The Inland Press-Enterprise reports that the California Department of Transportation wants to rebuild the bottlenecked interchange of Interstates 15 and 215 in Cajon Pass, and that the plan includes bringing back a portion of Route 66 there.
All plans for the new interchange include connecting Cajon Boulevard from Kenwood Avenue to Glen Helen Parkway. By doing so, it also puts an old stretch of Route 66 back in action.
“Right now you couldn’t ride a dirt bike down it,” said Conkle, chairman of the Route 66 Alliance, which supports and markets the historic highway.
If Cajon connects, Conkle said it will be a celebration for Route 66 fans, and the only recent occurrence where the highway is getting a second chance.
“This is bringing back rather than tearing up,” Conkle said.
Conkle elaborated on this plan in a separate e-mail:
The key for us is that no matter which proposal is accepted all three include re-connecting Route 66. So the importance for us that once that happens you can travel the old road from the Cajon Pass all the way thru Los Angeles and on to Santa Monica.
Also this will be the first time that an old section that has been closed and/or demolished will be returned to almost its original state and alignment. Or as one of the Caltrans engineers said “a new old road”.
Plans are to sign and mark this new OLD section in ways that will inform travelers of the historic significance of this stretch of road.
It makes a lot of sense to do this, and not just for tourism reasons. In case there’s a big wreck on the interstates, old Route 66 will provide an alternate route to get around the mess. So, it’s good news all around.