Historical U.S. Federal Route 66; Sprinfield-to-Stauton, Illinois 1930-77
Roads of the Mid-South & West > Highways of the State of Illinois > Historical U.S. Federal Route 66, Illinois > Historical U.S. Federal Route 66; Springfield-to-Stauton, Illinois > Historical U.S. Federal Route 66; Springfield-to-Stauton, Illinois 1930-77
The last aligment of this Historical Route before it was decomisioned. Much of this runs along Interstate 55. Also, this is pretty much a straight shot, north-south from Springfield to near Litchfield. After Litchfied, Rt. 66 breaks into several alignments at various towns.
Springfield
In Springfield there is two alignments of Rt. 66, besides the 1926-1930 route. The main route for tourists is the one that goes near downtown Springfield. Then from 1940-1977, it By-Passed the city along Dirksen Parkway.
SB Rt. 66 near the 6th Street Interchange with I-55/72 on the southside of Springfield.
Rt. 66 runs along I-55 across Lake Springfield.
Rural-Chatham
On the southern side of Lake Springfield, Rt. 66 exits I-55 and heads long the frontage road.
Guild marker at the end of the ramp from SB I-55.
SB Rt. 66 goes back to two-way traffic here.
Glenarm-Rural Sangamon County
Glenarm is a small little town between Chatham and Divernon. This is located north of the IL St Rt 104 interchange with I-55.
City Limit sign.
SB Rt 66 at Glenarm.
At IL St Rt 104, Rt. 66 links up with I-55 and runs to near Divernon.
BGS informing travelers to use I-55.
Divernon
Divernon is the southern most town that Rt. 66 passes through in Sangamon County. This highway passes along the eastern side of the village.
City limit sign.
Welcome sign.
SB Rt. 66 south of Divernon.
Farmersville
This is another small little town that Rt. 66 passes through along this alignment.
SB Rt. 66 at Farmersville. Note: How this old highway is somewhat limited access...
Rural-Montgomery County
In Central Montgomery County, Rt. 66 runs along both sides of Interstate 55. South on Illinois State Route 108, Rt. 66 crosses over the highway and keeps heading south.
SB IL St Rt 66 near IL St Rt 108.
Guild markers in Rural Montgomery County.
Also there is two different alignemnts of the highway. A few sharp curves were straightened out in the 1940's around a railroad crossing.
I-55 is in the right of the picutre, the old SB lanes start up here.
Height marker for the underpass at the railroad crossing.
The railroad underpass in Rural Montgomery County.
Litchfield
At Litchfield, Rt.66 was alignened twice. Once more directly through town and some rural areas. the other was about a city block to a half mile west of the original alignment.
The water town on the northside of Litchfield.
Mt. Olive
This is the northenr most town in Macoupin County that Rt. 66 passes through. Rt. 66 was aligned at least twice in the Mt. Olive area. The first alignemnt went into town and closely by-passes it to the north and west. Ont the westside is the Soulsby Shell Station. This is another historical service station.
Guild marker where the two alignments split.
Rural Macoupin County-Staunton
This alignment of Rt. 66 crosses back over to the westside of Interstate 55, south of Mt. Olive. Then runs along the eastside of Staunton.
A railroad underpass south of Mt. Olive.
Between Mt. Olive and Stauton the route splits up. Heading southbound it is not marker. When the marker highway turns west keep heading south for the 1940-1977 alignment. This follows the frontage road of I-55 to Illinois State Route 4.
The markered alignment crosses I-55 and runs along the eastern side of Stauton and south on IL St Rt 4.
A intersection of the eastside of Staunton.
SB Rt. 66 east of Staunton.
SB Rt 66 near the intersection with IL St Rt 4 (the 1926-30 alignment).
