EZ UPDATES

For readers of the EZ 66 Guide for Travelers, I have provided free online updates to help keep your Route 66 experience as current as possible. As you might imagine, Route 66 is constantly undergoing changes, some good, others not so. Businesses open and close, roads are re-routed and street names change.

Please check back here just before your trip for the latest info. Entries are dated as to when they were added.

If you wish to purchase your own copy of the EZ Guide, please go here.

EZ 66 readers have been helpful in keeping me keep the guidebook updated in between my own road trips, so if you discover something that needs to be addressed while on your journey, please let me know!

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AZ snow on Mar 14, 2025 at 4:34:17 pm [Print]
Check ahead if headed thru Az as snow and accidents have caused closures

FRIDAY MARCH 14 2025 FIRE AND HIGH WIND ALERT on Mar 13, 2025 at 3:30:58 pm [Print]
I just posted several links to warnings about the HIGH FIRE AND WIND DANGER that may extend from east of Albuquerque NM, thru the TX panhandle and across OK for Friday March 14. I recommend you go to my FB page:
EZ66 Guide to Route 66
to view these links. Or check other area weather sources.

They expect 70 + mph winds in the TX panhandle and into eastern NM. High profile vehicles (RVS) should PARK somewhere safe until this passes.

The wind and dry conditions have enhanced danger of wildfires. The power in parts of the Texas Panhandle will be cut off Friday morning to try to avoid fires, according to sources. One map shows this outage will occur along 40/66 west of Amarillo towards NM.

The worst fire danger appears to cover central OK.

Take this seriously and take precautions.

BUMP WELLSTON OK DETOUR on Feb 24, 2025 at 5:28:20 pm [Print]
66 CLOSED AT WELLSTON...USE LOCAL DETOUR on Sep 03, 2024 at 7:09:12 pm [remove] - [edit] [Print] UPDATE: GO TO EZ66 GUIDE TO ROUTE 66 on FB for a MAP of this detour.

After 71 years of carrying Turner Turnpike traffic over Route 66 on the east side of Wellston, OK, this battered and rusty old overpass (and the stretch of 66 that passed under it) is now CLOSED.

This closure will last about a year while they build a temp road to carry all 4 lanes of heavy I-44 traffic off this antique structure, then tear it down, build NEW spans, revise the off/onramps, etc.

But the good news for Route 66 travelers is that the brand new paved LOCAL detour is open and is an easy to drive 3 miles (plus 1 more mile to head back east on 66 so you can visit Butcher BBQ and follow 66B (original 66) thru Wellston (downtown murals and restored Captain Creek Bridge).

The city of Wellston encourages you to take the local detour. There is even a sign posted for westbound traffic at the closure that tells you to use the local detour to get to Butcher BBQ and On Cue in Wellston.

Ignore (but see below) the OK 66 DETOUR signs at US 177 or HWY 102 and continue on 66 to the marked local detour. It will take you about 7-9 minutes or so (depending on if you catch the stoplight controlling traffic over a narrow bridge). Don't speed (traffic may be impatient with you).!

This shorter detour is NOT FOR BIG HEAVY TRUCKS AND RVs. There is supposedly a weight/size limit, but not yet posted. If you are in something big, use the 30 mile detour via US 177/US 62 and OK HWY 102, or use I-44/Toll Rd, but check beforehand for the status of off/on ramps at Wellston.

MCJERRYS ROUTE 66 GALLERY 2-24-25 on Feb 24, 2025 at 5:25:52 pm [Print]
The weather forecast is great for this last week of February into the first week of March. I will try to open the gallery for you on these nice afternoons if you call or text ahead. But I will be away at times taking advantage of the good weather!

CA FIRE AFTERMATH on Feb 04, 2025 at 3:20:08 pm [Print]
The CA 66 association is asking for tourists to support the Route 66 businesses in the LA to San Bernardino rggion again after the recent fires. Areas north of Pasadena, and near Santa Monica (Including Malibu) were destroyed, and remain "out of bounds" for tourism. but most of the rest of the area, including the Santa Monica Pier, is OK. Be advised there may be issues with some hotels due to refugess, but rooms are reportedly available.

BRIDGE OPEN on Jan 13, 2025 at 11:44:31 pm [Print]
66 between the PONY BRIDGE and Bridgeport OK is OPEN again, after work on a bridge just west of the Pony Bridge was completed!

Ignore the time stamps on updates on Jan 09, 2025 at 3:52:19 pm [Print]
The time shown is whack but dates are ok

udropp inn Cafe Shamrock TX on Dec 27, 2024 at 10:44:39 pm [Print]
The cafe is now reopened under new management.

CATOOSA OK ROADWORK OK page-9 on Dec 01, 2024 at 10:39:35 pm [Print]
Starting on Dec 2 2024, the interchange of 4-lane OK hwy 66 (the last version of 66) and I-44 will be changed. A new overpass and right-hand exit from 44 to EastBound 4-lane OK 66 will replace the current Left hand exit. Also, traffic entering I-44 from 193rd Ave (original 66) will be able to join 4-lane OK 66 eastbound.
This will not directly affect users of the EZ 66 who should be following the original 66 via Cherokee and 193rd. But expect traffic in the Catoosa area to be affected during this reconstruction, which will last into 2026.

weather/traffic alerts on EZ 66 GUIDE TO ROUTE 66 ON FACEBOOK on Nov 07, 2024 at 12:09:13 am [Print]
please check https://www.facebook.com/EZGuide.Route66/ for CURRENT updates on issues such as (for example) fooding in MO, winter weather in NM, etc and other issues (like traffic jams) as they become known to me. I can quickly share official posts, and those from friends there, along with links to more info where available.