Original alignment K-4 was first designated by KDOT in 1927, and at that time began at
K-1 (now
US-183) in
La Crosse. From La Crosse, K-4 followed its current alignment east to
Herington. Past Herington, K-4 continued east on US-50N (now
US-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
I-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. Then in a May 5, 1940 resolution, it was extended farther west to meet a new alignment of US-83. 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. In an August 7, 1941 resolution, the highway was realigned to the south of Ransom, which eliminated two railroad crossings. In a separate August 7, 1941 resolution, K-4 was realigned from Shields northeastward to Pendennis to eliminate four sharp curves. In a June 5, 1945 resolution, K-4 was realigned Healy to east end of overlap with K-23. This realignment also eliminated a few railroad crossings. In a June 5, 1946 resolution, K-4 was realigned slightly north by Otis to eliminate two railroad crossings. In a June 24, 1953 resolution, K-4 was realigned slightly west, from Langley to northwest of Marquette. In a February 25, 1953 resolution, it was realigned from the former curve north of Bushton to K-14 east of frederick. This created an overlap with K-14 to meet its old alignment. Then in a July 14, 1954 resolution, K-4 was realigned slightly north, to the north side of Geneseo. This realignment also eliminated the overlap with K-14. Before 1956, K-4 originally followed US-50N (now US-56) from Herington to Council Grove, then northeast along now locally maintained highways to Eskridge. Then in a February 9, 1956 resolution, it was realigned to follow and replace K-10 to K-99, then continue east to meet its old alignment in Eskridge. In an October 6, 1958 resolution, K-4 and US-59 was realigned between Cummings and Atchison to eliminate several sharp curves. Then in a July 10, 1957 resolution, K-4 and US-59 was realigned further southwestward from Cummings to Nortonville. In a February 25, 1959 resolution, K-4 was realigned between Meriden and Valley Falls to remove some dangerous curves. In a March 22, 1960 resolution, K-4 Alternate was to be established from K-4 north to US-40 and I-70, west of Topeka. But then in a July 11, 1962 resolution, it was rescinded and K-4 had been extended north to US-40 and I-70 along the proposed K-4 Alternate. In an August 10, 1960 resolution, K-4 and US-59 was realigned to the east of Nortonville, and US-159 alternate was created. Then roughly 20 years later, K-4 Alternate was created and replaced US-159 Alternate. K-4 originally travelled west from Meriden to US-75, which it then followed south to US-24 in Topeka. Then in a December 4, 1963 resolution, it was realigned to continue south from Meriden to US-24, then followed US-24 west into Topeka. In an April 21, 1967 resolution, K-4 and K-16 was realigned in and around Valley Falls to make way for the new Perry Reservoir. Also at this time a short K-4 spur was created, and when extended was to become a new alignment of K-4 between Valley Falls and Nortonville. In a September 9, 1969 resolution, K-4 was realigned slightly within Lindsborg and onto US-81. In a January 4, 1982 resolution, US-81, along K-4 from Lindsborg to US-81 in Bridgeport, was redesignated as US-81 Business. In an October 10, 1991 resolution, K-4 was extended south from US-24 to US-40 west of Tecumseh. 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. On December 1, 1994, K-4's eastern terminus was truncated to US-59 in Nortonville. ==Future==