Public Eye, which is sort of an ombudsman of CBS News, received a question from a New York Times reporter about the CBS "Evening News" story about Route 66 and the impact of the interstate highway system. CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi paid John and Lenore Weiss, two Illinois Route 66 preservationists who also conduct tours … Continue reading Should CBS News have paid Route 66 tour guides?
Category: Highways
Ruminations on roads
Hank Stuever of the Washington Post has some interesting ruminations about the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system. It seems he's trying to praise it and, at the same time, deflate Route 66 a little. But he's mostly unsuccessful at both. Go read it. It's food for thought, at least.
McKinley Bridge in St. Louis will reopen next year
The historic McKinley Bridge, which connected St. Louis with Venice, Ill., for decades until its deteriorating condition forced its closure in 2001, is slated to reopen in September 2007, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Built in 1910 for railroad use and later was opened for automobile traffic, the McKinley was an … Continue reading McKinley Bridge in St. Louis will reopen next year
“Cars” may spark second thoughts about highway bypasses
Earl Watt, the publisher of the Southwest Daily Times in Liberal, Kan., thinks the movie "Cars" provides "a great lesson for young and old alike." U.S. 54 runs through Liberal, and improvements to the road are being built south of town, so there's not immediate danger. However, the possibility that a future bypass could make … Continue reading “Cars” may spark second thoughts about highway bypasses
Route 66 shields being painted on New Mexico roads
The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, based in New Mexico, has begun painting Route 66 shields on the roadway, including more obscure alignments like the one that runs south of Albuquerque to Los Lunas, according to the Valencia County News-Bulletin. The road stencils can be seen here. The main reason the group is painting the … Continue reading Route 66 shields being painted on New Mexico roads
Funks Grove rest stop named best in Illinois
Normally, a interstate rest stop wouldn't get much attention on this site. But the Funks Grove rest stop on Interstate 55, near Funks Grove, Ill., is an exception. The Illinois Department of Transportation named it the best of the 30 in the state, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. Here's why it's getting attention on this … Continue reading Funks Grove rest stop named best in Illinois
Missouri travel advisory
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reports that reconstruction on Interstate 44 between mile markers 135 and 145 on Interstate 44 east of Lebanon will begin in earnest Wednesday afternoon. This is on top of delays on I-44 in St. Louis County and Franklin County. Motorists crossing Missouri have seen delays of up to one hour. Of … Continue reading Missouri travel advisory
Old 66 becomes busy for a while
Missouri 266 west of Springfield is an old alignment of Route 66. It sees about 8,000 vehicles a day, which is decent but nothing huge. That volume quadrupled for a few hours Tuesday when a diesel truck accident forced traffic from Interstate 44 to old 66, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
For me, 6/6/06 will be a good day
Mary Adamski, a religion columnist for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, writes about some people being extremely wary about the date June 6, 2006, that will be apocalyptic somehow because the date is kinda sorta "666," or the "mark of the Beast" from the Bible's Book of Revelation. Adamski writes: We might think we're in an enlightened … Continue reading For me, 6/6/06 will be a good day
USA Today spotlights Gallup
Red Fork Hippie, posting for Ron this evening: This USA Today article lists New Mexico as one of the top 10 great road trips. The author is a little too enamored of the interstates for my taste, but the article itself, which focuses on some of Gallup's Route 66 attractions -- including the beautiful and … Continue reading USA Today spotlights Gallup