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A Plan For A New U.S. 66 |
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As many knowledgeable observers are quick to point out, it would be clearly impossible to re-commission Route 66's old roadway as a through route. There are some sections, particularly in the far West, where the Interstate Highways that replaced it covered up Old Route 66. In other locations the old road is either out of service or in very poor condition. Yet there are still numerous, long stretches of the old road found in diverse locations that are in excellent condition and still maintained by the state highway departments. It's just that such roads are no longer designated as U.S. 66 by their respective state highway departments. Often some completely different state highway number may be assigned to the old road. This in turn leads to confusion and disappointment for those who wish to navigate Old Route 66 and see roadside markers posted for some completely different state highway number.
A good fix for this situation is to re-designate such state highway sections of Old Route 66 as a special U.S. Highway designation as defined by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The best official designation to use would be "Alternate". The Route could be officially re-designated as "Alternate" U.S. 66, but states have the leeway to post signs that would actually say "Historic U.S. 66". This has already been done in a few states but not as of yet on Route 66.
There are also stretches of original roadway that have been turned over to county maintenance but never the less remain in excellent condition and up to state standards or nearly so. These stretches could also be re-commissioned as a new U.S. "Alternate" 66 to be signed as "Historic" U.S. 66. But the issue of placing a new U.S. Route designation on a county highway will need to be resolved. In some cases it may be necessary for the state highway departments to re-annex the roadway to their state system.
Since an "Alternate" or "Business" designation cannot function by itself
as a stand-alone route, our new historic-signed Alternate U.S. 66 will need
some kind of a primary, "parent" highway to be connected to. The primary,
parent road will also provide the necessary long-distance continuity
normally associated with U.S. Numbered Highways. The most expedient way
accomplish this is to simply re-designate the five Interstate Highways
between Chicago and Santa Monica, California as U.S. 66 proper. This would
also have the effect of accomplishing the following additional objectives:
- First, it would pay national tribute to what is arguably the most famous highway in history by restoring U.S. Highway 66 to its prominent role in its traditional corridor as a living, functioning and relevant highway. Second, it would smooth and simplify long-distance navigation in the corridor by replacing five Interstate route numbers with a single U.S. route number. Third, it could give some people a taste of a Route 66 "experience" that might just simply not have time or are otherwise unable to drive down the old two-lane road from yesteryear.
 New signage placed at interchanges and junctions would direct tourists, history buffs, pleasure seekers and RV'ers to the old road ("Historic" U.S. 66) while retaining heavy industrial and time critical traffic on the freeway (U.S. 66). The resulting increase in tourist and recreation traffic on the old historic route will in turn bring new life to communities and businesses along the old road.
- Additionally, the old roadway also needs to be established as a National Scenic/Historic Byway. This would offer protection to the many historic roadside businesses and landmarks as well as to the roadway itself. The combination of official U.S. Highway designation and Historic Byway designation would complement each other. New U.S. Highway designation would put the Route back on standard road atlases and provide signage, while the Byway designation would offer historic protection. Does this great National treasure deserve anything less?
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