Bloomington-Normal
As U.S. 66 enters the Bloomington-Normal Metro it enters the Town of Normal first. It comes into town on the Frontage Road along Interstate 55. This turns into Shelbourne Drive. The marked path turns along Henry Street. Note: U.S. 66 at one time followed the Union Pacific (ex- Southern Pacific; Gulf, Mobile, & Ohio, Illinois Central & Gulf, Chicago & Alton) to Pine Street. With a subdivision development and an overpass across the Union Pacific on Towanda Avenue, has caused the slight shift in through traffic pass. Henry Street curves and turns into Pine Street. Along Pine Street there are a few buildings that were old service stations at one time. U.S. 66 heads south on Linden Street. Once on Linden Street, it goes four blocks to Willow Street. Willow Street takes U.S. 66 west into Illinois State University. When Willow Street reaches Main Street, U.S. 66 heads south. This at one time was the path for U.S. 51 and U.S. 66. Both highways have been shifted to the freeway on the west side of th metro. Today Main Street is BUSN U.S. 51. From College Avenue, in Normal, to near R.T. Dunn Drive, northbound and southbound traffic are on different one-way streets. Once Main Street reaches Veterans Parkway, U.S. 66 enters southbound. It follows Veterans Parkway until Fox Creek Drive. This will take U.S. 66 across Interstate 55/74; U.S. 51. Just after the overpass, U.S. 66 turns right to enter Beich Road. Beich Road becomes the Frontage Road to Lincoln.
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Normal
In the Town of Normal, U.S. 66 passes through the Illinois State University campus. South of ISU, it passes Illinois Weslyen. A few blocks south of the Willow Street part of U.S. 66 is Uptown Normal. This was where the Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton railroads had their junction. Today the former Illinois Central north-south rail line is a bie trail. In Uptown Normal, is the Childrens Discovery Museaum, resturants, and the Normal Transportation Center.
As U.S. comes into Normal it passes under Verterans Parkway. In the photo above the first alginment is heading under Veterens Parkway, which is the 2nd alignment.
Looking north along the old section from Pine Street.
Looking east along Willow Street near Beech Street.
A tourist marker for in Normal.
A tourist marker for in Normal.
A close-up of the tourist marker for in Normal.
A close-up of the tourist marker for in Normal.
A close-up of the tourist marker for in Normal.
A close-up of the tourist marker for in Normal.
The former Spraque Service Station in Normal.
NB U.S. 66 on Linden Street.
Looking east along Willow Street.
Bloomington
U.S. 66 passes through many attractions in the Bloomington Area. At downtown Bloomington, it will pass by the Center for the Preforming Arts, and the Mc Lean County Historical Museum. North of downtown is the Adlai Stevenson Home. South of downtown is Evergreen Cemetery. This is the final resting place for many famous people.
The plaque outside the home of Adlai Stevenson home.
The home.
A statue outside of Carl's Ice Cream along Empire, just west of U.S. 66.
SB U.S. 66 just south of Locus Street.
A street sign in Downtown Bloomington.
NB U.S. Rt. 66 on Main Street at Washington St.
A tourism marker in Downtown Bloomington.
A close-up of the marker.
A mural in Downtown Bloomington.
Heading north through Downtown Bloomington on East Street (BUSN U.S. 51).
An old advertising sign on SB Rt. 66 in Downtown Bloomington.
A carved tree near the grave of the girl that was the namesake for Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in Evergreen Cemetery south of Downtown Bloomington.
The entrance to Miller Park.
A roadside photo op in Bloomington.
NB U.S. 66 on Fox Creek Drive.
NB U.S. 66 on Beich Road near Fox Creek Drive.
The Nestle Factory on the southwest side of the city.
NB U.S. 66 as it enters the City of Bloomington.
