40th Anniversary of US-66 Decommission

[edwaleni]

On this day in 1985, US-66 was formally decommissioned as a federal highway.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was under the impression that the using the term "Federal Highway" to denote a US Route or Interstate is a road fan faux pau.

[edwaleni]

I was under the impression that the using the term "Federal Highway" to denote a US Route or Interstate is a road fan faux pau.

Don't know why, the road signs say "US" at the top. Whats to be upset about, fill me in.

[kphoger]

Don't know why, the road signs say "US" at the top. Whats to be upset about, fill me in.

Because, even if they say 'US' at the top, they're still just state highways.

The numbering scheme is the only nationwide thing about them.  Other than that, they're just state routes with a fancy shield.

[edwaleni]

I get the state highway thing in the pecking order of who "owns" the road. But didn't the Federal budget pay for the majority of their construction?

I remember an article when US-66 was commissioned in 1926 at Pontiac, Illinois. They even brought out one of the last Illini tribal chiefs to come out and dance and dedicate it. That article called it a new "federal highway" as part of the new highway system.

A mis-statement even then?

[Max Rockatansky]

Aside from random Federal Aid Primary and Seconday programs the US Route System was built by the states.  You are probably thinking of Chargeable Interstate mileage.

[edwaleni]

Aside from random Federal Aid Primary and Seconday programs the US Route System was built by the states.  You are probably thinking of Chargeable Interstate mileage.

You read my mind, that was my next question, the FAP and FAS routes.

I will let the sock go, I understand where you are coming from.

[Henry]

At least this injustice was eventually made right by a historic designation decades later. I remember making a promise to my father before I set out on my first-ever road trip alone that I would drive as much of the old road that I still could do, like he did on the family trips from Chicago to L.A. And mind you, I was starting college at the end of that trip, but I did pretty good finding it all.

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't know about "injustice."  The corridor became obsolete over time and was replaced by the Interstates.  A lot of the surface mileage was dumped via relinquishment out west.  Most of things people associate with US 66 were part of the original alignment of the National Old Trails Road west of Santa Fe.  Without those Auto Trail ingredients US 66 is just another US Route.  Out by me the only thing truly unique to US 66 is the 1926-1952 alignment along Oatman Highway.

[SectorZ]

"progress", says a guy in New Jersey that lives nowhere near the corridor.

[SEWIGuy]

At least this injustice was eventually made right by a historic designation decades later. I remember making a promise to my father before I set out on my first-ever road trip alone that I would drive as much of the old road that I still could do, like he did on the family trips from Chicago to L.A. And mind you, I was starting college at the end of that trip, but I did pretty good finding it all.

"Injustice?" Good lord...

[formulanone]

Was 66 the last US route to be entirely decommissioned?

[Big John]

Was 66 the last US route to be entirely decommissioned?

A previous edition of US 48 was decommissioned in 1989, but the number got recycled (for a 2nd time) in 2002.

[vdeane]

I was under the impression that the using the term "Federal Highway" to denote a US Route or Interstate is a road fan faux pau.

Don't know why, the road signs say "US" at the top. Whats to be upset about, fill me in.

Hello viatologists!  In my study of roads, I just love analyzing the transportology of all the various federal routes I encounter, don't you?  Be sure to check out the Worldwide Transportation Library (WWTL) by Carl Rogers - the premier viatological resource on the planet!  Happy travels!

[Max Rockatansky]

I was under the impression that the using the term "Federal Highway" to denote a US Route or Interstate is a road fan faux pau.

Don't know why, the road signs say "US" at the top. Whats to be upset about, fill me in.

Hello viatologists!  In my study of roads, I just love analyzing the transportology of all the various federal routes I encounter, don't you?  Be sure to check out the Worldwide Transportation Library (WWTL) by Carl Rogers - the premier viatological resource on the planet!  Happy travels!

He fits right in with the others in Deming, New Mexico...

[SEWIGuy]

Was 66 the last US route to be entirely decommissioned?

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

[kphoger]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

[pderocco]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

[Henry]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

This one was very badly needed, since sign theft, a high number of traffic accidents and a Satanic connection to the highway itself led to the decommissioning/renumbering to US 491. Out of all the highway designations that no longer exist, this is the only one I'm glad is gone forever. Even back in the 1970s and 80s, we avoided it like the plague during our family road trips.

[Max Rockatansky]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

This one was very badly needed, since sign theft, a high number of traffic accidents and a Satanic connection to the highway itself led to the decommissioning/renumbering to US 491. Out of all the highway designations that no longer exist, this is the only one I'm glad is gone forever. Even back in the 1970s and 80s, we avoided it like the plague during our family road trips.

I kind of dig the motif "666" brought to the Coronado Trail versus what US 191 does.  That led to a lot of eastern Arizona lore stories which still persisted a decade after the highway was renumbered. 

[LilianaUwU]

US 166 and 266 remain, and while 166 is probably a worthy corridor (though redundant with 160), I don't know why 266 still exists. 66 was decommissioned because of the Interstates, yet 266 is nothing but a glorified I-40 business loop.

[Bickendan]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

This one was very badly needed, since sign theft, a high number of traffic accidents and a Satanic connection to the highway itself led to the decommissioning/renumbering to US 491. Out of all the highway designations that no longer exist, this is the only one I'm glad is gone forever. Even back in the 1970s and 80s, we avoided it like the plague during our family road trips.

Superstition isn't a great reason for a renumbering, nor is high sign theft (considering the high number of state highways that are barely signed or cities that don't bother maintaining their signage after turnbacks -- looking at you, California). High sign theft being a renumbering argument would make I-69 a candidate, I'd think.
Sure, I get we'll never get an I-13 through Vegas or Reno, but had they existed and they petitioned to have them renumbered, '13' being considered an unlucky number would be a poor reason to renumber; likewise '666' being Satanic, which is a stretch.

[LilianaUwU]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

This one was very badly needed, since sign theft, a high number of traffic accidents and a Satanic connection to the highway itself led to the decommissioning/renumbering to US 491. Out of all the highway designations that no longer exist, this is the only one I'm glad is gone forever. Even back in the 1970s and 80s, we avoided it like the plague during our family road trips.

Superstition isn't a great reason for a renumbering, nor is high sign theft (considering the high number of state highways that are barely signed or cities that don't bother maintaining their signage after turnbacks -- looking at you, California). High sign theft being a renumbering argument would make I-69 a candidate, I'd think.
Sure, I get we'll never get an I-13 through Vegas or Reno, but had they existed and they petitioned to have them renumbered, '13' being considered an unlucky number would be a poor reason to renumber; likewise '666' being Satanic, which is a stretch.

I vote for US 13 to be renumbered next. It has as much of a reason to be renumbered as US 666.

[CtrlAltDel]

Superstition isn't a great reason for a renumbering

I could get behind this.

nor is high sign theft

This I'm not so sure about.

[kendancy66]

US-666 in 2003 was the last.

Is a renumbering really the same thing, though?

Lots of pieces of the old US-66 still have route numbers due to former concurrencies. I don't know if there are any that were given completely new US route numbers, but my guess would be no. And the decommissioning of US-666 was kind of a special case, not reflecting a diminishing need for the road itself.

This one was very badly needed, since sign theft, a high number of traffic accidents and a Satanic connection to the highway itself led to the decommissioning/renumbering to US 491. Out of all the highway designations that no longer exist, this is the only one I'm glad is gone forever. Even back in the 1970s and 80s, we avoided it like the plague during our family road trips.

US-666 was kind of difficult to avoid between Gallup NM and into AZ, where it co routed with US-66 (and then I-40) before turning south where US-191 is now