The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County each approved resolutions to improve an original stretch of Route 66 running south of the city before the highway’s centennial in 2026.
The Albuquerque Journal reported the efforts will involve Sunset Road and Isleta Boulevard, from Central Avenue to the Pueblo of Isleta.
The two roads started as stretches of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a silver trade route between Mexico City and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. The route was added to the National Trails System by the National Park Service in 2000.
Revitalization plans include adding a pedestrian path along the historic trail and new amenities and design elements to “make the trail visible, distinct and relevant for visitors.”
The original 1926-1937 alignment is called the Santa Fe Loop by veteran Route 66 travelers. About 15 miles west of Santa Rosa, the highway swung north to Santa Fe, then back south through Albuquerque to Las Lunas, where it turned due west again.
After 1937, U.S. 66 effectively was re-routed due west of Santa Rosa to Albuquerque, shaving off the distance by about 90 miles.
(Image of a pre-1937 Route 66 directional sign by Marcin Wichary via Flickr)