Bannered routes of U.S. Route 66
Encyclopedia
Alternate U.S. Route 66 was a designation to preserve the next-to-last routing of U.S. 66 from Pasadena, California
to Los Angeles, California, when the signage for U.S. 66 was transferred to the Arroyo Seco Parkway (also known as the Pasadena Freeway
, with alignment lasted from 1938 to 1964, when Alternate U.S. 66 was eliminated as well as Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway into SR 11, and became SR 110 in 1981.
The routing from Pasadena to Los Angeles was west on Colorado Boulevard and then south on Figueroa Street
. The end of the Pasadena Freeway then blended into Figueroa Street and the alternate route rejoined its parent route. The routing along Figueroa Street and the portion along Colorado Boulevard between Linda Vista Avenue and Figueroa Street also bore the designation of State Route 11.
, sometimes rendered "City" US 66 on contemporary maps, was a short business loop that existed in the city from the late 1940s until US 66 was decommissioned in California in 1964. Designated as Legislative Route Number 191, its former alignment continued east from the junction of US 66, former US 91
and former US 395
at Mount Vernon Avenue and 5th St, east along 5th Street and then north on E Street. E Street continued on to become modern Kendall Drive, rejoining the US 66 mainline at Cajon Boulevard near Devore
. Part of this routing included the former alignment of State Route 18 prior to its truncation. In 1959, the routing was truncated to Palm Avenue with the construction of the Barstow Freeway. After 1964, the routing became State Route 206, which was decommissioned in 1991 and is no longer signed.
going into Oklahoma City, but the main route was moved onto Interstate 35
. The beginning of the business route was at Lincoln Boulevard (in a concurrency with U.S. Route 77
), leaving the main route on Interstate 440 (now Interstate 44). At 23rd Street (in front of the State Capitol
), the two routes formed a tri-plex with U.S. Route 270
and turned west. US 77 turned off the multiplex at Broadway. At May Avenue, the Business US 66/US 270 routes turned north (forming a quadplex with Oklahoma State Highway 3 and Oklahoma State Highway 74). At I-440/US 66, the Business US 66 designation ended; the main route (along with US 270) continued west on the 39th Expressway (now Oklahoma State Highway 66).
area. It left the main route in Webb City
by continuing west on Broadway (the main route turned south on Jefferson Street), angled off as MacArthur Boulevard, then turned south on Main Ave, passing through Airport Drive
and into Joplin. It ended at Seventh Street in Joplin. Part of the road is now city street, the rest is Route 171 and Route 43.
was a bypass route of U.S. Route 66. In the northern part of Joplin, US 66 headed on a zig-zag course towards the downtown area; Bypass US 66 continued south on Rangeline Road (then also U.S. Route 71, then turned west on Seventh Street (now Route 66). The road would eventually become the main route of US 66, with the older alignment becoming Business US 66.
was a business route
of U.S. Route 66 and was the former alignment of the main road. It was created when the main route was moved to the bypass route of the highway. The road followed the now historic alignment of the highway (Zora Street, Florida Avenue, Utica Street, Euclid Street, St. Louis Avenue, Broadway, and Main Avenue), all of which (except Main) are now city streets. Main Avenue is part of Route 43. This road would later serve as part of U.S. Route 71 Business (Joplin), but this road no longer serves that path.
was a business route
of U.S. Route 66. The main route, which had been routed down a concurrency
with U.S. Route 71, now headed down a four lane expressway. A business route was created, following the older alignment through Carterville
and continuing to downtown Webb City. At Main Street, it turned off the old route to rejoin to main route.
to U.S. Route 71 at Kendricktown, Missouri. Alternate 66 became Route V in the early 1970s.
was a short lived bypass created when Interstate 44 was built on the north side of the city and the main route was concurrent
with I-44. It was located on Kearney Street and West Bypass and, as the city expanded across it, was redesignated Business US 66 when that route was moved from downtown. Much (but not all of the highway) is currently Route 744.
. In 1948, US 66 was moved from downtown (it followed Glenstone Avenue, St. Louis Street, College Street, and Chestnut Expressway) onto a new alignment onto Kearney Street (now Route 744) and West Bypass and the old highway became the business route. With the completion of Interstate 44, Business I-44 was concurrent
with it and US 66 was concurrent with I-44 (Kearney Street became, briefly, Bypass 66). By the late 1960s, Bypass 66 was deleted and the old bypass became the new Business 66 (the old Bus 66 was left as Business I-44 for a while, then turned over to the city). In 1970, Business 66 was done away with entirely.
