Talk:Missouri Route 4

Draft of History section

This is a topical and semi-chronological organization of facts. It would be written as chronological prose for the article.

An alternate name of the route was Road No. 4.

Western terminus

As of 1919, the western terminus of Route 4 was in St. Joseph. As of 1927, the western terminus of Route 4 was at the Missouri River on the Kansas-Missouri border near Winthrop. Until 1932. As of 1933, the western terminus changed from Winthrop to Phelps City. Route 4 replaced Route 18 from Stanberry to Tarkio, Route 102 from Rock Port west, and became concurrent with US 275 from Tarkio to Rock Port at the same time US 275 replaced Route 1.

The former routing was become solely US 169 from Stanberry to St. Joseph, Route 45 to just southwest of Rushville, and Route 18 near Winthrop. A ferry just west of Phelps City along local roads was present to cross the Missouri River to Nebraska Highway 3 in Brownville. From 1934 until 1938, Route P was designated as the state highway from the western terminus of Route 4 to the Missouri River. In 1938, this route was re-designated as part of Route 4. Later that year, the ferry was replaced with the Brownville Bridge; It began as a toll bridge.

Eastern terminus

As of 1921, the eastern terminus of Route 4 was in Bethany. As of 1924, the eastern terminus of Route 4 was in Alexandria. As of 1938, was still in Alexandria.

As of 1953, three-fourths of Route 4 was replaced by US 136 from Stanberry to Wayland, and from Wayland to Alexandria it was replaced by Route 26. By 1960, the remaining portion of Route 4 from Stanberry west to the Nebraska state line was replaced by US 136. By 1971, US 136 was re-routed to replace Route 21, and its path through the state of Missouri has not changed since.

US 169 concurrency

As of 1931, US 169 was concurrent with Route 4 from St. Joseph to west of Albany. In 1933, with the change of Route 4 west of Stanberry, the concurrency was shortened to a few miles.

US 275 concurrency

As of 1933, US 275 was concurrent with Route 4 from just southwest of Tarkio to west of Rock Port.

MO 46 concurrency

As of 1936, Route 46 extended west from Ravenwood to Maryville as a concurrency with Route 4.

Route 4A

As of 1921, there was a spur route of Route in Gentry County called Route 4A from Albany south to Evona As of 1930, Route 4A was known as Route 85.

Route 4B

In 1919, before the designation of Route 4B, it was known as Road No. 4. As of 1924, 4B was known as Route 9. As of 1925, there was a spur route of Route in Clark County called Route 4B from the county seat Kahoka north to the Iowa-Missouri state line.. As of 1930, 4B was known as Route 81.

SamuelNelsonGISP (talk) 17:49, 19 May 2026 (UTC)