The Tank Farm Loop near Kellyville and a 1926 truss bridge near Chelsea, both on older alignments of Route 66 in Oklahoma, were added to the National Register of Historic Places, reports the Associated Press. Here's a picture of the Chelsea bridge, which goes over Pryor Creek, from the Oklahoma Highway Bridges site. Here are … Continue reading Two Route 66 segments in Oklahoma named to National Register
Category: Highways
A street is hoppin’ in Joplin
Joplin (Mo.) Globe columnist Mike Pound reports that Broadway in Joplin, which is part of an old alignment of Route 66, seems to be undergoing a traffic resurgence. The restaurants along the street are busier, and a promising lunch-only place called the Cobblestone Cafe has opened there. The cafe, which has been open for three … Continue reading A street is hoppin’ in Joplin
Scenic Byways grants awarded
The New Mexico Tourism Department has given out $473,000 in grants through the Federal Highway Administration's Scenic Byways program for the fiscal year. Here are the grants that affect Route 66, according to Travel Daily News: Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Path Construction in Gallup ($50,000): This joint-use path along the Route 66 Scenic … Continue reading Scenic Byways grants awarded
Interstates may become slightly less boring
Highway officials are set to rebuild a part of Highway 40, aka Interstate 64, in St. Louis County. As anyone who's traveled America knows, the design of interstate highways isn't exactly interesting architecturally. But thanks to the influence of Route 66, that may be changing, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Instead, the department has … Continue reading Interstates may become slightly less boring
Taking the scenic route
After fits and starts too complicated to recount here, the quest to make Route 66 in Oklahoma a scenic byway is starting to get some traction. (Disclosure: I was involved to a small degree in this effort via the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, but we finally got someone in the state who will do this … Continue reading Taking the scenic route
Shunpiking
Shunpiking is the practice of avoiding toll roads, or turnpikes, and driving nearby free roads to save a few bucks. Shunpiking is of interest in Oklahomans. The Sooner State is full of toll roads, including a stretch from the Missouri-Kansas line to Oklahoma City that shadows the Mother Road. I learned about shunpiking through Dan … Continue reading Shunpiking
A closer look at “Ultragate”
The Riverfront Times in St. Louis has a more in-depth look at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which once carried Route 66, and artist James Woodfill's sprucing-up of the bridge, which he has called "Ultragate."
Interstates hit a wall
The 50th anniversary of the U.S. interstate highway systems has been observed for a few months now. However, I've found that most media accounts of the interstate's history, impact and future have been shallow. Until now. Patrick May of the San Jose Mercury-News published a remarkably comprehensive report about the interstates' impact on California. Naturally, … Continue reading Interstates hit a wall
A dark side of Route 66
I've been following this story for a few days. There's an area on Cleghorn Road that includes old Route 66 near Cajon Junction, Calif., that's been known for some time as a hangout for men looking for anonymous gay sex. Of course, when you have a place known for illicit activity, it's going to become … Continue reading A dark side of Route 66
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge nominated to National Register
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which once carried Route 66 from Madison, Ill., to north St. Louis, has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, reports digitalBurg.com of Warrensburg, Mo. The nominations will be considered by the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on Aug. 11 in St. Joseph. The image above … Continue reading Old Chain of Rocks Bridge nominated to National Register