The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's Access Oklahoma initiative plans to add 14 new exits from its toll-road system, including several near Route 66 towns between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Oklahoman examined that stretch of Route 66, especially the small town of Davenport, which hopes the new access from Interstate 44 will bring them new businesses … Continue reading Will new exits off the Turner Turnpike improve the fortunes of Route 66 towns in Oklahoma?
Category: Highways
California Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow National Scenic Byway earns national award
The National Scenic Byway Foundation recently gave a Hospitality Award to the California Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow Scenic Byway. The byway was one of eight that received an award during the national dinner and ceremony in Leavenworth, Kansas, in May. The Victorville Daily Press reported: The Needles to Barstow National Scenic Byway was … Continue reading California Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow National Scenic Byway earns national award
Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy
More bridges on Route 66 apparently have failed in recent days east of Ludlow, California, closing the historic highway to the hamlet of Amboy, California. That's on top of the closed portion of Route 66 from Essex, California, to Amboy. That leaves no direct Route 66 access to Amboy the east and west of the … Continue reading Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy
The strange tale of Mrs. Orcutt’s driveway near Newberry Springs
It sounds like the stuff of fiction: The federal government relented and built a more than 4-mile-long driveway to the home of a resolute widow who lived near Newberry Springs, California, and insisted her home have access to old Route 66. The driveway then became an illegal test track for Car and Driver magazine. The … Continue reading The strange tale of Mrs. Orcutt’s driveway near Newberry Springs
Oatman Road may see up to $2 million worth of improvements
The fabled Oatman Road stretch of Route 66 that connects to Oatman, Arizona, may see up to $2 million in improvements. According to KNAU radio: Two project proposals were submitted earlier this month by the Public Works Department in Mohave County with about $1.3 million going towards construction of safety measures like rumble strips and … Continue reading Oatman Road may see up to $2 million worth of improvements
Book review: ‘Tucumcari Tonite!’
There's a moment early in David Stratton's new book, "Tucumcari Tonight" (Amazon link), that signals this isn't going to be a dull history tome. In the introduction, the author, who was 95 years old when the University of New Mexico Press published the book earlier this month, recalls his personal memories of the first owners … Continue reading Book review: ‘Tucumcari Tonite!’
Oklahoma issues guidelines for entities to paint Route 66 shield on pavement
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently issued pavement-marking guidelines for cities and counties along Route 66 before the highway's centennial in 2026. According to an ODOT news release posted by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, the guidance came after several entities requested it. The 21-foot by 8-foot black and white markings will be approved by … Continue reading Oklahoma issues guidelines for entities to paint Route 66 shield on pavement
Early Route 66 advocate was behind the naming of Springfield’s Glenstone Avenue
Early Route 66 advocate John T. Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, was the man responsible for the naming of the city's Glenstone Avenue, a prominent alignment of that historic highway. That was revealed in a recent Answer Man column by Steve Pokin for the Springfield Daily Citizen, a new media outlet. Pokin also was the Answer … Continue reading Early Route 66 advocate was behind the naming of Springfield’s Glenstone Avenue
‘Yellow brick road’ marker added to old Route 66 at Kansas-Missouri border
Other than the nearby old State Line Bar, nothing vividly marked the line for Kansas and Missouri on old Route 66 for many years. Until now. The City of Galena, Kansas, and the Joplin Special Road District on Tuesday completed a project on old Route 66 that unmistakably delineates that border. They placed bricks in … Continue reading ‘Yellow brick road’ marker added to old Route 66 at Kansas-Missouri border
Jim Ross’ Deep Tracks Route 66 project is going entirely online on his new website
Route 66 historian Jim Ross put his sprawling, long-gestating Deep Tracks project that details all known Route 66 alignments onto his newly launched JimRoss66.com website. JimRoss66.com also serves as an overview of a career that includes the database from the Route 66 bridges project that was turned into the "Route 66 Crossings" book, Ozark Trail … Continue reading Jim Ross’ Deep Tracks Route 66 project is going entirely online on his new website