The historic Ruby Street Bridge in Joliet, Ill., is being repaired for the next four months starting Monday, reported Illinois Route 66 expert John Weiss.
Alas, the official detour bypasses southbound visitors from Joliet entirely. However, Weiss emailed these directions for those who want to stay close to Route 66:
Route 66 travelers should not follow the detour signs. Instead they should continue south on Route 53, Broadway Street (aka Route 66). At Ruby Street, they should travel four blocks further south on Broadway to Bridge Street, turn left, cross the river, then turn right immediately after the bridge onto Ottawa Street (Route 66) Route 53.
A map with Weiss’ directions can be found here.
Joliet tourism, Weiss said, also is trying to guide tourists to the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center as much as it can.
The Ruby Street Bridge, incidentally, was built in 1935 and rehabbed in 1972. Apparently it’s due for another repair job.