I'll soon be traveling old 66, from where I left off in Tulsa (east of the city at the big ol' bridge) through Missouri. That'll bring me briefly into Kansas as well. Same question as in other threads:
~ Any truss bridges just off my route within a few miles?
~ Any ridiculously old and noteworthy signs just off my route, or even along it?
~ Any must-stops?
~ Any road closures I should know about?
~ Anything I'm not thinking of?
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 24, 2012, 10:03:27 PM
I'll soon be traveling old 66, from where I left off in Tulsa (east of the city at the big ol' bridge) through Missouri. That'll bring me briefly into Kansas as well. Same question as in other threads:
~ Any truss bridges just off my route within a few miles?
~ Any ridiculously old and noteworthy signs just off my route, or even along it?
~ Any must-stops?
~ Any road closures I should know about?
~ Anything I'm not thinking of?
There is the truss over Bird Creek just north of Catoosa. We crossed this bridge during the Tulsa meet. There were 2 bridges, but one of them was replaced. I read that a business near Bird Creek had adopted the old bridge and it is now on their property, but I'm not sure where this is exactly.
There's also a truss on an old alignment near Chelsea, but I don't remember exactly where it is.
There's the infamous Devil's Elbow bridge in Missouri. Also be sure to drive the 4 lane expressway of route Z in the same area.
Watch your speed through Waynesville. Those illiterate fucks gave me a ticket a few years ago for going 55 in a rural area that is signed 35 for some stupid reason. And don't spend a dime there.
-Chelsea, OK has an old thru truss on original 66 (north end of town, IIRC)
-There's a Marsh Arch in Kansas
-Concrete bridge over the MKT RR east of Galena on original 66
-An old truss on original 66 near Spencer (off Hwy 96)
-pony truss just west of Halltown on original 66
if you like old gas stations:
-4 Women on the Route in Galena, KS (on original 66): an old Kan o Tex : Oh wait! they may be closed for the Winter. Still worth looking at, IMO
-Gay Parita Sinclair near Halltown MO
-there's an old Sinclair station in Carterville that being converted into a 66 info center
-A couple old stations in Commerce, OK
-Vintage DX Station and a Packard museum in Afton (say HI to Ms Laurel if she's working ;) )
There's a possible detour at Carthage (old bridge coming down at the railroad), but I'm trying to double check the timeline. UPDATE: construction probably will begin in May. MoDOT will have an official detour. Local businesses will have maps with an alternate detour.
-Miami, OK has a bunch of old 4-way signals
If you're hungry, stop at Waylan's Ku-Ku in Miami: a 66 original
I don't know of any old signs, off-hand.
But there's the "sidewalk highway" alignment of 66 north of Afton, OK
Original 66 follows Mo 100 from near Washington, MO to near St Louis
Missouri has 66 guides signs everywhere. Oklahoma is a mixed bag. I haven't checked Kansas lately.
Quote from: bugo on January 24, 2012, 11:50:39 PM
There's the infamous Devil's Elbow bridge in Missouri. Also be sure to drive the 4 lane expressway of route Z in the same area.
I plan to try to do both the old and new alignments. Assuming these are the same location, right? (4-lane Hwy Z bypassed the old 2-lane - is Devil's Elbow the old 2-lane?)
Quote from: US71 on January 25, 2012, 11:14:19 AM
There's a possible detour at Carthage (old bridge coming down at the railroad), but I'm trying to double check the timeline. UPDATE: construction probably will begin in May. MoDOT will have an official detour. Local businesses will have maps with an alternate detour.
I
should be through there just in time. Is this at the northeast side of town or somewhere to the west?
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 25, 2012, 06:48:09 PM
I plan to try to do both the old and new alignments. Assuming these are the same location, right? (4-lane Hwy Z bypassed the old 2-lane - is Devil's Elbow the old 2-lane?)
Technically they're both "Devils Elbow"
http://bridgehunter.com/mo/pulaski/piney-truss/ (original)
http://bridgehunter.com/mo/pulaski/piney-arch/ (1942)
Quote
Quote from: US71 on January 25, 2012, 11:14:19 AM
There's a possible detour at Carthage (old bridge coming down at the railroad), but I'm trying to double check the timeline. UPDATE: construction probably will begin in May. MoDOT will have an official detour. Local businesses will have maps with an alternate detour.
I should be through there just in time. Is this at the northeast side of town or somewhere to the west?
Northeast, over the RR yard.
"Local" detour in 571 north to 96, stay north on old 71 to Route V (old ALT 66), then east on V back to MO 96.
