Route 266 is a section of former

U.S. Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

(US 66) with termini between

Interstate 44 Interstate 44 (I-44) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. Although it is nominally an east–west road as it is even-numbered, it follows a more southwest–northeast alignment. Its western terminus is in Wichita Fal ...

(I-44) at

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

and Route 96 west of Halltown. The road runs as a two-lane highway its entire length of and is marked as Historic Route 66.

Route description

Route 266 starts at its intersection of

Missouri Route 96 Route 96 is a state highway that travels from Route 171 near Carl Junction, in Jasper County, to Interstate 44 (I-44) in Halltown, in Lawrence County. A large section of the highway between Carthage and Halltown served as p ...

west of

I-44 Interstate 44 (I-44) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. Although it is nominally an east–west road as it is even-numbered, it follows a more southwest–northeast alignment. Its western terminus is in Wichita Fa ...

. At Halltown, the Route meets Route Z. In , Route 266 deviates from old

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

in a project to improve access to Springfield-Branson Regional Airport. For , the route follows the new roadway. At the

Partial cloverleaf interchange A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange. The design has been well received, and has since become one of the most popular freeway-to-arterial interchange designs in North America. It has also bee ...

at Interstate 44, the road continues as Interstate 44 Business.

History

Route 266 was originally assigned to a new expressway built through downtown Springfield (specifically, Chestnut Expressway between College Street and Glenstone Avenue). As

was constructed, and US 66 was assigned concurrently with it, the now former US 66 from Springfield to Route 96 was added to Route 266. The westernmost section (which passed through Paris Springs Junction and Spencer) would be turned into county roads. Eventually, Chestnut Expressway would be designated Interstate 44 Business, and Route 266 would have its current route.

Major intersections

References

266 266 Transportation in Lawrence County, Missouri Transportation in Greene County, Missouri Transportation in Springfield, Missouri {{UShighway-stub