. US 66 was the only highway with this type of designation. Business US 66 turned south from Kearney Street down Glenstone to St. Louis Street and then west to Park Central Square. At Commercial Street, Alternate Business US 66 headed west to Boonville Avenue, then south to rejoin Business US 66 at the city square.
. It existed in the 1960s.
St. Louis bypass
Bypass US 66 around the St. Louis
area was the designation for the relocated U.S. Route 66, commissioned as a bypass in 1958. Bypass US 66 is now (roughly) Interstate 270 and Lindbergh Boulevard (U.S. Route 61/U.S. Route 67).
Until 1969, when Business US 66 was returned to the US 66 designation, no non-bannered US 66 existed in the St. Louis area. In 1938, US 66 was moved on a bypass around the city of St. Louis. The original alignment of US 66 became the business route. In 1969, the business route, now joined with the East St. Louis business route was redesignated US 66, while Bypass US 66 was redesignated Interstate 270.
St. Louis optional route
St. Louis business loop
Business US 66 in the St. Louis, Missouri
area was actually one of two business routes in the entire metro St. Louis area. A separate Business US 66 existed in the East St. Louis, Illinois
area. In 1939, US 66 was routed over the Chain of Rocks Bridge
to have the route bypass the city. Non-bannered 66 continued west down, roughly, Interstate 270 to Lindbergh Boulevard, then south to rejoin the original alignment down Watson Road. The business route turned south on Riverview, Broadway, Florissant Ave, Tucker Boulevard (then 12th Street), then southwest on Gravois Road, then west-southwest on Chippewa Street (which becomes Watson Road in the suburbs). The road was originally designated "City" 66, but in 1960 it became "Business" 66, a trend seen on other city routes across the country. The East St. Louis Business 66 connected with the St. Louis Business 66 at the MacArthur Bridge
connection with Gravois Road. By 1969, Business 66 returned (via the East St. Louis route) to being non-bannered US 66.
Currently, Riverview, Broadway, Florissant, and Tucker are now city streets. Gravois Road is Route 30, and Chippewa Street and Watson Road are now Route 366.
East St. Louis business loop
Business US 66 in the East St. Louis, Illinois
area followed the older main alignment of U.S. Highway 66 through St. Louis
metropolitan area when US 66 was routed around the north and west sides of St. Louis. It followed Nameoki Road, Edwardsville Road, and 10th Street, eventually crossing the MacArthur Bridge
to join (a different) Business US 66 in St. Louis. The route was created in 1938, and the designation was removed in 1969. The road is now predominantly Illinois State Route 203, and (in East St. Louis) a city street.
Springfield, IL business loop
U.S. Route 66 Business was the old alignment of U.S. Route 66 through Springfield, Illinois
, United States
after the bypass along Adlai Stevenson Drive and Dirksen Parkway opened ca. 1939. It was originally designated U.S. Route 66 City, and changed to a business route ca. 1960. In the early 1960s a one-way pair
was added; after that it came from the south on 6th Street and split into 6th and 5th Streets, turning east on Myrtle and Spruce Streets to reach 9th Street. It used 9th Street into Peoria Road to end at Dirksen Parkway north of Springfield. When US 66 was removed from Springfield ca. 1979, Interstate 55 Business was designated not on what had been US 66 but on former US 66 Business through downtown. This is now also marked as Historic US 66.
Lincoln business loop
Bloomington business loop
Joliet alternate
Alternate US Highway 66 was designated in 1940 when a new alignment of Route 66
opened, passing through Plainfield, Illinois
and bypassing Joliet
. Alternate US 66 branched off the main route near Romeoville
and headed south, finally rejoining the main route at Gardner
. Its total length was about 40 miles (64.4 km). The highway is now designated Illinois Route 53
. The later "main" alignment of US 66 is near (and in some cases under) Interstate 55
.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
to Los Angeles, California, when the signage for U.S. 66 was transferred to the Arroyo Seco Parkway (also known as the Pasadena Freeway
Pasadena Freeway
The Arroyo Seco Parkway, formerly known as the Pasadena Freeway, is the first freeway in California and the western United States. It connects Los Angeles with Pasadena alongside the Arroyo Seco. It is notable not only for being the first, mostly opened in 1940, but for representing the...
