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More than any other state, the history of Oklahoma and Route 66 are very deeply intertwined. Many famous Americans have come from Oklahoma who came to be associated with the Road in one way or another. Will Rogers, Woody Guthrie and Roger Miller come to mind. There was also Cyrus Avery, a notable Oklahoman who was instrumental in the initial development of U.S. 66 in the 1920's. Then there was Jack Cutberth who tirelessly and relentlessly promoted the Route from 1947 through 1960's. If Jack could've had his way, surely Route 66 wouldn't have been decommissioned. If he were still with us today, it would be hard to imagine Jack as anything but a fervent supporter of re-commissioning.
Many Route 66 icons and landmarks can be found along the Road through Oklahoma. There is the famous "Blue Whale" of Catoosa, the Round Barn of Arcadia, the pottery factory in Sapulpa and the Route 66 museum in Clinton to just name a few. There is also a myriad of historic motels and "mom and pop" restaurants throughout the state that help bring the traveler back to a bygone era of cross-country motoring.
In Oklahoma, virtually all of the pre-Interstate Highway era Route 66 is still intact and drivable. From the Kansas state line to just west of El Reno, most of old Route 66 is still under state DOT management and is designated as state highway, just not U.S. 66. In western Oklahoma there are also several portions designated as Interstate "Business Loop" 40. But western Oklahoma also contains some mileage that has reverted to county maintenance. The issue of posting official U.S. Route markers along a county highway will need to be resolved. Some of these county roads are most likely at or near state highway standards while others sections clearly are not. In circumstances where a weaker, sub-standard county road has no surviving businesses, it might be more expedient to simply run the new U.S. 66 route designation over the a newer alignment or on the Interstate. However, brown and white commemorative markers could remain posted over such weaker sections.
Re-designating Old Route 66 as a new U.S. Route would provide travelers with a consistent, continuous, state-to-state marking plan, improve signage and return U.S. Route 66 to all standard road maps. It would also serve to make Route 66 more "visible" to the casual tourist and traveler resulting in increased traffic and business over the old route. 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.
In addition, the old roadway should be established as National Scenic/Historic byway as has been done with The Old National Road (aka U.S. 40) St. Louis - Baltimore. This would help protect many of the historic landmarks along the way and some of the infrastructure as well.
A more ambitious, alternate plan would be to re-designate the toll roads in eastern Oklahoma and Interstate 40 in the western part of the state as a new U.S. Highway 66. This would allow the designation of the old roadway as an AASHTO-approved historic bannered U.S. Route. (U.S. "Historic" 66). This arrangement would be much like the current toll road/scenic arrangement of U.S. 412 in eastern Oklahoma.
Whatever approach is used, the return of U.S. Route 66 would be a clear benefit for both travelers and the State's economy. Smaller communities along the old road would especially be in a position to benefit.
If you live in Oklahoma, contact your state representatives at:
www.lsb.state.ok.us
Urge your state representatives to consider legislation or a general resolution that would 1) authorize the State DOT to reinstate the U.S. Highway designation of Route 66 and 2) consider legislation to establish the historic roadway of Old Route 66 as a National Scenic/Historic Byway.
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:
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.
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