then snakes around downtown Topeka. At the East Topeka interchange, the Kansas Turnpike
joins the mainline, and I-70 merges onto it. US-40 and K-4 split off to the north to their own freeway.
. K-4 then crosses the Kansas River
and merges onto the US-24 expressway before splitting off again at the next interchange. K-4 then returns to its normal rural highway configuration.
K-4 then curves southeast of Meriden
(K-245 exists to connect the town to K-4). It then passes the west end of K-92 near Rock Creek
. It then has a brief overlap with K-16
in the Valley Falls
area. K-4 then angles northeast to pass just south of Nortonville
. Finally, K-4 comes to an end at US-59 just southeast of Nortonville.
(now U.S. Route 183) in La Crosse
. From La Crosse, K-4 followed its current alignment east to Herington
. Past Herington, K-4 continued east on modern U.S. Route 56 to Council Grove
, where it then followed a series of now unnumbered roadways to rejoin its present alignment at Eskridge
. From Eskridge to west of Topeka
, K-4 was identical to its current routing; however, at the intersection of SW Auburn Road and SW 21st Street, where K-4 currently continues north to access Interstate 70, K-4 turned east, following SW 21st Street into Topeka. At Topeka Boulevard, K-4 turned north, following the street out of the city.
K-4 remained on Topeka Boulevard north to an intersection with NE 82nd Street south of the Shawnee
–Jackson
county line. K-4 headed east on 82nd to Meriden
, where it rejoined its modern routing near the modern intersection of K-4 and Butler Road east of Meriden. From Meriden to Valley Falls
, K-4 largely followed its current alignment.
Past Valley Falls, K-4 followed 162nd Street and modern K-16
east to Osage Road, where the route intersected K-16. At the time, K-4 and K-16 overlapped northward along Osage Road to Nortonville
, then followed the modern alignments of U.S. Route 159 and K-116 to Cummings
. Between Cummings and Atchison
, K-4 and K-16 zig-zagged across several roadways surrounding the current alignment of U.S. Route 59 before joining the modern routing of US-59 just west of Atchison. In Atchison, K-16 split from K-4 and headed northward on modern K-7
while K-4 continued to the Missouri
state line on current US-59.
From Scott City
to La Crosse, modern K-4 was designated K-52
. From Herington to Eskridge, as well as between Topeka and Meriden, the modern routing of K-4 was unnumbered. Past Meriden, most of K-4's current roadway was unbuilt.
Between 1968 and 1997, K-4 was aligned along US-75 between I-70/US-40 and US-24 and then US-24 in Topeka. In 1997, the Oakland Expressway, serving eastern Topeka, was opened and K-4 gained its current route through Topeka.
!colspan=5|Freeway downgrades to Super-2
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
traversing from north of Scott City
Scott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
at US-83 to US-59 near Nortonville
Nortonville, Kansas
Nortonville is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 620 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Nortonville is located at ....
in northeast Kansas. A segment of the highway in McPherson County
McPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson...
overlaps Interstate 135, and a section in Topeka
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
runs concurrent with Interstate 70
Interstate 70 in Kansas
In the U.S. state of Kansas, Interstate 70 contains the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. It extends from the Western border to the Eastern border covering and passing through several of the state's principal cities in the process.-Route...
.
Western Kansas
K-4 roughly parallels K-96K-96 (Kansas highway)
K-96 is a state highway in central and southern Kansas. Its western terminus is at the Colorado state line east of Towner, Colorado, where it continues as Colorado State Highway 96; its eastern terminus since 1999 is at U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 east of Wichita.The eastern terminus was once at...
between its western terminus and the K-14
K-14 (Kansas highway)
K-14 is a north–south state highway which runs most of the length of the U.S. state of Kansas. The highway runs through the central part of the state.-Route description:...
junction in Rice County
Rice County, Kansas
Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083...
. The route begins in rural Scott County at an intersection with U.S. Route 83. Sixteen miles (26 km) east of here, it passes through the town of Healy
Healy, Kansas
Healy is an unincorporated rural area in Lane County, Kansas, United States. It lies in Cheyenne Township on K-4 16 miles east of the highway's western end at U.S. Route 83.-External links:* * , local school district*...
. Six miles (10 km) further east, it has a 2 mi (3 km) concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with K-23. K-4 next serves the towns of Shields, Utica
Utica, Kansas
Utica is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 158.-History:Utica was named by early pioneer C.W. Bell who was from Utica, New York.-Geography:Utica is located at...
, Arnold
Arnold, Kansas
Arnold is an unincorporated community in northern Ness County, Kansas, United States. It lies along K-4 north-northwest of the city of Ness City, the county seat of Ness County. Its elevation is 2,566 feet , and it is located at . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with...
