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A new U.S. Route 66 in Missouri would sew together new, proposed Route 66 Scenic byway sections providing the Route 66 traveler with a continuous, seamless Route 66 connecting with a new U.S. Route 66 in Illinois and a new U.S. Route 66 in Kansas.
The great "Show Me" State of Missouri has some of the most bucolic, verdant and scenic sections of Route 66. There are also a number of traditional Route 66 attractions such as the 1931 Bridge on the Meramec River at the Route 66 State Park, Steiny's Inn (newly reopened Visitor Center for Route 66 State Park), Henry Shaw Arboretum, Meramec Caverns, the scenic Devils Elbow area, the old stone house at Jensen Point Overlook, Onondaga Cave at Leasburg, 66 Drive-In Theatre at Carthage and Schifferdecker Park and Museum in Joplin.
The State of Missouri has done what can be considered a very good job of installing commemorative Route 66 historic signs along the old highway. The Route 66 Association of Missouri, working with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), has helped to get over 400 markers installed. Also, the 2004 edition of the Official Missouri State Highway Map contains Historic Route 66 icons placed along the length of the road.
A new U.S. Route designation, however, would result in a continuously marked route from one state to the next that would facilitate state-to-state traffic on the historic Route. It would also add additional directional signage at interchanges, junctions and intersections.
In Missouri, a very large proportion of what was once U.S. Highway 66 is still under state jurisdiction as either primary or secondary state highways. In fact, Missouri probably has more miles of Old Route 66 still under state management than any other state. For example, there is a virtually continuous stretch retaining its state highway status from Lebanon all the way to the Kansas state line. Unfortunately, designations other that the "66" moniker are assigned to these roads with only a few miles near the Kansas border being the only exception and even that short stretch is posted as Missouri State Highway 66.
It wouldn't be an overwhelming task to re-designate these primary and secondary state highways as U.S. 66. Additionally, co-designation as a National Scenic/Historic Byway would help garner political support for many of the historic businesses, landmarks, properties and pieces of older infrastructure along the Route. In the spring of 2004, The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) held public hearings on the development of a proposed Scenic Byway for the entire length of Old Route 66 in Missouri and received no negative feedback. As of the early summer of 2004, MoDOT was in the process of collecting letters of support on the proposal.
Plans are emerging in other states for Route 66 Byways. A new, overlaying U.S. Route designation would tie them together and provide state-to-state continuity for the traveler seeking to drive on Historic U.S. 66. In other parts of the country, Scenic/Historic Byways and U.S. Route designations have complemented each other with a high degree of success. For example, old U.S. 40 (a.k.a. The National Road) is designated as a Scenic / Historic Byway from St. Louis to Baltimore while still retaining its official U.S. Route designation.
Interested Missouri residents should contact their state representatives at:
http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx
E-mail or write them and urge them to support or introduce state legislation that would authorize the State DOT to restore Old Route 66's Official U.S. Highway designation in Missouri.
The United States Congress also has the authority to designate or re-designate U.S. Highways. 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.
Missouri residents should also send a letter of support to MoDOT for the new Scenic Byway at:
http://www.modot.state.mo.us/
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