Illinois Route 66

Chicago Attractions Joliet Region Attractions Pontiac Region Attractions Bloomington Region Attractions Lincoln Region Attractions Springfield Region Attractions Carlinville Region Attractions East St. Louis Region Attractions

Historic Roadside Infrastructure

Some fans of nostalgia take their fascination with Illinois Route 66 right down to the pavement beneath their tires. And no wonder, because Illinois 66 isn’t only where The Mother Road Begins - and began - but it still stands as testimony to the very birth of the interstate highway system. GI’s used it, post-war, for the third migration to the promised land of California. The road’s reputation as “Bloody 66″ led to the birth of the Illinois State Police and improved safety engineering. History is everywhere and around every corner; you’ll see brick road sections, (very) old blacktop pavement and many abandoned routes and bridges that will give you a glimpse of early road engineering practices.

Chicago Attractions

1910 Railroad Viaduct
This viaduct between Western Avenue and Rockwell Street dictated that Route 66 follow this corridor through Chicago.

Joliet Region Attractions

Original two-lane segment
This segment of the road dates from 1926-30.

Pontiac Region Attractions

Lions Lake
This former "borrow pit" was excavated for the expansion of Route 66 into a four- lane highway. In the early 1990s, it was transformed into a small park.

Odell “Subway” Tunnel
A 1937 pedestrian tunnel under Route 66, known locally as the "subway." A reminder of the importance of Route 66 as a national travel corridor.

North Creek/Route 4 Bridge
Bridge abutments, the only ones with the original Illinois Route 4 logo on them, are located on either side of North Creek.

Bloomington Region Attractions

Memory Lane
A one-mile stretch of original Route 66 that has been restored back to the 1940s era with vintage billboard and Burma Shave signs.

Towanda Dead Man’s Curve
A dangerous curve on old Route 4, the original Route 66 before the 1940s.

Lincoln Region Attractions

Abandoned Route 66 Pavement, Lincoln
A small stretch of original Route 66 alignment pavement.

Lincoln Ghost Bridge
Ruins of a bridge over Salt Creek south of Lincoln—part of the 1926 alignment.

Springfield Region Attractions

Carpenter Park Route 66 pavement
An abandoned stretch of early Route 66 (1926-1936) now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Route 66 Memorial Rest Area
An original preserved rest area along Route 66.

Abandoned Brick Road Curve
An abandoned curve of the 1930-1933 Route 66 alignment that is still paved in bricks.

Abandoned Pavement under Lake Springfield
Original pavement still leads through the woods to where the road disappears under the lake.

Abandoned Snake Bridge/”Schuster” Bridge over Lick Creek
The 1926-1930 alignment of Route 66 (old Route 4) traveled over this bridge.

Historic Brick Road
This original 1.4 mile hand-lain brick road was completed in 1931, and curves through corn fields near Auburn.

Carlinville Region Attractions

Turkey Tracks in Pavement
An original piece of the narrow 1926-30 Route 66 alignment still features turkey tracks that were imprinted when the original concrete was poured.

Deerfield Drive Historic Bridge
A concrete bridge built in 1920 saved from destruction remains on IL-4.

East St. Louis Region Attractions

Chain of Rocks Bridge
This site marks the end of the Illinois portion of Route 66. Originally a motor route, it now carries walking and biking trails over the river.

McKinley Bridge
The first Route 66 alignment crossed the Mississippi River here from 1926-1929. After closing to vehicles, the bridge was reopened for pedestrians and bicyclists in 2007.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge
Formerly called the Veterans Memorial Bridge when built in 1951, the bridge is still open to traffic.

Poplar Street Bridge
The fifth and final Route 66 alignment crossed the Mississippi River here from 1968-1977, and is also the bridge featured in "National Lampoon's Vacation." The bridge is still open to traffic.

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