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| In the state of Texas, Interstate 40
(i40) runs west–east through the panhandle in the
northwest part of the state. The only large city it
passes through is
Amarillo, where it meets the north end
of i27. Before the U.S. Route system, this system of
interconnected highway from New Mexico to Oklahoma was
part of the Texas highway system and a portion of the
Ozark Trails which closely paralleled the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railway. When the United States
Numbered Highway system was introduced in 1926, route 66
across the Texas Panhandle was designated along existing
roads in the Texas highway network. The entire route was
paved by 1938. There have been various realignments,
including one in 1959 to allow expansion of the Amarillo
Air Force Base. |
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| Before the U.S. Route system, this
system of interconnected highway from New Mexico to
Oklahoma was part of the Texas highway system and a
portion of the Ozark Trails which closely paralleled the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway. When the
United States Numbered Highway system was introduced in
1926, route 66 across the Texas Panhandle was designated
along existing roads in the Texas highway network. The
entire route was paved by 1938. There have been various
realignments, including one in 1959 to allow expansion
of the Amarillo Air Force Base. |
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In 1956, the Interstate Highway Act designated US 66 through
Texas as a section of highway eligible for limited access
upgrades. |
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During the next 20 years, most of the highway was upgraded in
place, to keep construction costs low. With the limited access of the
Interstates, towns on the highway had to be bypassed. Most towns requested to remain as
close to the new highway as possible to minimize tourism losses. Bypassed towns
included Glenrio, Adrian, Vega, Conway, Groom, Jericho, Alanreed, McLean, and
Shamrock. A new routing along the south end of downtown Amarillo
was also built, connecting with the already-built expressway
leading south from downtown toward Canyon. In 1985, the entire
designation of U.S. Route 66 was removed as the entire route had
been displaced by Interstate 40. |
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