One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was
established on November 11, 1926. The highway, which became one of
the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago,
Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico,
Arizona, and California, before ending at Los Angeles, covering a
total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km).
Route 66 served as a major path for those who
migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and it
supported the economies of the communities through which the road
passed. People doing business along the route became prosperous due
to the growing popularity of the highway, and those same people
later fought to keep the highway alive in the face of the growing
threat of being bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System.
In New Mexico, as in most other states, rural
sections of I-40 were to be constructed first with bypasses around
cities to come later. However, some business and civic leaders in
cities along US 66 were completely opposed to bypassing fearing
loss of business and tax revenues. In 1963, the New Mexico
Legislature enacted legislation that banned the construction of
interstate bypasses around cities by local request. This
legislation was short-lived, however, due to pressures from
Washington and threat of loss of federal highway funds so it was
rescinded by 1965. In 1964, Tucumcari and San Jon became the first
cities in New Mexico to work out an agreement with state and
federal officials in determining the locations of their I-40
bypasses as close to their business areas as possible in order to
permit easy access for highway travelers to their localities. Other
cities soon fell in line including Santa Rosa, Moriarty, Grants and
Gallup although it wasn't until well into the 1970s that most of
those cities would be bypassed by I-40.
Access to this cache is possible by getting off
at Exit 203 either East or Westbound. Old Route 66 (Frontage Road)
is south of I-40. Turn left and head East. The road is visible
ahead of you through the brush growing out of the roadbed. Part of
this road is still is use by ranchers in the area. Just follow
their pathway. Beyond the turn to the fields, the road is little
used. During the summer (when this was placed), the brush was
pretty tall. Easy to drive through (mindful of possible scratches
to painted bumpers). During the winter months, the road will be
totally exposed. Obviously this road doesn't get plowed during
snowfalls.
Please place the cache as found to minimize
water entering the host container.