, and Ransom
Ransom, Kansas
Ransom is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 294.-Geography:Ransom is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, before intersecting US-283. After passing through Brownell
Brownell, Kansas
Brownell is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29.-Geography:Brownell is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 48...
, K-4 serves as the southern terminus of K-147. K-4 then turns southward to bisect McCracken
McCracken, Kansas
McCracken is a city in Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 190.-Geography:McCracken is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 211...
before turning to the east to cross US-183 in La Crosse
La Crosse, Kansas
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,342.-History:...
, the county seat of Rush County
Rush County, Kansas
Rush County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,307...
.
From La Crosse, K-4 heads due east, running through Otis
Otis, Kansas
Otis is a city in Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 282.-Geography:Otis is located at...
as it approaches the Barton County
Barton County, Kansas
Barton County is a county located in Western Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 27,674. Its county seat and most populous city is Great Bend. The county is named in honor of Clara Barton, responsible for the founding of the American Red Cross...
line. It then meets US-281 in a T-intersection and begins an overlap with it. This overlap carries the two routes through to Hoisington
Hoisington, Kansas
Hoisington is a city in Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,706.-History:In 1886, a group of Barton County businessmen formed the Central Kansas Town Company and founded the town of Hoisington to attract the Kansas and Colorado Railroad to the...
, where they split up. K-4 then runs through Redwing
Redwing, Kansas
Redwing is an unincorporated community in central Cheyenne Township, Barton County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state]]. Located at , it lies at an elevation of 1811 feet...
and Claflin
Claflin, Kansas
Claflin is a city in Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 645.-Geography:Claflin is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 705...
. East of Claflin, K-4 has a full folded diamond interchange with K-156. K-4 bypasses Bushton
Bushton, Kansas
Bushton is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 279.-Geography:Bushton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 314 people,...
(which can be accessed via K-171
K-171 (west)
K-171 is a short state highway that runs from K-4 south to the town of Bushton....
) and cuts through Frederick
Frederick, Kansas
Frederick is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18.-Geography:Frederick is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11...
before having a junction with K-14
K-14 (Kansas highway)
K-14 is a north–south state highway which runs most of the length of the U.S. state of Kansas. The highway runs through the central part of the state.-Route description:...
. It then runs just north of Geneseo
Geneseo, Kansas
Geneseo is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 267.-History:NewspaperThe Geneseo Journal was originally called the Geneseo Herald from 1887 to 1899, then it became Geneseo Post from 1908 to 1909. From 1979 through 1983 it was known as...
and along the Rice/Ellsworth County
Ellsworth County, Kansas
Ellsworth County is a county located in Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,497. Its county seat and most populous city is Ellsworth.-19th century:...
line. The highway then moves fully into Ellsworth County, where it meets the south end of K-141.
Central Kansas
K-4 then enters McPherson CountyMcPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson...
. It runs just north of Marquette
Marquette, Kansas
Marquette is a city located in the northwest corner of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, between K-4 and the Smoky Hill River. The city was settled by Swedish immigrants and chartered on February 9, 1874...
(which lies at the opposite end of K-175
K-175 (Kansas highway)
K-175 is a state highway in McPherson County, Kansas. It runs for 0.7 miles from K-4 to the town of Marquette.- Route description :...
) before heading to downtown Lindsborg
Lindsborg, Kansas
Lindsborg is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,458. It is known for its association with Swedish heritage and the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest...
. In Lindsborg, K-4 encounters US-81 Business, which it concurs with heading north of town and into Saline County
Saline County, Kansas
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 55,606...
. US-81 BUS then ends at Interstate 135/US-81. K-4 merges onto the northbound Interstate at Exit 78. It splits off again at Exit 82. It then bypasses Assaria
Assaria, Kansas
Assaria is a city in Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 413. It is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Assaria is located at...
to the west before heading north to spawn a child route, K-104
K-104 (Kansas highway)
K-104 is a state highway in Saline County, Kansas. The route travels from a junction with K-4 highway to a junction with Interstate 135/U.S. Route 81 at I-135 exit 86. It has an annual average daily traffic of between 1000 and 1300 and is paved with composite pavement. The highway is not a part...
, after which it turns due east once again. K-4 next serves Gypsum
Gypsum, Kansas
Gypsum is a city in Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 405. It is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gypsum is located at...
and Carlton
Carlton, Kansas
Carlton is a city in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42.-Geography:Carlton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38...
before intersecting K-15
K-15 (Kansas highway)
K-15 is a Kansas state highway originating at the Oklahoma state line and continuing to the Nebraska state line where it is then signed as Nebraska Highway 15. It is signed as State Highway 18 once the highway enters Oklahoma. It is 206 miles long...
