This seems to be a glass half-full, glass half-empty situation. The Motel 6 chain is looking for "Open Road Correspondents" this summer to journey down several classic highways, including Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas, to Santa Monica, Calif. The catch is these road reporters will have to stay at Motel 6's throughout the trip. From … Continue reading Motel 6 wants “correspondents” for a Route 66 trip
Category: Highways
Romeoville seeking grant to beautify its portion of Route 66
The village of Romeoville, Ill., is applying for a state grant to spruce up its section of Illinois Highway 53, aka Route 66, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The newspaper reported: Renovations will include landscaping upgrades to islands along the roadway along with new signage that will include a Route 66 theme. Landscaping within the … Continue reading Romeoville seeking grant to beautify its portion of Route 66
Bridge work will affect Route 66 travel near Gray Summit this summer
Work that started tonight on a bridge over Interstate 44 near Gray Summit, Mo., will affect Route 66 travel in that area through August, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. MoDOT is replacing the Highway 100 bridge that goes over Interstate 44 between Gray Summit and the west edge of Villa Ridge. A Google … Continue reading Bridge work will affect Route 66 travel near Gray Summit this summer
Kansas governor will appear at Route 66 byway ceremony
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will attend the Saturday ceremony in which Route 66 in Kansas will be designated a historic byway, according KODE/KSN-TV. Brownback will sign the byway proclamation at 1 p.m. at the historic Marsh Arch Bridge, aka Rainbow Bridge, near Riverton, Kan. Map to the bridge is here. The public is invited. The … Continue reading Kansas governor will appear at Route 66 byway ceremony
Take a ride
Here's a brief motorcycle cruise on the old Ozark Trail alignment of Route 66 west of Sapulpa, Okla. It dates to 1926. https://youtu.be/yTBqLYwJVKg Using this map, you can explore it yourself.
“The National Road in Illinois”
While poking around the Vimeo account of Pounds Media, I found this video about the history of the National Road in Illinois, which dates back more than two centuries. https://vimeo.com/32343992 It's a terrific video, and you'll find a number of parallels to Route 66. Also, an alignment of Route 66 overlaps the National Road in … Continue reading “The National Road in Illinois”
Tijeras accepts byways plan that includes Route 66
The town of Tijeras, N.M., has approved an updated management plan for the Salt Missions Trail Byway, part of which includes Route 66, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The newspaper reported: It is an attempt to protect the histories, cultures and buildings along the Salt Missions Trail — the historic path that runs from Tijeras … Continue reading Tijeras accepts byways plan that includes Route 66
Future of Byways program looks somewhat brighter
The fate of the endangered National Scenic Byways Program looks more optimistic after the U.S. Senate on Wednesday easily passed a bipartisan two-year transportation bill, according to the New York Times and other news outlets. The bill would preserve the Byways program, of which Route 66 and other historic highways have been beneficiaries. However, according to three … Continue reading Future of Byways program looks somewhat brighter
Giving up one Mother Road to emphasize another
I sure would have hated to have been the reporter who had to construct this story in The Herald-News in Joliet, Ill.: The city council last week voted to de-designate Route 59 as it runs through Joliet as part of the Route 66 National Scenic Byway. Instead, the city resolution approved by the council emphasizes … Continue reading Giving up one Mother Road to emphasize another
Ostrich farm led to a stretch of Route 66
A small section of Sunset Boulevard (aka Route 66) in the Echo Park neighborhood in Los Angeles is lined with sandstone bluffs. That "cut" dates to an 1887 railroad line to an ostrich farm. No kidding. This video explains: https://youtu.be/szlrNfuRVb0 If you'd like to explore it yourself, here's a Google Map of the location. The … Continue reading Ostrich farm led to a stretch of Route 66