Apparently an eastbound Interstate 44 bridge over the Gasconade River in Missouri was damaged during a truck accident on April 15, and one lane has been closed since until repairs are made, according to the Waynesville Daily Guide. Repairs aren't scheduled to begin until May 1 at the earliest. Obviously, that kind of lane closure … Continue reading Another reason to use Route 66
Category: Highways
Captain Creek Bridge’s appearance will be preserved
About a month ago, it was reported here that Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry announced he was signing a bill to allocate $125 million in emergency bridge repairs. The funding would have targeted load-posted bridges in particular. I was especially concerned with the Captain Creek Bridge on old Route 66 near Wellston. The photo above is … Continue reading Captain Creek Bridge’s appearance will be preserved
Group will dedicate Missouri Route 66 as scenic byway
The Route 66 Association of Missouri will hold a dedication ceremony Friday, May 5, for Missouri's Route 66 being designated a national scenic byway. The 11 a.m. event will be at the southeast corner of Kearney and Glenstone in Springfield, Mo. Nearby parking is at the Kmart shopping center. The site is significant because this … Continue reading Group will dedicate Missouri Route 66 as scenic byway
A trip to remember
The Sacramento Bee asked readers to share memories of a cherished vacation. Patricia Robles of Sacramento recalled the details of traveling from California to Oklahoma on Route 66 to see family members during the 1940s and '50s. Read about it here (free registration is required). It includes a photo of Robles and her sister at … Continue reading A trip to remember
Town designates Route 66 also as a Blue Star Highway
The Daily Guide reports that Waynesville, Mo., over the weekend dedicated its portion of Route 66 through downtown as a Blue Star Memorial Highway. Named after the service flags flown during World War II placing a single blue star for each person serving in the military on a flag flown outside the homes of their … Continue reading Town designates Route 66 also as a Blue Star Highway
Scuttlebutt from the road
Ken Turmel of Postmarkart fame reports that the Oklahoma highway department has begun replacing Oklahoma Highway 66 signs. New signs are being erected to celebrate the state's centennial next year. The new sign is pictured above. Scott Piotrowski reports that the Evergreen Motel in Duarte, Calif., has been torn down, apparently with little warning. … Continue reading Scuttlebutt from the road
Here’s one who doesn’t get it
Peter Hannaford of American Spectator spends much of his column praising the interstate highway system and its homogeneity (I'm not kidding). He also writes about Route 66: Along the way, much is made of the old Highway 66, the Route 66 of song (as in "You'll Get Your Kicks on Route 66"). This went from … Continue reading Here’s one who doesn’t get it
Advice on driving Route 66
The Herald-News in Joliet, Ill., has this sage advice: If you want to celebrate Route 66's 80th anniversary, drive it. The article is well-done. It has a lot of advice from members of the Illinois Route 66 Association. I take issue with one opinion, however. Oklahoma is not the best-signed state on the route. It's … Continue reading Advice on driving Route 66
The granddaddy road of them all
Route 66 is marking its 80th anniversary this year. I'm setting aside a moment in appreciation for the 200th anniversary of the National Road, which is Wednesday, according to the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun. Just think of that for a minute. Thomas Jefferson was president when he signed the bill to create the National Road, which … Continue reading The granddaddy road of them all
Another reason to drive Missouri’s Route 66
And the reason is provided in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's report about Interstate 44. About 70 percent of the interstate will be torn up before fall. That means two-way traffic, narrowed lanes and lane closures along 207 of the 290 miles that stretch between St. Louis and Oklahoma. If you're going to be driving two … Continue reading Another reason to drive Missouri’s Route 66