Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) in West Hollywood, Calif., has been named one of the 10 Great Streets for 2011 by the American Planning Association. According to the APA: "There was a time, not too long ago, where "you took your life in your hands just to cross Santa Monica Boulevard," said Jeff Prang, … Continue reading West Hollywood’s Route 66 honored
Category: Highways
Follow the red brick road
Here's section of red-brick Route 66 near Auburn, Ill.: https://youtu.be/T8HXPvr_TDg This section was built in the 1930s north of town, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the video, it appears road crews are doing work at a low spot, which does flood frequently during rains.
Rancho overpass project nearly done
Some good news and bad news for Route 66 travelers going through the Los Angeles area this weekend. First, the bad news. Travelers should avoid Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66) on the west side of Rancho Cucamonga this weekend. Construction workers are finishing a big road-widening and overpass project there, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin … Continue reading Rancho overpass project nearly done
More Route 66 signs installed in Oklahoma City
Finishing a four-year project, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation installed about 30 Route 66 road signs in the metro area, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. State Sen. David Holt said it was done to help direct Route 66 travelers through the city. Holt [...] noted there were only a half-dozen or so signs … Continue reading More Route 66 signs installed in Oklahoma City
Arcadia mayor voices concern over Route 66 changes
The mayor of Arcadia, Okla., is expressing concern about a number of improvements planned for Oklahoma Highway 66 (aka Route 66) through her town, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation plans to widen 66 to four lanes from Post Road near Edmond to about Winchester Westminster Road in Arcadia, which is right next … Continue reading Arcadia mayor voices concern over Route 66 changes
Take a walk on the Arroyo Seco side
Most Route 66ers know about the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway in the Los Angeles area, which served as an alignment of Route 66 for many years. However, did you know the Arroyo Seco has a walking trail? The Los Angeles Times has the details: This is a lovely country-in-the-city walk, flat and undemanding, offering rare … Continue reading Take a walk on the Arroyo Seco side
Illinois Route 66 gets FHA grant
The Federal Highway Administration today announced hundreds of highway grants, including a relatively small one for Route 66 in Illinois. The media release for Illinois from the FHA says that $110,625 has been awarded to install "educational panels along Historic Route 66." It didn't elaborate, but the grant probably will be used to build more … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 gets FHA grant
Plan for Route 66 / Lincoln Highway park stalls
A plan to convert land in Plainfield, Ill., into a park that pays homage to Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway has run aground after an effort to secure a National Park Service grant failed, reported the Plainfield Patch. The property known as the old Carlson house at the corner of U.S. 30 and Route … Continue reading Plan for Route 66 / Lincoln Highway park stalls
Progress report for Rancho’s Foothill project
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin today posted what essentially is a progress report on the Route 66 / Foothill Boulevard project in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., including a new overpass over the road. The project includes a new Baker Avenue Bridge to replace an 81-year-old bridge over Foothill that was removed. The new bridge for the … Continue reading Progress report for Rancho’s Foothill project
Book review: “The Big Roads”
Many Route 66 fans loathe to give much thought to interstate highways. However, to understand the history of the Mother Road, one must also understand the history of the superslabs. That's where Earl Swift's new book, "The Big Roads" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 376 pages, $27, e-book available), comes in. Subtitled "The Untold Story of the Engineers, … Continue reading Book review: “The Big Roads”