Historic U.S. 66 / State Route 66
Historic U.S. 66 is the storied Mother Road, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles. Entirely supplanted by freeways, the last signed section of U.S. 66 was bypassed by Interstate 40 in Ash Fork in 1985. U.S. 66 was first eliminated in California in 1964, and by 1977, signage for U.S. 34-66 near Jackson Drive was removed in Downtown Chicago.
Arizona State Route 66 is part of the longest extant section of former U.S. 66 left in the country. U.S. 66 was bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1978, but remained signed as U.S. 66 until 1985, when it was redesignated as SR 66. SR 66 runs 66.74 miles from Kingman northeast to the Yavapai County line by Pica Camp Road, due to an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) policy of multiple roads not serving the same two points.
Until 2004 State Route 66 was signed with a unique white on black shield. Those assemblies were eventually phased out in favor of Historic U.S. 66 shields.
Historic U.S. 66 / Arizona State Route 66 Guides
Historic U.S. 66/Business Loop I-40
Business Loop I-40 - Seligman
Ash Fork
Williams
Flagstaff
Winslow
Joseph City
Holbrook
East - Crookton Road
Removed sometime after 2011, this sign placed by Yavapai County acknowledged the ensuing stretch of Historic U.S. 66 east from Business Loop I-40 at Seligman.
05/24/04
This distance sign was carbon copied with a replacement posted just beyond the separation with Business Loop I-40 at Seligman. Old U.S. 66 is discontinuous between I-40 and Ash Fork, with sections of the old route subsumed by the freeway.
05/24/04
The Crookton Overpass constitutes a pair of bridges over the BNSF Railroad. Carrying two way traffic, the newer span built in 1956 was formerly part of the eastbound roadway for U.S. 66. The original bridge, which eventually carried westbound U.S. 66, is closed to traffic.
05/24/04
03/03/07
Historic U.S. 66 ascends to 5,807 feet above sea level east beyond the Crookton Overpass.
05/24/04
The section of Historic U.S. 66 along Crookton Road ties into Interstate 40 at Exit 139.
05/24/04
East - Flagstaff
Historic U.S. 66 spans the BNSF Railroad across the Cosnino Overpass one half mile ahead of Interstate 40 at Exit 204.
05/24/03
Interstate 40 was constructed directly over old U.S. 66/180 east beyond the westbound entrance ramp for leading back to Flagstaff.
05/24/03
Walnut Canyon Road stems south from Historic U.S. 66 and I-40/U.S. 180 to Walnut Canyon National Monument.
05/24/03
Historic U.S. 66 coincides with I-40/U.S. 180 east to Winona.
05/24/03
Photo Credits:
- Kevin Trinkle: 05/24/04, 03/03/07
- Andy Field: 05/24/03
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Page Updated Tuesday April 05, 2022.