. It then continues east to Hope
Hope, Kansas
Hope is a city in southern Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 368. The motto of Hope is "There Will Always Be Hope In Kansas", which is also the name of a song.-History:...
, serving as the southern terminus for K-43
K-43 (Kansas highway)
K-43 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. The highway runs from K-4 in Hope north to Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 north of Detroit. The entire highway is located within Dickinson County. K-43 is maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation.-Route description:K-43 begins at...
in the latter.
K-4 then runs north of the town of Herington
Herington, Kansas
Herington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:...
. Near Herington, K-4 junctions with two north–south highways that connect through town: K-218
K-218 (Kansas highway)
K-218 is a state highway in Dickinson County, Kansas. It runs from K-4 south to the Herington city limits. It has a total length of ..It continues north in Dickinson County as Union Road , which passes through Shady Brook and Woodbine...
and US-77. Also near Herington, K-4 gets within two miles (3 km) of US-56, but never actually intersects it. It then zig-zags northeast through Latimer
Latimer, Kansas
Latimer is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Topeka through Latimer to Herington...
before turning north at the northern end of K-149. K-4 then runs through White City
White City, Kansas
White City is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 618.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Topeka through White City to Herington...
and Dwight
Dwight, Kansas
Dwight is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 272.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Topeka through Dwight to Herington...
, where K-4 serves as a terminus yet again, this time for K-57. K-4 then has a brief concurrency with K-177
K-177 (Kansas highway)
K-177 is a state highway in central Kansas. It runs from US-54 near El Dorado to Manhattan, passing through the Flint Hills. It is part of the Flint Hills Scenic Byway and the Prairie Parkway.-Route description:...
, and 14 miles (23 km) after that concurrency ends, it forms another one with K-99
K-99 (Kansas highway)
K-99 is a Kansas state highway that runs north–south through the eastern part of the state.K-99 has its northern terminus near Summerfield at the Nebraska state line and its southern end south of Chautauqua where it crosses the Oklahoma border and becomes State Highway 99...
. The two routes split apart in Eskridge
Eskridge, Kansas
Eskridge is a city in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 589 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. K-4 then serves Dover
Dover, Kansas
Dover is an unincorporated community on the banks of Mission Creek in western Shawnee County, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1860, it was once a larger community, but it declined for most of the 20th century. Today a few commercial buildings remain at the intersection of K-4 Highway and 57th...
before merging onto eastbound Interstate 70 at Exit 353.
I-70 and K-4 (which are also concurrent with US-40 at this point) then enter the state capital, Topeka. The next interchange, Exit 355, is for Interstate 470
Interstate 470 (Kansas)
Interstate 470 is a loop highway that bypasses the downtown area of Topeka, Kansas . I-470 begins at I-70 in western Topeka and heads southeast, running concurrent with U.S. Route 75 . At the I-470 junction with I-335, the freeway becomes part of the Kansas Turnpike until I-470 reaches its...
and is also where US-75 joins, forming a four-way overlap. US-75 then splits off on its own freeway at Exit 358A. The freeway then snakes around downtown Topeka. At the East Topeka interchange, the Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike is a freeway-standard toll road that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. It runs in a general southwest-northeast direction from the Oklahoma border, and passes through several major Kansas cities, including Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City...
joins the mainline, and I-70 merges onto it. US-40 and K-4 split off to the north to their own freeway.
East of Topeka
US-40 splits off K-4 at the first interchange north of I-70. K-4 then downgrades to a Super-2 freeway. The next interchange (with Seward Avenue) serves Philip Billard Municipal AirportPhilip Billard Municipal Airport
Philip Billard Municipal Airport is a public airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Topeka, the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County...
. K-4 then crosses the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
and merges onto the US-24 expressway before splitting off again at the next interchange. K-4 then returns to its normal rural highway configuration.
K-4 then curves southeast of Meriden
Meriden, Kansas
Meriden is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Meriden is located at ....
(K-245 exists to connect the town to K-4). It then passes the west end of K-92 near Rock Creek
Rock Creek, Kansas
Rock Creek is an unincorporated community in Rock Creek Township, Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. It lies along 110th Road near its intersection with K-4, west of Oskaloosa, the county seat of Jefferson County. The community is located at , at an elevation of 1,099 feet ....
. It then has a brief overlap with K-16
K-16 (Kansas highway)
K-16 is a state highway in Kansas. It starts at a junction with U.S. Highway 77 just north of Randolph and ends in Tonganoxie with U.S. 24 and U.S. 40.-Route description:...
in the Valley Falls
Valley Falls, Kansas
Valley Falls is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,192. Valley Falls is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
area. K-4 then angles northeast to pass just south of Nortonville
Nortonville, Kansas
Nortonville is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 620 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Nortonville is located at ....
