U.S. Route 66 in New Mexico

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

US Route 66 in New Mexico is now largely replaced with Interstate 40. It underwent a major realignment between Mesita and Santa Rosa, a large part of this is, roughly, Interstate 25.

From the Arizona state line to the Grants area is mountainous, and U.S. Route 66 meanders around Interstate 40, and is largely local county roads. It also passes through some Indian reservations. At Laguna, New Mexico is the Laguna Indian Pueblo.

At Mesita, the highway originally followed what is now New Mexico State Highway 6 to east of I-25 at Los Lunas. It passed through Albuquerque from south to north along Fourth Street. The highway is now replaced with I-25 through Santa Fe to, almost, Las Vegas (Historic 66 turns south before reaching Las Vegas), though several old sections exist which are barely (if at all) driveable. From South of Las Vegas back to I-40, the road has been replaced with U.S. Route 84.

The later alignment (and more popular) continued straight west to Albuqueque, becoming Central Avenue through the city. East of Albuquerque, Old 66 is now New Mexico State Highway 333 all the way to Moriarty. Interstate 40 east of Moriarty to Santa Rosa was built by adding a second set of lanes to US 66. East of Santa Rosa, US 66 is now largely frontage roads for I-40 or business loops for Santa Rosa and Tucumcari. At San Jon, the original alignment (now gravel) continues to the Texas state line at Glenrio. A later alignment is the north frontage road for I-40.

Preceded by Arizona

U.S. Route 66 New Mexico

Succeeded by Texas