The Decertification of Route 66 in 1985
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The Last Stretch of U.S Hwy. 66
The Final Years (1979-1985)
East: Scotland, MO
West: Sanders, AZ
US 66 Scotland, MO to Sanders, AZ (1979 to 1985)
The demise of Route 66, shortened in 1977
In 1977, the eastern part of Route 66 was decertified in Illinois. The New Eastern Terminus was relocated in Scotland, MO, very close to the city of Joplin. It remained there until the highway was finally eliminated in 1985. The western terminus had already been
1979 Western Terminus moved, Route 66 is even shorter
On June 29, 1979 the Highway officials of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) voted to shift the "end point" from Needles east, across most of Arizona, to the village of Sanders, close to its border with New Mexico, at its junction with U.S. 191.
The Western Terminus of Route 66 remained there, in Sanders, until the whole highway was finally eliminated in 1985.
However, signage lingered on further west, in Williams, Arizona.
The last town to have Route 66 bypassed
Williams was the last town to have its section of Route 66 bypassed.
It fought in court to keep Interstate 40 from being built around the town. Dropping the suits when the state offered to build three Williams exits.
I-40 was completed on October 13, 1984, marking the end of US 66, which was decommissioned the following year.
Route 66 was Fully Decommissioned in 1985
On June 27, 1985 the Highway ceased to exist.
The AASHTO met in Duluth, Minnesota, and voted decertify it. The formal text was brief:
Elimination of U.S. Route 66 - APPROVED - Eliminate present U.S. Route 66 between the present beginning at Scotland, Missouri and the terminus at Sanders, Arizona. AASHTO (1985)
By eliminating the last segment of Route 66, between Scotland, Missuri and Sanders, Arizona the AASHTO effectively eliminated the highway.
Route 66 had officially disappeared.
Official memo with the decertification of U.S. Hwy. 66.
The Media and the decertification of Route 66
The media reacted, and articles were printed in newspapers across the nation. The New York Times published an article on June 29, 1985, " Chapter is Written For Route 66", where it reported that "... Route 66, the 2,200-mile highway immortalized in song, novel and television, is officially history, having fallen victim to the nation's Interstate Highway System. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on Thursday decertified the 59-year-old road to the West and voted to remove Route 66 highway signs. "It's all in the interest of progress," said Jack Freidenrich, an Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation who is chairman of the group's route and numbering committee."
Sadly, "Progress" terminated Route 66.
The image below shows another article, published on June 29, 1985, in the Wisconsin State Journal of Madison, Wisconsin. Its title read "Happy trails to Route 66," it repeated the same sad news of Route 66's demise.
Shortly after, the U.S. Highway 66 signs were removed, and all traces of it vanished from the official records.
Celebrating the One Hundred Years of Route 66 1926-2026
Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary this year!! The 2026 centennial of the Mother Road is a remarkable event. Each of the eight states along the former alignment of the Mother Road is preparing events, parties, and creating new attractions as they get ready to celebrate the highway on its 100th birthday.
>> Learn all about Route 66 Centennial Celebrations 1926-2026
More Useful Information about Route 66
The head of "Chicken boy". Los Angeles, CA. Source
- A detailed description of Route 66 (maps and itinerary)
- How long is Route 66?
- Where is Route 66?
- Can you still drive the entire Route 66?
- Where does Route 66 start and end?
- Brick paved segments on Route 66
- 10 Reasons to go on a road trip
- Detailed description leg-by-leg with custom interactive maps of the alignments of US66, and a description of each leg from Chicago to Santa Monica.
- Our 1-Week Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary from Chicago to Santa Monica, stopping at the main sights along the highway.
Have the road trip of your life!
Gary's Gay Parita Sinclair
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Credits
Banner image: Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, Arizona by Perla Eichenblat
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