A mile north is on old 71 is where the 71 expressway comes through at Routes V D :clap:
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 24, 2012, 10:03:27 PM
~ Any ridiculously old and noteworthy signs just off my route, or even along it?
~ Any must-stops?
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
Waylan's Ku-Ku (the last of an old hamburger chain) is on the route in Miami north of downtown.
Quote from: Rick1962 on January 25, 2012, 11:26:52 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 24, 2012, 10:03:27 PM
~ Any ridiculously old and noteworthy signs just off my route, or even along it?
~ Any must-stops?
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
Waylan's Ku-Ku (the last of an old hamburger chain) is on the route in Miami north of downtown.
There used to be a trailblazer for Will Rogers on K-26, about 1/2 a block south of K-66 in Galena, but it's been 3-4 years ago.
Quote from: Rick1962 on January 25, 2012, 11:26:52 PM
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
can anyone get us a detailed photo of this sign?
Quote from: US71 on January 26, 2012, 08:42:35 AM
Quote from: Rick1962 on January 25, 2012, 11:26:52 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 24, 2012, 10:03:27 PM
~ Any ridiculously old and noteworthy signs just off my route, or even along it?
~ Any must-stops?
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
Waylan's Ku-Ku (the last of an old hamburger chain) is on the route in Miami north of downtown.
There used to be a trailblazer for Will Rogers on K-26, about 1/2 a block south of K-66 in Galena, but it's been 3-4 years ago.
I drove K-26 southbound in August and don't remember seeing the Will Rogers trailblazer.
Quote from: okroads on January 26, 2012, 05:20:43 PM
I drove K-26 southbound in August and don't remember seeing the Will Rogers trailblazer.
DRAT! They must have taken it down
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%2F3286%2F2647315810_aea46caa0a_z_d.jpg%3Fzz%3D1&hash=59caab6b87174a605b35f2d38f2277cb26022aad)
Quote from: Rick1962 on January 25, 2012, 11:26:52 PM
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
There is? Do you have a picture? That would be worth driving to Claremore to see.
Quote from: bugo on January 26, 2012, 10:04:12 PM
Quote from: Rick1962 on January 25, 2012, 11:26:52 PM
There's an original 1958 trailblazer for the Will Rogers Turnpike on eastbound Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore a few blocks east of downtown.
There is? Do you have a picture? That would be worth driving to Claremore to see.
Don'tt give it away or they'll take it down...
Not directly on old US-66, but the Y-bridge in Galena is not far off your route. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-Bridge_(Galena,_Missouri)
If you are doing the old road westbound, maybe catch this on your way back. Or vice-versa. Or not.
--
Brian Reynolds
Hastings Michigan
Quote from: brianreynolds on January 26, 2012, 11:43:48 PM
Not directly on old US-66, but the Y-bridge in Galena is not far off your route. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-Bridge_(Galena,_Missouri)
If you are doing the old road westbound, maybe catch this on your way back. Or vice-versa. Or not.
--
Brian Reynolds
Hastings Michigan
Roughly an hour south. There is also a remnant of an earlier bridge a couple blocks south.
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 26, 2012, 10:51:06 PM
Don'tt give it away or they'll take it down...
I'm hoping the sign thieves get to it before the DOT does.
sign thieves preserve history. DOT melts it down to make guardrails.
fuck the DOT.
QuoteI'm hoping the sign thieves get to it before the DOT does.
sign thieves preserve history. DOT melts it down to make guardrails.
fuck the DOT.
Amen.
This is really an exellent point. In general, sign stolen by the public or taken home by DOT employees are the only ones that survive.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 27, 2012, 11:45:31 AM
I'm hoping the sign thieves get to it before the DOT does.
sign thieves preserve history. DOT melts it down to make guardrails.
fuck the DOT.
Serious question: Does the Smithsonian attempt to collect historic signage? If not, have there ever been any organized roadgeek efforts to persuade the Smithsonian as to the historic significance of the signage?
Quote from: US71 on January 27, 2012, 10:57:45 AM
Quote from: brianreynolds on January 26, 2012, 11:43:48 PM
Not directly on old US-66, but the Y-bridge in Galena is not far off your route. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-Bridge_(Galena,_Missouri)
If you are doing the old road westbound, maybe catch this on your way back. Or vice-versa. Or not.
--
Brian Reynolds
Hastings Michigan
Roughly an hour south. There is also a remnant of an earlier bridge a couple blocks south.