, with alignment lasted from 1938 to 1964, when Alternate U.S. 66 was eliminated as well as Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway into SR 11, and became SR 110 in 1981.
The routing from Pasadena to Los Angeles was west on Colorado Boulevard and then south on Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California...
. The end of the Pasadena Freeway then blended into Figueroa Street and the alternate route rejoined its parent route. The routing along Figueroa Street and the portion along Colorado Boulevard between Linda Vista Avenue and Figueroa Street also bore the designation of State Route 11.
San Bernardino business loop
Business US 66 in San BernardinoSan Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, sometimes rendered "City" US 66 on contemporary maps, was a short business loop that existed in the city from the late 1940s until US 66 was decommissioned in California in 1964. Designated as Legislative Route Number 191, its former alignment continued east from the junction of US 66, former US 91
U.S. Route 91
U.S. Route 91 is a north–south United States highway. The highway currently serves as a connection between the Cache Valley area of Utah and Idaho to the Salt Lake and Idaho Falls population centers. Prior the mid-1970s, U.S. 91 was an international commerce route from Long Beach, California...
and former US 395
U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 is a U.S. Route in the western United States. The southern terminus of the route is in the Mojave Desert at Interstate 15 near Hesperia. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border near Laurier, where the road becomes Highway 395 upon entering British Columbia. At one time, the...
at Mount Vernon Avenue and 5th St, east along 5th Street and then north on E Street. E Street continued on to become modern Kendall Drive, rejoining the US 66 mainline at Cajon Boulevard near Devore
Devore, California
Devore is a neighborhood in the city of San Bernardino, California. It is located near the northern junction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 215. The area is just outside the boundaries of the San Bernardino National Forest; nearby cities/town centers include Universitytown, Fontana, and Rialto...
. Part of this routing included the former alignment of State Route 18 prior to its truncation. In 1959, the routing was truncated to Palm Avenue with the construction of the Barstow Freeway. After 1964, the routing became State Route 206, which was decommissioned in 1991 and is no longer signed.
Amarillo business loop
Business US 66 in Amarillo followed the original alignment of US 66 when the later alignment was moved to Amarillo Boulevard. It began at Amarillo Boulevard, turning south on Taylor Street (one way, the east-bound route was on Fillmore Street). At Sixth Street it turned west, rejoining the main route at Amarillo Boulevard on the west side of the city.Clinton business loop
Oklahoma City business loop
Business US 66 in Oklahoma City followed the older alignment of US 66 after the main route was moved to the interstates. The original highway turned south from EdmondEdmond, Oklahoma
Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,405, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Oklahoma....
going into Oklahoma City, but the main route was moved onto Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
. The beginning of the business route was at Lincoln Boulevard (in a concurrency with U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77 is a north–south United States highway. It is unsigned in and around Dallas, Texas. Its historic segment through South Dakota and Minnesota was decommissioned with the advent of Interstate 29 but otherwise the route has been spared the decommissioning that has shortened other US...
), leaving the main route on Interstate 440 (now Interstate 44). At 23rd Street (in front of the State Capitol
Oklahoma State Capitol
The Oklahoma State Capitol is the house of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the building that houses the Oklahoma Legislature, and the meeting place of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. It is located along Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City. The present structure includes a dome that was...
), the two routes formed a tri-plex with U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270 is a spur of U.S. Route 70. It currently runs for 643 miles from Liberal, Kansas at U.S. Route 54 to White Hall, Arkansas at Interstate 530 and U.S. Route 65. It passes through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
and turned west. US 77 turned off the multiplex at Broadway. At May Avenue, the Business US 66/US 270 routes turned north (forming a quadplex with Oklahoma State Highway 3 and Oklahoma State Highway 74). At I-440/US 66, the Business US 66 designation ended; the main route (along with US 270) continued west on the 39th Expressway (now Oklahoma State Highway 66).
