An old section of Route 66 north of Baxter Springs, Kansas, has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places by the Kansas Historical Society. It's rare for a nominated property to not win the designation. So the inclusion is almost assured. It was designated part of the Kansas Historic Byway in 2011. A description … Continue reading Part of old Route 66 in Kansas nominated to National Register
Category: Highways
Route 66 reopened from Ludlow to Amboy
A 28-mile stretch of Route 66 from Ludlow, California, to Amboy, California, that was closed in September because of flood damage reopened Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from San Bernardino County. Flash flooding Sept. 7-8 damaged the National Old Trails Road, aka Route 66, and about 40 bridges from Essex, California, to Ludlow. … Continue reading Route 66 reopened from Ludlow to Amboy
‘Singing Road’ already needs to be restriped
Barely three months after it was first installed, the New Mexico Department of Transportation will put new markings on the pavement of the "Singing Road" section of Route 66 east of Albuquerque because the old markings apparently have worn off. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque explains the problems involved with a set of rumble strips that allow … Continue reading ‘Singing Road’ already needs to be restriped
Spy agency’s rocket launch had a Route 66 reference
The rocket launch of a device by the National Reconnaissance Office in 2011 came with a mission patch that included a prominent Route 66 reference. Here's the patch: According to the NRO, the device was launched aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur I rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 6, 2011. The launch was called NROL-66. … Continue reading Spy agency’s rocket launch had a Route 66 reference
White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark
Someone launched a We the People petition drive to the White House Sunday to designate "Old Route 66" as a historic landmark. The creator of the petition is listed as J.W. (I don't know who he or she is) of Springfield, Oregon, and has made the rounds on Facebook. The petitioner described the petition as … Continue reading White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark
Major section of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may reopen by January
A significant part of Route 66 in Southern Calfornia's Mojave Desert may reopen by January after flood damage forced its closing in early September. ZachNews, based in Needles, California, reported a 28-mile section of Route 66 from Ludlow to Amboy may reopen as soon as next month. Unprecedented flash flooding closed almost all the roadway … Continue reading Major section of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may reopen by January
Route 66 in Mojave Desert may reopen by late January
We're now starting to realize the extent of flooding damage to Route 66 in Southern California in September. Not only do 80 miles through the Mojave Desert remain closed, but it likely will remain closed until late January -- two months later than originally anticipated. According to a story in Inland News Today, Roni Edis … Continue reading Route 66 in Mojave Desert may reopen by late January
Book review: “Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery”
Some may assume Cyrus Avery became known as "The Father of Route 66" simply because he was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when the highway became designated and federally certified in 1926. But as Susan Croce Kelly's well-researched new biography shows, Avery's involvement in Route 66's birth and … Continue reading Book review: “Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery”
Route 66 in Mojave may reopen by late November
Long sections of historic Route 66 that were closed in mid-September because of extensive flood damage may reopen by late November, reported The Press-Enterprise. The newspaper had more details about the damage: In some spots there are holes large enough to swallow one of the motorcycles belonging to tourist groups that regularly retrace the Western … Continue reading Route 66 in Mojave may reopen by late November
New road would partly restore old section of Route 66
The Phelps County commissioners may apply for a grant to build a north outer road near Interstate 44 that would partially restore an old section of Route 66 near Rolla, Missouri, according to The Leader Journal newspaper in St. James, Missouri. The new section of road would run between U.S. 63 and Missouri Highway V. The board would … Continue reading New road would partly restore old section of Route 66