Through the Texas Panhandle, Route 66 paralleled the Rock Island railroad and passed through Shamrock, McLean, Alanreed, Groom, Conway, Amarillo, Bushland, Vega, Adrian, and Glenrio. The towns and cities had benefited greatly from the railroad, now the highway would in time, increase the economic viability of the communities even further.
Though Route 66 was of vital importance to the Texas Panhandle during the 1920s and 30s, the Texas Department of Highways gave top priority to other roads downstate, particularly highways connecting the state's largest cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and others. By 1934, however, the worst of the non-paved stretches east of Amarillo in the Jericho area got concrete and the road was entirely paved across the Panhandle by 1937.
In Amarillo, Route 66 entered the city from the east on N.E. 8th St. (now Amarillo Blvd.) along with US 60. Just to the north of the downtown area, 66 turned south on Fillmore St. (US 87-287) crossing under the Rock Island Railroad into the downtown area. Downtown, the highway turned west on Sixth through the San Jacinto Heights area before passing the Veterans' Hospital and leaving the city. Along the route through the city, scenery on Route 66 was a mixed bag. The eastern approach on 8th Street consisted of gas stations, cafes, motels, and other highway businesses. During World War II, Amarillo Air Force Base was established along the south side of the road. Closer to town, one could see the Tri State Fairgrounds to the south. On Fillmore Street downtown were the city's hotels, banks, stores, post office, municipal and state offices, etc. Sixth Street passed through one of the oldest and prettiest of Amarillo's residential areas and alongside the Amarillo Country Club.
The end of World War II brought a surge in migrating Americans taking to the roads and highways in record numbers. The highways were loaded with more cars than were designed for and were further deteriorated by wartime trucks. But business on Route 66 was "hitting the jackpot" as gas stations, motels, restaurants, etc. were rolling in record profits from the traveling public.
Texas was one of the leading states in highway construction and improvements in the early postwar years. By 1954 the highway was four-laned through the Panhandle from the Oklahoma border through Shamrock to the Jericho gap near Groom and then through Amarillo west to Bushland.
In 1956, the Interstate Highway Act was passed and U.S. 66 would be designated as Interstate 40 through the Panhandle. The move toward Interstate designation began shortly thereafter and by 1960, U.S. 66 was a four-lane highway with upgraded portions designated as !-40 from Shamrock to Conway, excepting uncompleted bypasses around Shamrock, McLean, Alanreed, Groom, and Conway, not to be built until the 1970s and 80s. The highway west of Amarillo to Wildorado was also multi-laned and up to Interstate standards in the early 1960s.
By 1966, the only long two-lane section of 66 not yet replaced ran from east of Vega to the New Mexico border at Glenrio. In March of that year, the first section of I-40 was opened in Amarillo and two years later, the freeway was entirely completed through the city.
By the mid-1970s, most cities and towns along I-40/US 66 in the Panhandle had been bypassed. By 1979, Groom and McLean were among the last towns on the route without Interstate bypassing. That would soon change as through traffic was diverted off the old highway in Groom in 1980. Four years later, I-40 was opened in the McLean area , leaving only Williams, AZ untouched, briefly before it became the last city to be bypassed by I-40 that October.
In 1985, US 66 was officially decertified as a federal highway nationwide. By this time only four states still certified Route 66. They were Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. By 1986, the 66 signs were removed from the road in all eight states. Route 66 was gone forever in designation, but definitely not in spirit or historical value. In the smaller communities in the Panhandle there are still many attractions along the old highway which is worth an exit of the Interstate.
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East Amarillo Blvd. street scene - 1964
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Traffic circle on Amarillo's west side, 1957
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Amarillo inset map, 1962
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Burma Shave display - Texas Route 66 Museum, McLean
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Diner exhibit at Texas Route 66 Museum
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Route 66 station, McLean
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For more Route 66 photos in Texas, see the links page for the Texas album
Updated 3/18/02 |
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