Tulsa business loop
Business US 66 in Tulsa was an older alignment of US 66 that was bannered when US 66 was moved to Interstate 44. It followed 11th Street west west from I-44 to 12th St (it angles downton onto 10th Street briefly, then re-aligns as 11th Street). It turned south at Southwest Boulevard, rejoining the main route at I-44.Joplin alternate
Alternate US 66 was an alternate route of U.S. Route 66 in the Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
area. It left the main route in Webb City
Webb City, Missouri
Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Webb City is located at ....
by continuing west on Broadway (the main route turned south on Jefferson Street), angled off as MacArthur Boulevard, then turned south on Main Ave, passing through Airport Drive
Airport Drive, Missouri
Airport Drive is a village in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 698 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community is still commonly referred to as "Stone's Corner," as the intersection of Route 43 and Route 171 is...
and into Joplin. It ended at Seventh Street in Joplin. Part of the road is now city street, the rest is Route 171 and Route 43.
Joplin bypass
Bypass US 66 in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
was a bypass route of U.S. Route 66. In the northern part of Joplin, US 66 headed on a zig-zag course towards the downtown area; Bypass US 66 continued south on Rangeline Road (then also U.S. Route 71, then turned west on Seventh Street (now Route 66). The road would eventually become the main route of US 66, with the older alignment becoming Business US 66.
Joplin business loop
Business US 66 in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
was a business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
of U.S. Route 66 and was the former alignment of the main road. It was created when the main route was moved to the bypass route of the highway. The road followed the now historic alignment of the highway (Zora Street, Florida Avenue, Utica Street, Euclid Street, St. Louis Avenue, Broadway, and Main Avenue), all of which (except Main) are now city streets. Main Avenue is part of Route 43. This road would later serve as part of U.S. Route 71 Business (Joplin), but this road no longer serves that path.
Webb City business loop
Business US 66 in Webb City, MissouriWebb City, Missouri
Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Webb City is located at ....
was a business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
of U.S. Route 66. The main route, which had been routed down a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with U.S. Route 71, now headed down a four lane expressway. A business route was created, following the older alignment through Carterville
Carterville, Missouri
Carterville is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,891 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and continuing to downtown Webb City. At Main Street, it turned off the old route to rejoin to main route.
Carthage alternate
U.S. Route 66 Alternate was a short one-mile (1.6 km) spur of U.S. Route 66. Its southeast to northwest alignment ran from US 66 just northeast of Carthage, MissouriCarthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
to U.S. Route 71 at Kendricktown, Missouri. Alternate 66 became Route V in the early 1970s.
Springfield, MO bypass
Bypass US 66 in Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
was a short lived bypass created when Interstate 44 was built on the north side of the city and the main route was concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-44. It was located on Kearney Street and West Bypass and, as the city expanded across it, was redesignated Business US 66 when that route was moved from downtown. Much (but not all of the highway) is currently Route 744.
Springfield, MO business loop
Business US Highway 66 (also "City US 66" until 1960) was an old alignment of U.S. Route 66 in Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. In 1948, US 66 was moved from downtown (it followed Glenstone Avenue, St. Louis Street, College Street, and Chestnut Expressway) onto a new alignment onto Kearney Street (now Route 744) and West Bypass and the old highway became the business route. With the completion of Interstate 44, Business I-44 was concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with it and US 66 was concurrent with I-44 (Kearney Street became, briefly, Bypass 66). By the late 1960s, Bypass 66 was deleted and the old bypass became the new Business 66 (the old Bus 66 was left as Business I-44 for a while, then turned over to the city). In 1970, Business 66 was done away with entirely.
Alternate business loop
Business US 66 in Springfield is also unique. It is the only business route to spin off an alternate: Alternate Business US 66 was a second business alignment of U.S. Route 66 in Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. US 66 was the only highway with this type of designation. Business US 66 turned south from Kearney Street down Glenstone to St. Louis Street and then west to Park Central Square. At Commercial Street, Alternate Business US 66 headed west to Boonville Avenue, then south to rejoin Business US 66 at the city square.
Lebanon, MO business loop
Business US Highway 66 was an older alignment of US 66 in Lebanon, Missouri. It followed Elm Street through the city and later became Business Loop I-44. US 66 became part of Interstate 44Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
. It existed in the 1960s.
Rolla, MO business loop
Business US Highway 66 was an older alignment of US 66 in Rolla, Missouri. It followed Kingshighway and Bishop Avenue through the city and is now Business Loop I-44. US 66 had been moved and later became part of Interstate 44. It existed in the 1960s.St. Louis bypass
Bypass US 66 around the St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area was the designation for the relocated U.S. Route 66, commissioned as a bypass in 1958. Bypass US 66 is now (roughly) Interstate 270 and Lindbergh Boulevard (U.S. Route 61/U.S. Route 67).