An hour ain't gonna cut it, unfortunately. If it were on another part of the route I would do it, but I have two days to get from Tulsa to Joliet for the meet and that includes romping around St. Louis. I wish it were on the north side of 64. ):
QuoteIf you like abandoned stuff theirs a old deck truss bridge in Shakopee that's now open as a pedestrian bridge, the Old Cedar Bridge is a through truss that's now closed and about ready to fall into the swamp. There's ongoing argument about whether to restore it or demolish it and build something fresh. Also there is the Hennepin Ave suspension bridge...
I have no idea where to look in Shakopee or where the Old Cedar Bridge would be. Is the Hennepin Ave. bridge the one in downtown just east of the end of 394, or elsewhere? I found all the others you had mentioned.
Quote from: Grzrd on January 27, 2012, 09:26:03 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 27, 2012, 11:45:31 AM
I'm hoping the sign thieves get to it before the DOT does.
sign thieves preserve history. DOT melts it down to make guardrails.
fuck the DOT.
Serious question: Does the Smithsonian attempt to collect historic signage? If not, have there ever been any organized roadgeek efforts to persuade the Smithsonian as to the historic significance of the signage?
Why bother with the Smithsonian? If someone with a lot of signs really wanted to they could put together a museum of road signage. Might get some interest from the general public. Would be a roadgeek's dream, though, especially if you started at the entrance with a bunch of 1926 era signs, gradually progressing to the 1948 MUTCD, then the early Interstate era...if there was enough space you could even put up some old BGSes...
</never going to happen>
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 28, 2012, 07:00:19 PM
Why bother with the Smithsonian? If someone with a lot of signs really wanted to they could put together a museum of road signage. Might get some interest from the general public. Would be a roadgeek's dream, though, especially if you started at the entrance with a bunch of 1926 era signs, gradually progressing to the 1948 MUTCD, then the early Interstate era...if there was enough space you could even put up some old BGSes...
</never going to happen>
Never say never. It would be interesting to see if there is such a collection. I'm sure some state highway departments may have a private collection.
Someday, when I'm filthy rich, maybe I'll start a roadsign museum ;)
It might be worthwhile to partner with a railroad museum, such as these guys: https://www.aaroads.com/blog/2010/10/20/the-laws-railroad-museum/
Sorry I missed the thread until today. The US66 bridge at Hazlegreen over the Gasconade?? River is cool. Take a few minutes to veer off near Chelsea, OK to see the Totem Pole park.
rte66man
Quote from: Steve on January 28, 2012, 12:07:18 AM
Quote from: US71 on January 27, 2012, 10:57:45 AM
Quote from: brianreynolds on January 26, 2012, 11:43:48 PM
Not directly on old US-66, but the Y-bridge in Galena is not far off your route. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-Bridge_(Galena,_Missouri)
If you are doing the old road westbound, maybe catch this on your way back. Or vice-versa. Or not.
--
Brian Reynolds
Hastings Michigan
Roughly an hour south. There is also a remnant of an earlier bridge a couple blocks south.
An hour ain't gonna cut it, unfortunately. If it were on another part of the route I would do it, but I have two days to get from Tulsa to Joliet for the meet and that includes romping around St. Louis. I wish it were on the north side of 64. ):
QuoteIf you like abandoned stuff theirs a old deck truss bridge in Shakopee that's now open as a pedestrian bridge, the Old Cedar Bridge is a through truss that's now closed and about ready to fall into the swamp. There's ongoing argument about whether to restore it or demolish it and build something fresh. Also there is the Hennepin Ave suspension bridge...
I have no idea where to look in Shakopee or where the Old Cedar Bridge would be. Is the Hennepin Ave. bridge the one in downtown just east of the end of 394, or elsewhere? I found all the others you had mentioned.
Kinda OT for this thread, but the pedestrian bridge referenced in Shakopee is the old old U.S. 169 bridge over the south part of the Minnesota River. I say "old old" because MnDOT rebuilt the bridge to the east of the original 1920s crossing in conjunction with a project that moved U.S. 169 and MN-101 to the north of downtown, in the 1980s, just before those roads were all turned over to Scott County. U.S. 169 now bypasses Shakopee to the south and crosses at the location of the historic Bloomington Ferry Bridge, which I think is also still there as a bike and pedestrian crossing.
The Old Cedar Avenue Bridge is west of the current MN-77 Minnesota River crossing. It was an 1890s wooden deck swing bridge that was bypassed in the 1980s - I drove over it a few times. For a long time, the northern approach was maintained as a bike and pedestrian access by (might be wrong here) city of Bloomington, providing access to the wetlands on the north side of the river.
