The City of Chenoa, Illinois, is considering a redevelopment of a long-abandoned section of Route 66 near the railroad tracks on the city’s south side.
Most veteran travelers of Route 66 have driven on the four-lane section of Route 66 that curved around the western edge of the town. It was Route 66 from 1946 to 1977. Only two of those four lanes are used for traffic now.
According to data in the Route 66 Atlas and Route 66 Deep Tracks series, another alignment from 1926 to 1945 veered south on Morehead Street through the center of town and stayed close to the railroad tracks. It stops short by a few feet of reconnecting with the four-lane alignment of Route 66 about a mile south of town.
The Daily Leader reported:
Parks Commissioner Chad Daiker told members of the Chenoa City Council Tuesday evening that funds for tourism or economic development could be used for rehabbing the old section of Route 66, which has been closed for decades. The area could serve as a photo opportunity for visitors and even include a picnic table and bench.
“We’ll see what we can get working,” said Daiker. “We are looking for something more permanent.”
The area near the railroad tracks would be cleaned-up and a small billboard could be placed there to get the attention of passing train passengers.
Daiker said he has spoken with Finance and Insurance Commissioner Kyle Buchanan and area resident Sarah Michaels reached out about the stretch of road. Daiker encourages anyone with ideas for projects at the site to bring the information before the city council with cost estimates included.
Expect more of this type of redevelopment of historic sections of Route 66 as the 2026 centennial of the highway approaches.
(Excerpted Google Street View image of the old, abandoned alignment of Route 66 south of Chenoa, Illinois)