Until 1969, when Business US 66 was returned to the US 66 designation, no non-bannered US 66 existed in the St. Louis area. In 1938, US 66 was moved on a bypass around the city of St. Louis. The original alignment of US 66 became the business route. In 1969, the business route, now joined with the East St. Louis business route was redesignated US 66, while Bypass US 66 was redesignated Interstate 270.
St. Louis optional route
Business US 66 in the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area was actually one of two business routes in the entire metro St. Louis area. A separate Business US 66 existed in the East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
area. In 1939, US 66 was routed over the Chain of Rocks Bridge
Chain of Rocks Bridge
The Chain of Rocks Bridge spans the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri. The eastern end of the bridge is on Chouteau Island, , while the western end is on the Missouri shoreline....
to have the route bypass the city. Non-bannered 66 continued west down, roughly, Interstate 270 to Lindbergh Boulevard, then south to rejoin the original alignment down Watson Road. The business route turned south on Riverview, Broadway, Florissant Ave, Tucker Boulevard (then 12th Street), then southwest on Gravois Road, then west-southwest on Chippewa Street (which becomes Watson Road in the suburbs). The road was originally designated "City" 66, but in 1960 it became "Business" 66, a trend seen on other city routes across the country. The East St. Louis Business 66 connected with the St. Louis Business 66 at the MacArthur Bridge
MacArthur Bridge (St. Louis)
The MacArthur Bridge over the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois is a 647 foot long truss bridge. Construction on the bridge was begun in 1909 by the city of St. Louis to break the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis's monopoly on the area's railroad...
connection with Gravois Road. By 1969, Business 66 returned (via the East St. Louis route) to being non-bannered US 66.
Currently, Riverview, Broadway, Florissant, and Tucker are now city streets. Gravois Road is Route 30, and Chippewa Street and Watson Road are now Route 366.
East St. Louis business loop
Business US 66 in the East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
area followed the older main alignment of U.S. Highway 66 through St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
metropolitan area when US 66 was routed around the north and west sides of St. Louis. It followed Nameoki Road, Edwardsville Road, and 10th Street, eventually crossing the MacArthur Bridge
MacArthur Bridge (St. Louis)
The MacArthur Bridge over the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois is a 647 foot long truss bridge. Construction on the bridge was begun in 1909 by the city of St. Louis to break the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis's monopoly on the area's railroad...
to join (a different) Business US 66 in St. Louis. The route was created in 1938, and the designation was removed in 1969. The road is now predominantly Illinois State Route 203, and (in East St. Louis) a city street.
Springfield, IL business loop
U.S. Route 66 Business was the old alignment of U.S. Route 66 through Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after the bypass along Adlai Stevenson Drive and Dirksen Parkway opened ca. 1939. It was originally designated U.S. Route 66 City, and changed to a business route ca. 1960. In the early 1960s a one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
was added; after that it came from the south on 6th Street and split into 6th and 5th Streets, turning east on Myrtle and Spruce Streets to reach 9th Street. It used 9th Street into Peoria Road to end at Dirksen Parkway north of Springfield. When US 66 was removed from Springfield ca. 1979, Interstate 55 Business was designated not on what had been US 66 but on former US 66 Business through downtown. This is now also marked as Historic US 66.
Lincoln business loop
Alternate US Highway 66 was designated in 1940 when a new alignment of Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
opened, passing through Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
and bypassing Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
. Alternate US 66 branched off the main route near Romeoville
Romeoville, Illinois
Romeoville is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,153 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the population has grown to 36,837. It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago near the newly constructed I-355 extension south from the Stevenson Expressway to I-80...
and headed south, finally rejoining the main route at Gardner
Gardner, Illinois
Gardner is a village in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,463 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gardner is located at .-Demographics:...
. Its total length was about 40 miles (64.4 km). The highway is now designated Illinois Route 53
Illinois Route 53
Illinois Route 53 is an arterial north–south state highway in northeast Illinois. Route 53 runs south from Long Grove at Illinois Route 83 to Gardner at Interstate 55 west of old U.S. Highway 66, a distance of...
. The later "main" alignment of US 66 is near (and in some cases under) Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
.