. Finally, K-4 comes to an end at US-59 just southeast of Nortonville.
Bannered highways
Alternate K-4 serves Nortonville. It goes north from K-4, passes through Nortonville, then turns east at an intersection with US-159. The two highways turn east together and both end at an intersection east of Nortonville at US-59.Original alignment
Originally, K-4 began at then-K-1K-1 (Kansas highway)
K-1 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its southern terminus is at the Oklahoma border south of Buttermilk, where it continues as Oklahoma State Highway 34. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 160 and U.S. Route 183 south of Coldwater....
(now U.S. Route 183) in La Crosse
La Crosse, Kansas
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,342.-History:...
. From La Crosse, K-4 followed its current alignment east to Herington
Herington, Kansas
Herington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:...
. Past Herington, K-4 continued east on modern U.S. Route 56 to Council Grove
Council Grove, Kansas
Council Grove is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. It was named after an agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation about allowing settlers' wagon trains to pass through the area and proceed to the West. Pioneers gathered at a grove of trees so that wagons could band...
, where it then followed a series of now unnumbered roadways to rejoin its present alignment at Eskridge
Eskridge, Kansas
Eskridge is a city in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 589 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. From Eskridge to west of Topeka
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, K-4 was identical to its current routing; however, at the intersection of SW Auburn Road and SW 21st Street, where K-4 currently continues north to access Interstate 70, K-4 turned east, following SW 21st Street into Topeka. At Topeka Boulevard, K-4 turned north, following the street out of the city.
K-4 remained on Topeka Boulevard north to an intersection with NE 82nd Street south of the Shawnee
Shawnee County, Kansas
Shawnee County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state capital and county seat. The county's population was 177,934 for the 2010 census...
–Jackson
Jackson County, Kansas
Jackson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,462. Its county seat and most populous city is Holton...
county line. K-4 headed east on 82nd to Meriden
Meriden, Kansas
Meriden is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Meriden is located at ....
, where it rejoined its modern routing near the modern intersection of K-4 and Butler Road east of Meriden. From Meriden to Valley Falls
Valley Falls, Kansas
Valley Falls is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,192. Valley Falls is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, K-4 largely followed its current alignment.
Past Valley Falls, K-4 followed 162nd Street and modern K-16
K-16 (Kansas highway)
K-16 is a state highway in Kansas. It starts at a junction with U.S. Highway 77 just north of Randolph and ends in Tonganoxie with U.S. 24 and U.S. 40.-Route description:...
east to Osage Road, where the route intersected K-16. At the time, K-4 and K-16 overlapped northward along Osage Road to Nortonville
Nortonville, Kansas
Nortonville is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 620 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Nortonville is located at ....
, then followed the modern alignments of U.S. Route 159 and K-116 to Cummings
Cummings, Kansas
Cummings is an unincorporated community in Atchison County, Kansas, United States. Cummings is southwest of Atchison. Cummings has a post office with ZIP code 66016....
. Between Cummings and Atchison
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
, K-4 and K-16 zig-zagged across several roadways surrounding the current alignment of U.S. Route 59 before joining the modern routing of US-59 just west of Atchison. In Atchison, K-16 split from K-4 and headed northward on modern K-7
K-7 (Kansas highway)
K-7 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is mostly a small country highway winding its way through the Osage Questas and Glaciated Regions of eastern Kansas, although a portion of the highway passes through the Kansas City metropolitan area. Significant portions of the highway overlap...
while K-4 continued to the Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
state line on current US-59.
From Scott City
Scott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
to La Crosse, modern K-4 was designated K-52
K-52 (Kansas highway)
K-52 is a state highway in eastern Kansas. It is 22.4 mi long. K-52 begins concurrent with K-31 at U.S. Route 59 near Kincaid, and heads east toward Mound City, where it splits away from K-31. K-52 then overlaps U.S. Route 69 for through Pleasanton and Trading Post, where it splits off to...
. From Herington to Eskridge, as well as between Topeka and Meriden, the modern routing of K-4 was unnumbered. Past Meriden, most of K-4's current roadway was unbuilt.
Between 1968 and 1997, K-4 was aligned along US-75 between I-70/US-40 and US-24 and then US-24 in Topeka. In 1997, the Oakland Expressway, serving eastern Topeka, was opened and K-4 gained its current route through Topeka.
Junction list
|-!colspan=5|Freeway downgrades to Super-2
- Margin of error: 1.2 miles