For the millions of Americans who once made the trek west on Route 66, or those that hope to in the future, this is where the journey starts. U.S. Route 66 began in Chicago, one of the world's truly great cities, then passed through the state capital of Springfield on its way to Saint Louis. Numerous Route 66 landmarks can be found along the way through Illinois.

There is the Launching Pad Café in Wilmington with its "Gemini Giant" statue, the shrine of Our Lady of the Highway near Raymond (since 1959, the "Hail Mary" spelled-out much like the old Burma Shave signs), the Lincoln House in Springfield, the Maple Sirup Farm in Funks Grove, the Chain Of Rocks Bridge, and the beautifully restored Sinclair Gas station in Odell to just name a few.

Most of what was Old U.S. 66 in Illinois remains both drivable and in good condition. There is significant mileage that remains designated as state highways, but just not as U.S. 66. There are also some sections that have been turned into frontage road along Interstate 55. The issue of posting official U.S. Route markers along a frontage road would need to be resolved. In circumstances where a frontage road has no surviving businesses, it might be more expedient to simply run the new U.S. 66 route designation over the Interstate co-signed with I-55. Ideally, in areas where Old Route 66 is now designated as Scenic Byway, a new U.S. designation would adopt that alignment.

From Springfield to Staunton, in the southern part of the state, State Route 4 could be re-designated as U.S. "Alternate" 66 in tribute to the early years (1926-30) when this section of highway carried the U.S. Route 66 designation.

It is noted that the State of Illinois has done an excellent job in posting commemorative Route 66 markers as a memorial to the historic Route. Best of all, most of Old Route 66 in Illinois was designated as National Scenic Byway in the fall of 2005, However, the Route still does not show on most standard road atlases readily available to the public because it is not considered an official state or U.S. route. There are also several gaps in the new Byway through communities that refused to adopt the Byway.

Co-designation as a new U.S. Route would provide travelers on 66 with a seamless continuity over the gaps in the Byway. U.S. Route designation would also add further improvements to signage, especially at junctions with other state highways, return the Route to all standard road atlases and provide historic Route 66 travelers seeking to drive through two or more states with a consistent, continuous state-to-state marking plan.

This will all add up to making Route 66 more "visible" to the traveling public. The added exposure will, in turn, increase traffic and business along the old road. Many historic and newer businesses and properties are already capitalizing on the Route 66 name and, although a few are struggling, all, both old and new alike, would be in a position to profit from a revitalized U.S. Route 66.

The return of U.S. Route 66 would be a clear benefit to both travelers and the State's economy. Smaller communities along the old road would especially be in a position to benefit.

The United States Congress has the authority to designate or re-designate U.S. Highways. Probably the most practical way to bring U.S. 66 back would be for Congress to redesignate it. Congress could also write into law that the new U.S. Route 66 be exempted from any requirements that it meet "modern highway standards".

E-mail or write your U.S. Representative at: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Let your U.S. representative know that a new official U.S. Route designation is needed for Old Route 66 and that federal assistance is needed to help pay for additional new signs and, where needed, repairing the old roadway and bridges in a manner that will preserve the Route's historic appeal.