This section of Historical U.S. Rt. 66 in Illinois, runs as the Frontage Road to Interstate 55, for the most part. In several towns in this strech, there are multiple alignments. Only one alignment is signed though.
Dwight
Dwight is a town that has multiple alignments. Many of the attractions in this town are a short drive off either alignment of Rt. 66. This being the windmill at the Country Mansion or the train station in downtown Dwight.
The windmill at the Country Mansion. The train station is now the historical society and chamber of commerce. Dwight is a Amtrak stop.
This is pretty much a grain elevator along the Union Pacific Railroad north of Pontiac. Here there is a "66 roadside attraction".
Sign indicating the turn out. Barn advertisement.
Advertisements like this were not un-common along early highways in America. Weather it be for tobacco, a tourism attraction, or soft-drink, billbord on buildings were sometimes cheper than constructing a new structure.
The turn out is located in the old southbound lanes of Rt. 66. This photo looks north as I-55 curves back in to line and the old northbound lanes of Rt. 66 once again become the Frontage Road.
Pontiac
Pontiac is the county seat of Livingston County. Although it is not on Rt. 66, the courthouse, and square are worth the side trip to see. Also, just south of the courthouse, along the Vermillion River, there are beutifual suspenion bridges over the river. This is one thing Pontiac is known for. Pontiac is home to the states Route 66 Museum.
NB Rt. 66 as it nears the southside of Pontiac. The old State Police building south of Pontiac.
Chenoa
Chenoa is the first town you come to in Mc Lean County. The Livingston/Mc Lean County Line is on the northside of town. Here Rt. 66 was recently reduced from four to two lanes.
NB Rt. 66 in Chenoa. As you see the rail crossing on the right has recently been upgraded, while the one on the left (old southbound lanes) has not. Downtown Chenoa has several old buildings. This one has a old billboard restored. Another mural in Downtown Chenoa. One of the towns attractions is the Matthew T Scott House. It is a short drive off the highway. (Follow the signs) The plaque next to the house.
Lexington
Route 66 briefly passes through Lexington. Along the westside of the highway through the Lexington Area, the old southbound lanes have been turned into a bike/walk path. Some groups would like to see the length of Rt. 66 in Illinois turned into a bike/walk path. On the northside of town, a old strech of U.S. Rt. 66 is still intact, but closed to traffic. This is called "Memory Lane".
The attraction marker. looking north along the southern part of the old section of road. A woden mile post at the park on the north end of memory lane. Loking south along memory lane from the north end.
At the intersection with Mc Lean County Highway 8, a park and dedication has been constructed. On the old southbound lanes there is small park.
This neon sign use to inform motorists that Lexington was the east. A marker on the bike/walk path. Looking north along the bike/walk path north of Mc Lean County Highway 8. Looking north along the bike/walk path south of Mc Lean County Highway 8. Notice the old highway under the new pavement.
On the southeast corner of this intersection there is a message board with recent news and other bits of info about the highway. Also, there is a plaque with a brief summary of the famous highway.
Click the picture for a close up of the plaque.
Rural Mc Lean County
Just south of Lexington, Rt. 66 crosses the Mackinaw River. Before the highways was reduced to two lanes, IDOT replaced several aging structures. In some places they took the old southbound ones out once the northbound was replaced, but here is one place then southbound was left.
Looking north at the river bridges. The older bridge had it's plaques removed, but the northbound one not only had the new plaque, it also had the old plaque on it. So they lead you to believe the original bridge was built in 1954 and the new bridge replacing it built in 2000. The pavement is still there for the old southbound lanes, but it is becoming overgrown and crumbling. Looking south along Old Rt.66 (road on left) and I-55 (NB in the center; SB on the right).
When Interstate 55 was constructed in this area. The southbound lanes of I-55 were constructed first. Then SB Rt. 66 was moved there. Then the SB Rt. 66 lanes were removed and the NB I-55 lanes were built. Next, U.S. Rt. 66 was de-commisioned.
Mc Lean County still labels the road as "Old Rt. 66". Many placed still do. This is found on Mc Lean County Highway 12 at Mc LCH 65 between Lexington and Towanda. Notice the use of "Rte. 66" as a control city.
Towanda
This is a small town about four (4) miles north of the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area. Through Towanda, much of the old southbound lanes have been turned into a shrine for the old highway. For the complete info and pictures just click on the link below.
