Restoration of Front Street Bridge in Galena completed

The restoration of the historic Front Street Bridge in Galena, Kansas, recently was finished, and the city will hold a dedication ceremony at 6 p.m. July 22 to mark the occasion. City and county officials talked to the Joplin Globe newspaper about the project, also known as the Galena Viaduct: “It’s a piece of history, … Continue reading Restoration of Front Street Bridge in Galena completed

Photo deck dedicated for “Ship It on the Frisco” trestle

Shrewsbury, Missouri, last week dedicated a new photo deck so visitors can take a photograph of the historic "Ship It on the Frisco" train trestle that goes over Route 66 in the city. St. Louis Route 66 historian Norma Maret Bolin said the photo deck is in the lower Kenrick shopping center area and near the new Aldi's … Continue reading Photo deck dedicated for “Ship It on the Frisco” trestle

Devil’s Elbow ravaged by flooding

Flooding across mid-Missouri has affected many towns, but none more than the Route 66 hamlet of Devil's Elbow. According to the Waynesville Daily Guide, residents of Devil's Elbow were asked to evacuate by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The rising Big Piney River overwhelmed the town. The photo at top by Pulaski County Emergency Management, … Continue reading Devil’s Elbow ravaged by flooding

Front Street Bridge in Galena to be closed for repairs until July

  The historic Front Street Bridge, aka the Galena Viaduct, that carried Route 66 into Galena, Kansas, will be closed for renovations until July. KSNF-TV reports the bridge's road surface, sidewalks and hand rails are being repaved. It's being paid for with a $193,000 Community Development Block Grant, with Cherokee County covering the other half … Continue reading Front Street Bridge in Galena to be closed for repairs until July

A symbol of stupidity

A woman fell into the Arkansas River in Tulsa and was rescued Tuesday after she looked for "satanic symbols" that allegedly were on the underside of the historic 11th Street Bridge. Several Tulsa media outlets posted the story, but KJRH-TV reported the woman's bizarre reasoning for climbing the bridge. She lost her footing about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday … Continue reading A symbol of stupidity

Oatman Road near Topock to be closed four days for bridge work

Oatman Road near Topock, Arizona, will be closed for four days starting today while an innovative new bridge is built over a flood-prone wash. The Arizona Department of Transportation and Mohave County are constructing a prefabricated bridge over Sacramento Wash on Oatman Road (aka Route 66) one mile north of Interstate 40, according to a … Continue reading Oatman Road near Topock to be closed four days for bridge work

Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert to be closed until mid-September

A portion of Route 66 that runs through the Mojave Desert just east of Amboy, California, will be closed through mid-September because of bridge construction. San Bernardino County published a news release Monday in the Desert Dispatch newspaper, based in Barstow, California: San Bernardino County Public Works will be constructing two new bridges and road … Continue reading Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert to be closed until mid-September

Missouri to build new bridge next to Gasconade River bridge

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced Thursday it will build a new bridge next to the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen and keep the historic bridge standing for now. In the meantime, local preservationists will have to find an entity to take over ownership of the old bridge, or it eventually may be removed. … Continue reading Missouri to build new bridge next to Gasconade River bridge

Trash a chronic problem under Tulsa’s 11th Street Bridge

A chronic problem with garbage under Tulsa's historic 11th Street Bridge and the nearby Interstate 244 bridge has festered for weeks, apparently because the city isn't sure what department is responsible for cleanup. Local physician Vicki C. Baker emailed me last week: The area under the 11th street/I-244 bridge sorely needs attention. RiverParks tells me … Continue reading Trash a chronic problem under Tulsa’s 11th Street Bridge

Tulsa residents provide intriguing ideas for land under I-244

Tulsa residents offered several intriguing ideas to develop a piece of land under Interstate 244 on the west side of the Arkansas River during a public hearing this week. It's one of the last of the original Vision 2025 projects for Route 66. The Tulsa World reports the land involves two triangular tracts between I-244 and Southwest Boulevard … Continue reading Tulsa residents provide intriguing ideas for land under I-244