A 28-mile stretch of Route 66 from Ludlow, California, to Amboy, California, that was closed in September because of flood damage reopened Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from San Bernardino County.
Flash flooding Sept. 7-8 damaged the National Old Trails Road, aka Route 66, and about 40 bridges from Essex, California, to Ludlow. The section of 66 from Essex to Chambless, California, remains closed as highway crews continue to repair the damage.
For months, the only access to Amboy — home of the famed Roy’s gas station and convenience store — was from Interstate 40 via Kelbaker Road.
The county weeks ago said it probably would reopen the Ludlow-to-Amboy section by late January, and it held to that estimation. San Bernardino County said it probably would reopen all the old highway by March — just before Route 66 tourism season drops into full gear.
San Bernardino County keeps on online map of road closures here.
UPDATE: Inland News Today had an interesting nugget from the road’s partial reopening:
It cost San Bernardino County $1.4 million dollars to repair forty bridges. Dry washes beneath each were cleared and widened and brought up to current standards.
(Hat tip to Lynne Miller; image of repaired old Route 66 via San Bernardino County)
I hope all is open in September 2015. Last time in 2013 a part was close too after Oakman to Needles. The part from Needles to Barstow was open that time. I loved driving to a dessert. We Dutch do not have that.
While to the east and west Route 66 was washed out by the bad flash floods we had out here in the desert this past September, Amboy actually remained connected both by Kelbaker Road, heading north to Interstate 40 and then the Interstate 15, and Amboy Road, heading south to Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms, and State Route 62 through Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and on to Interstate 10. So, while Amboy was cut off from Route 66 traffic, it remained on the popular “back road” to Las Vegas, which is far more scenic of a drive (through the Mojave National Preserve), than sitting in traffic on I-15.
What are you going to do if we get El nino in Jan and feb,good grief…fix the dawn 66
Any one know if Amboy road is open leaving to Calif on 28th of April 28th please Any one with info please,let me thank you I do not like the 40 to ludlow