40th Anniversary of US-66 Decommission

[kphoger]

My point, though, is that US-666 was not decommissioned.  It just got a new number.

[Max Rockatansky]

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.

US 666 isn't the only highway to be renumbered over signage theft.  CA 69 was renumbered in the 1970s to CA 245 due to people stealing all the shields.

[xonhulu]

US 666 isn't the only highway to be renumbered over signage theft.  CA 69 was renumbered in the 1970s to CA 245 due to people stealing all the shields.

In 2007, Oregon's Belt Line Hwy #69 was designated OR 569 instead of OR 69 because of the connotations of the number and in anticipation of the sign theft.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

For some reason I thought the 69 thing was a more recent societal meme than 420, like within my lifetime. I remember MN having issues with 420th St signs years ago, resulting in things like street renumberings to 421st Ave or street blades having the 0 replaced with an X.

[Scott5114]

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.

If you have to keep the highway around as a state highway either way (which Oklahoma would feel obliged to, since they are pretty good about making sure incorporated places are on state highways), it is much easier (and cheaper!) to keep something a US route than to convert it to a state highway number.

[pderocco]

For some reason I thought the 69 thing was a more recent societal meme than 420, like within my lifetime.

It's as old as the Kama Sutra.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

For some reason I thought the 69 thing was a more recent societal meme than 420, like within my lifetime.

It's as old as the Kama Sutra.

Well yes, I was referring to the number 69 being a euphemism for it.

[Big John]

For some reason I thought the 69 thing was a more recent societal meme than 420, like within my lifetime. I remember MN having issues with 420th St signs years ago, resulting in things like street renumberings to 421st Ave or street blades having the 0 replaced with an X.

playing some tic-tac-toe?

[brad2971]

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.

Now that US400 is the thru route in Cherokee County (KS) after construction was finished, there is really no reason why US166 cannot be re-signed as K-166. It is slightly ridiculous to have two W-E US routes end less than 1 mile into Missouri at I-44.

[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.

Now that US400 is the thru route in Cherokee County (KS) after construction was finished, there is really no reason why US166 cannot be re-signed as K-166. It is slightly ridiculous to have two W-E US routes end less than 1 mile into Missouri at I-44.

No. US 400 should be the one that is decommissioned.

[Jim]

So the article in the OP uses the term "decertified" though I'd suggest "removed the US 66 designation".

It seems to me that the designation was and would still remain useful today as a single number from Chicago to LA.  Move it onto the interstates or keep it on the actual former US 66 roads, as appropriate.  That said, the existing situation with so much interest in and signage of old segments as a historic route is probably a perfectly good way to handle it, and has brought more tourist interest than would a consistently-signed US 66 that hops on and off the nearby interstates.

One I really don't understand was the removal of the US 99 designation.  So much was not meaningfully replaced by I-5.  And I am not a fan of the truncations of what should be coast-to-coast routes like US 6 and US 40.

[usends]

Now that US400 is the thru route in Cherokee County (KS) after construction was finished, there is really no reason why US166 cannot be re-signed as K-166. It is slightly ridiculous to have two W-E US routes end less than 1 mile into Missouri at I-44.

No. US 400 should be the one that is decommissioned.

I think you're both right: US 400 should become K-400 (KDOT can sign it all the way to the Colo. stateline if they want).  And US 166 should become K-166, ending at K-400 in Baxter Spgs.
US 400: its number is not the only error

[Avalanchez71]

US 412 should become US 66.  That way the 412 number that doesn't match the grid can be decommissioned and 66 will fit the grid.

[Scott5114]

It seems to me that the designation was and would still remain useful today as a single number from Chicago to LA.  Move it onto the interstates or keep it on the actual former US 66 roads, as appropriate.  That said, the existing situation with so much interest in and signage of old segments as a historic route is probably a perfectly good way to handle it, and has brought more tourist interest than would a consistently-signed US 66 that hops on and off the nearby interstates.

I've considered writing a Congresscritter or two about the possibility of force-recommissioning the section of US 66 that is currently OK 66 by writing it into federal law, but I haven't done so because I'm concerned about the roadgeek ethics of that.

US 412 should become US 66.  That way the 412 number that doesn't match the grid can be decommissioned and 66 will fit the grid.

If the number you were talking about was 38 or 47 or something like that, sure. The designation US 66, however, is so well known that applying it to any other corridor is a complete nonstarter.

