The co-owners of the picturesque Route 66 ghost town of Spencer, Missouri, said they plan to convert the service station into an events center and reopen the diner. They're also considering reopening the barber shop and other possibilities. One of the key buildings in the town is called Spencer Station. Those tidbits emerged in a … Continue reading Gas station to become an event space, diner to reopen at Route 66 ghost town of Spencer, Missouri
Category: Bridges
Giant “Compass” sculpture installed near Route 66’s iconic Pony Bridge
A sculpture of a giant yellow compass was recently installed on one end of Route 66's Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma. KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City reports "Compass" pays tribute to the engineering of the 3,900-foot-long bridge, built in 1933 and enhanced for safety and additional longevity just a few years ago. The 25-foot-tall artwork, created … Continue reading Giant “Compass” sculpture installed near Route 66’s iconic Pony Bridge
Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge in St. Louis may be replaced
The 75-year-old Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge that links St. Louis to East St. Louis, Illinois, may be replaced at a cost of over $600 million due to its deteriorating condition. The bridge served as Route 66 from 1957 to 1969. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that area transportation officials imposed weight restrictions on the … Continue reading Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge in St. Louis may be replaced
Rock Creek Bridge in Sapulpa reopens to public with the debut of Route 66 Park
The historic Rock Creek Bridge in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, recently reopened to the public -- if not traffic -- with the debut of the Route 66 Park, with the bridge as the centerpiece. City officials, residents and visitors took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the park's completion. The century-old bridge, which leads to an … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge in Sapulpa reopens to public with the debut of Route 66 Park
Carthage closes two North Garrison Avenue bridges
The Missouri Department of Transportation last week ordered the City of Carthage to permanently close two bridges on North Garrison Avenue that served as a longtime alternate alignment of Route 66. Josiah Bayless, Carthage Public Works director, told the Joplin Globe that they were positioning barricades on both sides of the bridges to keep motorists … Continue reading Carthage closes two North Garrison Avenue bridges
Former Route 66 bridge moved to roadside park near Hydro
A historic Route 66 bridge was removed and recently placed at the site of a forthcoming Route 66 roadside park outside of Hydro, Oklahoma. The Weatherford Daily News posted this short video of workers placing the 1930 truss bridge at the site: The newspaper reported: Hydro was awarded $496,000 by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission … Continue reading Former Route 66 bridge moved to roadside park near Hydro
Historic Turkey Creek Bridge near Canute repaired after vehicle accident damages it
Give credit where credit's due -- the Oklahoma Department of Transportation restored the original look to a historic bridge on Route 66 that sustained damage in an accident. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association reports the Turkey Creek Bridge east of Canute was damaged during a single-car accident on Oct. 17. The post includes photographs of … Continue reading Historic Turkey Creek Bridge near Canute repaired after vehicle accident damages it
Carthage committee hopes to come up with solution to preserve Whee Bridge
A committee of citizens, engineers and city officials in Carthage, Missouri, is hoping to come up with a solution to save its iconic Whee Bridge on Route 66, but it is running into the same obstacles -- namely, the railroad -- as previous city administrations. The Joplin Globe reported that a federal court in 2019 … Continue reading Carthage committee hopes to come up with solution to preserve Whee Bridge
Route 66 designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
The American Society of Civil Engineers recently designated Route 66 as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. ASCE's board approved the designation on July 10 in recognition of the highway's centennial and its lasting contributions to American infrastructure and civil engineering. Initially established in 1926, Route 66 was the first paved, all-weather highway to connect the Midwest with … Continue reading Route 66 designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Timber Creek Bridge near Sayre is undergoing minor repairs
The historic and distinctive Timber Creek Bridge along old Route 66 near Sayre, Oklahoma, is getting some TLC from state transportation officials. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported this about the yellow truss bridge that's almost 100 years old: In recent days, work crews have been spotted out at the Timber Creek Bridge, and the … Continue reading Timber Creek Bridge near Sayre is undergoing minor repairs