Oatman Road placed on infrastructure stimulus list January 13, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Highways.add a comment
About 48 miles of Oatman Road, aka Route 66, from just west of Kingman, Ariz., to Golden Shores, Ariz., is being slated for “pavement reconstruction” by Mohave County with President-elect Barack Obama’s upcoming economic stimulus package, reports the Mohave Daily News.
The Oatman Road repairs would cost $12 million. Of course, the Obama administration could accept or reject the request.
Don’t be surprised to read more requests like this in the coming days, especially for more-dilapidated sections of the Mother Road. Area highway commissioners, however, should take care to keep the old character of the road as much as possible.
Marine base expansion may threaten access to Route 66 January 13, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Highways, Preservation, Towns.3 comments
The U.S. Marine Corps is considering a possible expansion of its Air Ground Combat Center in Southern California that may restrict or cut off access to Route 66 and other spots in that area from about Cadiz Summit to just west of Amboy.
According to Kell Brigan, who is fighting the Marines’ possible land acquisition:
The expansion, if executed, would remove the entirety of Amboy Crater from public access, and restrict public use of Route 66 to the northern side only. It is even possible that the public would lose some or all access to this section of Route 66 altogether.
As residents and property owners in the Wonder Valley area east of Twentynine Palms, we are of course concerned about potential environmental impacts, increases in noise and dust, possible danger from training exercises to local residents, or even the condemnation and loss of our homes. In addition, like you, we also hope to maintain public access to Historic Route 66, including the scenically, geologically and historically precious Amboy Crater, as well as nearby archaeological and geological study sites. We support the U.S. military, and understand the need for appropriate lands for training and combat exercises. However, we believe the USMC should reconsider this expansion into lands which are so dear to both local residents and visitors. We invite you to join with residents of the Mojave in encouraging the USMC to consider alternatives less damaging to the citizens that call these parts of the desert home, or who regularly visit and explore these regions.
A partial map of the proposed expansion is here:
A lot of nature-lovers especially would oppose the proposal if it cut off access to Amboy Crater.
The Marines are in the public-comment stage of the proposal. A group called Neighbors of the 29 Palms Marine Base Expansion has prepared a set of guidelines about the Marines’ proposal through Jan. 30. A sample letter of talking points can be downloaded here (Word document). The group has a fairly comprehensive overview of the proposal and the issues therein here.
Hello from Russia January 12, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.3 comments
I have to admit, this version of “Route 66″ by Sersh Sakenoff is one of the most unusual I’ve heard:
Not your typical teenybopper band January 12, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.2 comments
If fact, I’ll bet that not one of these kids is out of grade school yet.
Senate advances bill that would renew Route 66 program January 11, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation.add a comment
As expected, the U.S. Senate advanced the Omnibus Lands Bill by a 66-12 margin during a rare Sunday session. The bill, reintroduced a few days ago by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), contains a section to extend the well-regarded Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years.
Disappointingly, Oklahoma Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn both voted against the bill, despite the Route 66 program directly helping numerous Route 66 businesses in the Sooner State.
Coburn, a longtime deficit hawk who placed a legislative hold on the same bill last month, did what could be described as a lot of whining as the measure was being passed Sunday.
Coburn’s fiscal stance, however, would have been a lot more substantive if he hadn’t voted for the massive $700 billion bailout of the financial services industry a few weeks ago.
The lands bill is expected to be taken up for a vote by the Senate as soon as Monday. It’s expected to pass, as the measures contained in it have wide bipartisan support. The U.S. House is expected to vote on the bill later in the week. According to one report, the bill could be the first measure signed by incoming President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office Jan. 20.
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program provides annual cost-share grants and other assistance to historic businesses on the Mother Road. The National Park Service program had been scheduled to sunset in late 2009. But the reauthorization would allow it to continue until 2019.
Sights along the Southwest January 11, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Road trips.1 comment so far
Here’s a couple’s video of them touring Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico. I like it because it contains footage beyond the usual vacation fare (checking out a well-stocked Mexican grocery in Albuquerque, for instance). And the 1970s song “Afternoon Delight” seems appropriate with the New Mexican landscape.
Arcadia museum hosts Route 66 exhibit January 10, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, History, Museums.add a comment
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum in Arcadia, Calif., is hosting the “Get Your Kicks on Route 66″ exhibit, reports the Pasadena Star-News.
Curator Dana Dunn hopes it will bring back fond memories for older Arcadia residents, as well as educate a younger generation. [...]
On display will be items like a Chas. Carpenters Cafe menu from the 1940s. Older residents can reminisce over a time when an inch-thick steak at Carpenters, Arcadia’s first drive-thru, cost just a $1.
The show features photographs of motels, restaurants, drive-thru’s and some ephemera.
With the song “Route 66″ playing in the background, visitors will stroll down a hallway set up with a map of Route 66 on the right and colorful Arcadia memorabilia on the left.
The exhibit will remain on display through March 28.