Hennepin Avenue bridge in downtown Minneapolis is the modern (1980s-90s) re-creation of the 19th century suspension bridge originally built here, that was replaced by a concrete span in the 20th century. It is notable for being the 2nd-shortest suspension bridge in the U.S. Marching bands have to break step going across it. It's very pretty at night but not the design you'd pick for this length of crossing.
Watching this thread with interest since I would like to do something like this as well in the near future.
I believe the Bloomington Ferry Bridge went away and was replaced by a new bike/hike bridge in the same location. Seem to remember driving down to it years ago before I moved away.
Quote from: codyg1985 on April 12, 2012, 07:06:25 AM
Watching this thread with interest since I would like to do something like this as well in the near future.
Missouri has most of their sections well marked...you just have to choose which alignment (St Louis has at least 3) ;)
Tulsa has at least 3 (Admiral, 11th, Skelly Drive.)
Quote from: US71 on April 12, 2012, 09:10:51 AM
Quote from: codyg1985 on April 12, 2012, 07:06:25 AM
Watching this thread with interest since I would like to do something like this as well in the near future.
Missouri has most of their sections well marked...you just have to choose which alignment (St Louis has at least 3) ;)
I plan on driving as many as possible, including all of the bridges (or at least the stubs thereof). Most important thing is to do your homework - there are some very informative websites out there such that you don't even need to buy a book.
And with the historic USGS topos online you can trace the old routes through cities independent of modern descriptions that may be adjusted for one-way and closed streets.
Quote from: Steve on April 12, 2012, 11:50:14 PM
Quote from: US71 on April 12, 2012, 09:10:51 AM
Quote from: codyg1985 on April 12, 2012, 07:06:25 AM
Watching this thread with interest since I would like to do something like this as well in the near future.
Missouri has most of their sections well marked...you just have to choose which alignment (St Louis has at least 3) ;)
I plan on driving as many as possible, including all of the bridges (or at least the stubs thereof). Most important thing is to do your homework - there are some very informative websites out there such that you don't even need to buy a book.
The websites are often more accurate than the books because the websites are updated while the books may have old, incorrect information.
Quote from: bugo on April 12, 2012, 08:11:44 PM
Tulsa has at least 3 (Admiral, 11th, Skelly Drive.)
Joplin/Webb City may have three or even four. I've tried to cover as much of each one as I can, but I don't know if I've gotten all of all of them.
Don't know how it's signed now, but you'll come across the point near I-44 where US 59, US 60, US 66, and US 69 came together briefly.
Also, at the southern split of US 69 and ALT US 69 (Historic 66), there is a big yellow sign warning truckers not to take main US 69 but to take ALT 69 instead. If you're curious, look at Google Street View's version of why instead of you taking a side trip up to the towns of Picher, OK and cross-border companion Treece, KS. They are EPA superfund sites. A local lead mine operated there for decades, but excavated too close to the surface. There have been several sudden sinkholes since. Also. the mine operations polluted the town's groundwater. You will also see several piles of dirt off in the distance. These are also remnants of the mining. The dirt in the piles has traces of lead, and when the wind blows it takes the lead particles with the dust. If that's not bad enough, Picher got hit by a tornado a few years ago, damaging what wasn't already messed up by the lead mine.
Apparently Google Maps is signing US 66 in and around St Louis.
http://g.co/maps/6jdd4 (http://g.co/maps/6jdd4)
Quote from: txstateends on April 23, 2012, 12:36:19 PM
Don't know how it's signed now, but you'll come across the point near I-44 where US 59, US 60, US 66, and US 69 came together briefly.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2752%2F4246924582_19bb40868b_z_d.jpg&hash=5394c3578071e040d556b84769ba3bc1c23030a6)
This SB 69 where 59 splits off.
Just remembered–not on 66 itself but nearby, the Joplin wig-wag. Ancient RR signal from long ago. Dunno whether it still exists or not; the last time I saw it was en route to the Chicago meet around four years ago. It may have been eaten by the tornado.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 26, 2012, 06:07:15 PM
Just remembered–not on 66 itself but nearby, the Joplin wig-wag. Ancient RR signal from long ago. Dunno whether it still exists or not; the last time I saw it was en route to the Chicago meet around four years ago. It may have been eaten by the tornado.
The tornado was mostly south of 7th St (MO 66).
IF the signal is still there, it's on East 3rd St west of School St.
It's still there as of 11/18/11.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wras23/6360984415/