[SEWIGuy]

It seems to me that the designation was and would still remain useful today as a single number from Chicago to LA.  Move it onto the interstates or keep it on the actual former US 66 roads, as appropriate.  That said, the existing situation with so much interest in and signage of old segments as a historic route is probably a perfectly good way to handle it, and has brought more tourist interest than would a consistently-signed US 66 that hops on and off the nearby interstates.

It's been 40 years. No reason to resurrect something for the sake of a single number from LA to Chicago. That's just not that important.

[Max Rockatansky]

It seems to me that the designation was and would still remain useful today as a single number from Chicago to LA.  Move it onto the interstates or keep it on the actual former US 66 roads, as appropriate.  That said, the existing situation with so much interest in and signage of old segments as a historic route is probably a perfectly good way to handle it, and has brought more tourist interest than would a consistently-signed US 66 that hops on and off the nearby interstates.

I've considered writing a Congresscritter or two about the possibility of force-recommissioning the section of US 66 that is currently OK 66 by writing it into federal law, but I haven't done so because I'm concerned about the roadgeek ethics of that.

Wait, we have "roadgeek ethics?"

[GaryV]

"roadgeek ethics?"

I think they're something like, "Don't run over your mother-in-law if she's getting in the way of you photographing that sign. Unless you've already told her to move twice."

[pderocco]

One I really don't understand was the removal of the US 99 designation.  So much was not meaningfully replaced by I-5.  And I am not a fan of the truncations of what should be coast-to-coast routes like US 6 and US 40.

The final insult was Provincetown saying, We don't want the end of US-6 any more. Truro, you can have it.

[Max Rockatansky]

One I really don't understand was the removal of the US 99 designation.  So much was not meaningfully replaced by I-5.  And I am not a fan of the truncations of what should be coast-to-coast routes like US 6 and US 40.

The final insult was Provincetown saying, We don't want the end of US-6 any more. Truro, you can have it.

As much as some of the road fans don't like the idea of US 6 crossing Tioga Pass it probably would have had more staying power post-1964.  Shame that concept wasn't adopted in 1937 instead of Long Beach.

[Jim]

It seems to me that the designation was and would still remain useful today as a single number from Chicago to LA.  Move it onto the interstates or keep it on the actual former US 66 roads, as appropriate.  That said, the existing situation with so much interest in and signage of old segments as a historic route is probably a perfectly good way to handle it, and has brought more tourist interest than would a consistently-signed US 66 that hops on and off the nearby interstates.

It's been 40 years. No reason to resurrect something for the sake of a single number from LA to Chicago. That's just not that important.

I'm not suggesting it should be restored now, just that having kept it all along would have made sense.  My wording wasn't clear in the second sentence.  I meant over the past 40 years, parts of the route could have been moved onto interstates or kept where they were, much like has happened in other places where US designations hop on and off of interstates.

[Revive 755]

I've considered writing a Congresscritter or two about the possibility of force-recommissioning the section of US 66 that is currently OK 66 by writing it into federal law, but I haven't done so because I'm concerned about the roadgeek ethics of that.

Given the way Congresscritters have no problem writing interstate numbers into law, I say go for it.  And while you are at it, ask for the designation to continue into Missouri and replace MO 96 east of Joplin.

[Scott5114]

"roadgeek ethics?"

I think they're something like, "Don't run over your mother-in-law if she's getting in the way of you photographing that sign. Unless you've already told her to move twice."

I was thinking something along the lines of "It's BS to use political power to override AASHTO just to get a pretty shield somewhere they wouldn't approve one normally."

But what you said works too.

[Rothman]

Avoiding US 666 due to a "Satanic connection" is an interesting choice...Quite a detour as well.

But yeah, dealing with replacing signs would get annoying for a DOT.  That's a legit reason to renumber.

[Max Rockatansky]

FWIW none of the notes about 666 being replaced in AASHTO's database mention anything about "Satanism."  They do mention US 66 no longer existing and signage theft. 

[kphoger]

I get it that people hate US-400's number.  But it's a major long-distance route that carries more traffic than either of the east-west US routes near it (especially east of Wichita), especially truck traffic.  Suggestions that US-400 should be decommissioned just totally baffle me.  I guess it's because its eastern endpoint is just barely outside the state of Kansas, but really, come on.  It's the corridor of a once-potential Interstate, and now it shouldn't even be a US Route?

there is really no reason why US166 cannot be re-signed as K-166.

Sure there is.  It still exists as a US Route.  That's the biggest reason I can think of to sign it as such.