Route 66 listed among Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

Landmarks Illinois on Thursday listed Route 66 as one of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois in the group’s annual list and advocated a National Historic Trail designation for the highway. The group stated: The purpose of the list is to focus attention on sites threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, or … Continue reading Route 66 listed among Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

Congressman introduces bill to make Route 66 a National Historic Trail

A congressman from Illinois has introduced a bill that would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail under the auspices of the National Park Service. U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) recently introduced bill H.R. 801 to amend the National Trails System Act to create a Route 66 National Historic Trail. U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.), a senior … Continue reading Congressman introduces bill to make Route 66 a National Historic Trail

Flash flood washes out part of Route 66 near Ludlow

Flash flooding on Monday afternoon washed out part of the National Trails Highway, aka Route 66, near Ludlow, California, according to a weather report later that evening. San Bernardino County didn’t have that listed on its online map as of Monday night, although those often aren’t reported until the next day. It’s not known at … Continue reading Flash flood washes out part of Route 66 near Ludlow

Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Today — which also happens to be Veterans Day — marks the 90th birthday of the official existence of U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66. Nov. 11, 1926, was the day the American Association of State Highway Officials formally adopted the 2,448-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles and number for U.S. Highway … Continue reading Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!

Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may remain closed until 2016

A portion of the National Trails Highway (aka Route 66) from Essex, California, to just east of Amboy, California, may remain closed until 2016 because flash flooding in September 2014 damaged the roadway and bridges there, according to a San Bernardino County official. The flooding washed away about 50 bridges from Essex to Ludlow, California. … Continue reading Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may remain closed until 2016

California to allow bicycles on Interstate 40

The California Department of Transportation granted the Adventure Cycling Association’s request to allow parts of Interstate 40 to be used as part of its upcoming Bicycle Route 66 Map, according a blog post Thursday from the association. The association had asked CalTrans to used parts of Interstate 40 because old Route 66 through parts of … Continue reading California to allow bicycles on Interstate 40

La Bajada Hill may become a national monument

In the wake of Barack Obama last week designating a big chunk of Route 66 in the Mojave Desert as the Mojave Trails National Monument, pressure is building on the president to designate La Bajada Hill in New Mexico as a national monument, as well. The Christian Science Monitor, in a story Saturday about Obama’s executive actions, … Continue reading La Bajada Hill may become a national monument

Route 66 reopened from Ludlow to Amboy

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. … Continue reading Route 66 reopened from Ludlow to Amboy

White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark

Someone launched a We the People petition drive to the White House Sunday to designate “Old Route 66” as a historic landmark. The creator of the petition is listed as J.W. (I don’t know who he or she is) of Springfield, Oregon, and has made the rounds on Facebook. The petitioner described the petition as … Continue reading White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark

Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month

The historic Rock Creek Bridge, which has been closed to traffic since March 2013, may reopen to lighter vehicles sometime next month, according to a city official in nearby Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Suzanne Shirey, president of the Sapulpa Area Chamber of Commerce, revealed the plans for the 1921 bridge during an email a few days ago: We … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month