The City of Oklahoma City recently added 200 Route 66 directional signs so travelers can more easily trace the varying alignments of the Mother Road in the metro area.
According to a news release from the city, the alignments go through five commercial districts that include the Britton District, Western Avenue, NW 39th Street, the Asian District and Uptown 23.
A map of the alignments can be found on okc.gov/route66.
“Route 66 is a cultural treasure that has brought economic prosperity and visibility to Oklahoma City for almost a century,” Mayor David Holt said. “Our new signs marking the route and revered OKC icons ensure that we celebrate our City’s vital role in this slice of Americana.”
Holt posted photos of him and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell in front of the new signs:
As the Centennial of Route 66 approaches, OKC wanted to do our part to better mark this slice of Americana. And we certainly wanted to ensure that OKC and its iconic landmarks are always an integral part of any visitor’s Route 66 experience.
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) November 30, 2021
(2/3) pic.twitter.com/mcKvXWiTYP
Landmarks along Route 66 in Oklahoma City include:
- Tower Theatre
- Will Rogers Theatre
- Milk Bottle Building
- State Capitol
- Gold Dome building
- Owl Court Suites
- Phillips 66 station, Hudson and 23
- Route 66 Bowl
- Lake Overholser Bridge
“Route 66 is continually in our most-requested itineraries and motorcoach tours nationally and internationally,” said Zac Craig, president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “In an average year, Oklahoma’s service providers along Route 66 report more than half of their annual visitation are international travelers. It’s a cultural phenomenon that we expect will increase as we build toward the 100th anniversary of the route.”
Oklahoma City’s alignments of Route 66 meandered over the years and decades as the city grew and demands for the road changed. The new signs will improve wayfinding for enthusiasts looking to experience the iconic highway.
“Nothing gives the authentic American experience better than Route 66, and in Oklahoma, we’re blessed to have more miles of the Mother Road than any other state,” Pinnell said. “We have seen an incredible return on investment as we continue promoting Oklahoma’s tourism industry, and I am excited to see how these signs will increase travel on our beloved Route 66.”
The revised Route 66 signs were created by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at the request of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission to bring new awareness to the famed route.
The signs cost $8,700.
ODOT earlier this year also installed 400 new Route 66 signs statewide to help guide travelers.
(Image of Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell in front of one of the new Route 66 signs near the Lake Overholser Bridge via Holt’s Twitter feed)
You can’t have too many directional signs (OK, not literally). $8700.00 is a small amount for such a large improvement.
Matt Pinnell and David Holt are the BEST,… hands down!