The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently published a story about Marilyn Leistner, who was the last mayor of Times Beach, Missouri, before the Route 66 town was deserted for good in 1983 because of dioxin contamination. Road contractor Russell Bliss used dioxin-laced oil to spread on dirt roads throughout the town. When the Meramec River flooded, … Continue reading Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
Category: Bridges
MoDOT accelerates replacement of Carthage bridge
The Missouri Department of Transportation is greatly accelerating the replacement of a railroad bridge on Missouri 96, aka Route 66, on the northeast side of Carthage, Missouri, giving hope the project will prove much less disruptive to Route 66 businesses. According to the Carthage Press, the highway agency will: Seek bids for the bridge's replacement in December, … Continue reading MoDOT accelerates replacement of Carthage bridge
Public hearing for Gasconade River Bridge set for Dec. 14
The Missouri Department of Transportation will present its options for the closed Gasoncade River Bridge near Hazelgreen during a public hearing at 4 p.m. Dec. 14. The hearing will be held at Laclede Electric Cooperative, 1400 E. Route 66 in Lebanon (map here). It's expected to last about two hours. According to a news release from … Continue reading Public hearing for Gasconade River Bridge set for Dec. 14
Carthage compromise may aid Route 66 travelers
The city of Carthage, Missouri, and the Missouri Department of Transportation may have hammered out a compromise that will lead to a better bridge-project detour for Route 66 travelers and give maintenance to those old bridges on the detour. The Carthage Press reports the agreement that will be voted on by the city council Oct. 25: … Continue reading Carthage compromise may aid Route 66 travelers
Oklahoma may close two Route 66 bridges, leave them as monuments
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation likely will close two historic and unique Route 66 bridges because of deterioration, but it is considering keeping the structures as monuments to travelers, according to a report from a television station and an Oklahoma Route 66 historian. The state's bridge plan calls for replacing several bridges on Route 66 … Continue reading Oklahoma may close two Route 66 bridges, leave them as monuments
Seven historic Route 66 bridges in Oklahoma endangered
Historian and author Jim Ross, who's plugged into the goings-on with Oklahoma's Route 66 as well as anyone, posted this grim message Monday on Facebook. The gist of it is seven historic bridges on the Mother Road in Oklahoma are slated for replacement, but one -- the fabled Pony Bridge near Bridgeport -- likely will be saved and … Continue reading Seven historic Route 66 bridges in Oklahoma endangered
Carthage bridge unexpectedly closes to traffic
A 1934 railroad overpass that brought Route 66 into Carthage, Missouri, unexpectedly closed Thursday after an inspection showed serious deterioration. Ron Hart at the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce reported the bridge already was scheduled to be demolished in April and will not reopen until late 2017. Hart also made a new map that aims … Continue reading Carthage bridge unexpectedly closes to traffic
Two Route 66 sites listed on Missouri’s Places in Peril
The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation recently listed two landmarks on Route 66 to its annual historic Places in Peril, and two more were placed on the group's Watched list. The Route 66 Meramec River Bridge near Eureka and the Old Phillipsburg General Store in Phillipsburg made the "Peril" list. The Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen and … Continue reading Two Route 66 sites listed on Missouri’s Places in Peril
Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Detours for upcoming replacement of two bridges in Carthage, Missouri, has Route 66 businesses fretting that tourists will bypass their town. The Missouri Department of Transportation will start to replace two bridges on Highway 96 (aka Route 66) on the northeast side of town next spring. The projects won't be finished until fall 2017. The official detour when the … Continue reading Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
A Minnesota-based artist recently launched Explore and Preserve, an apparel and gift website that aims to give part of its profits to endangered Route 66 sites, including the Meramec River Bridge in Missouri. The historic Meramec River Bridge near Eureka, Missouri, requires more than a half-million dollars by the end of the year or the Missouri Department of Transportation tears … Continue reading Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites