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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BUMP WELLSTON OK DETOUR on Oct 06, 2025 at 12:48:08 am [Print]
66 CLOSED AT WELLSTON...USE LOCAL DETOUR UPDATE: GO TO EZ66GUIDE 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.

BUMP GEMINI GIANT MOVED on Sep 09, 2025 at 2:28:25 pm [Print]
WILMINGTON ILLINOIS NEW LOCATION OF GEMINI GIANT
DO NOT STOP AT THE FORMER "LAUNCHING PAD" RESTAURANT SITE ON THE EAST SIDE OF WILMINGTON, ILLINOIS!

It closed a while back, and the GEMINI GIANT is now at his NEW HOME, just WEST of downtown Wilmington.

VISITORS TO THE FORMER RESTAURANT SITE ARE NOT WELCOME.

Again, don't stop there. Drive on by to visit the Gemini Giant in his friendly NEW home.

Except for that, Wilmington is a GREAT place to visit. There is a new 'LANDING PAD" gift shop by the relocated GIANT, and historic downtown is worth a visit.

Catoosa Oklahoma on Sep 05, 2025 at 2:01:05 am [Print]
The blue whale is closed while a new gift shop etc is built. You can view the whale from the road but be careful if you park.

TEXAS UPDATES on Aug 10, 2025 at 8:05:11 pm [Print]
Thanks to Ray from Amarillo:


The overpass at Cadiillac Ranch is OPEN.

McLean tpo Alanreed: It seems there is a newly paved frontage road from hwy 273 at EXIT 142 that goes west to the stub of the South Frontage Rd (that joins old 66 to to Alanreed). (they removed the overpass that you formerly would use between 4-lane 66 on the west side on McLean and the S Frontage Rd)

I can't give precise directions until I check out this connection.

OVER PASS CLOSURES BETWEEN ROLLA (DOOLIOTTLE) AND ST ROBERT MO on Aug 06, 2025 at 10:12:43 pm [Print]
There will be two overpasses (bridges) over I-44 closed between St Robert and Rolla MO, starting August 18 and 25, thru the end of October.

The closure of the overpass at EXIT 172 for Hwy D to Jerome (MO page-11 in the EZ 66) will prevent EASTBOUND travel on old 66 (on the north side of 44) between EXIT 169 and EXIT 172 (as you won't be able to cross over I-44 at EXIT 172 to continue EAST).

So use I-44 EASTBOUND between EXIT 169 AND EXIT 172 until this overpass reopens. They say the ramps will remain open, so WESTBOUND traffic SHOULD be able to join old 66 at EXIT 172.

The closure at Exit 163 (Hwy 28) should not affect travel on old 66 as in the directions.


CONSTRUCTION ALERTS on Jul 22, 2025 at 1:09:57 am [Print]
!: A FEW MILES WEST OF CHANDLER OK. NARROW LANES, NO SHOULDER (BIKES USE CAUTION)

"2: 3 MILES OF ROADWORK FROM EXIT 44 (COOLIDGE) WEST.IF WESTBOUND DO NOT EXIT AT COOLIDGE AS YOU CANNOT GET BACK ON WESTBOUND HERE. THERE IS NO DETOUR VIA 66 HERE.
3: THERE IS CURRENTLY ROAD WORK IN THE ALLENTOWN AZ AREA, AND THERE HAS BEEN RECURRING ROADWORK NEAR HOLBROOK RECENTLY.

CUBA MO on Jul 22, 2025 at 1:03:31 am [Print]
WEIR ON 66 IS CLOSED

GRANITE CITY GIANT ALERT on Jul 22, 2025 at 1:01:26 am [Print]
A couple of new giants in GRANITE CITY Illinois (IL pg 28)
Earl The Mechinic is at Obrien Tire 3924 Nameoki Rd on the OPTION 66 (this business dates back almost 120 years)

Rusty the Muffler Man (holding not a muffler but a sledgehammer) is at 614 Neidringhaus Ave at Granite City's historic Lincoln Place Neighborhood.

PLUS: GIANT FORK AT 1901 CLEVELAND BLVD

Giant Graniteware tea pot at It's Electric Neon Sign Park 19th Street and Delmar Avenue, Granite City

HENRY'S RABBIT RANCH STAUNTON ILLINOIS I L PG 21 on Jul 22, 2025 at 12:59:59 am [Print]
DUE TO THE UNTIMELY PASSING OF RICH HENRY, HIS FORMER COLLECTION IS being disoersed. Currently the outside exhibits of Campbell 66 etc is still viewable but that may change.

AZ PAGE 3 on Jul 22, 2025 at 12:57:56 am [Print]
CURRENTLY YOU CAN'T TAKE THE SIDE TRIP SOUTH OF I-40 TO THE OLD ALLENTOWN BRIDGE DUE TO OVERPASS CONSTRUCTION