A report by the Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader about Monday’s city council meeting had items of interest for Route 66ers:
- A mural is planned on the east side of the Diaz Sign Art building at 628 W. Lincoln Ave. that says “Enjoy Pontiac, Illinois on Route 66” with a 1950s-era car and a Route 66 shield. It would be visible to westbound travelers on old 66.
- Another mural is planned behind the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum and Old City Hall Shoppes. The image will have the words “Pontiac, Illinois” and a Route 66 shield.
- Also planned is a turnout at the North Division Street Bridge, which is part of old Illinois Highway 4 and part of an early alignment of Route 66. The turnout is supposed to have a bench and a kiosk explaining the bridge’s history.
All three proposals require variances or other action by the city. However, the council looked at all three ideas favorably.
Just some more things Illinois communities are doing to keep the road alive. I was glad that they kept the endposts, especially the one with the Illinois Hwy 4. They also kept the rest of the bridge similar when they rebuilt it..