Also Check Out: www.stuffthatsgone.com I have stepped out of my normal Pennsylvania "things that are abandoned" mode and have arrived on one of the most famous four lane highway sections in the US, on Route 66 Pulaski County Missouri, Hooker Cut. One of the earlier alignments was so dangerous, they referred to is as the "Devils Elbow". That alignment was no longer used after 1941. Due to having to cut through solid rock to form a new alignment, it was decided that this section of Route 66 should be made a four-lane highway, unheard of for the times. The cut they made was the deepest ever attempted and referred to afterward as the "Hooker Cut" possibly after a nearby town, competing with the Pennsylvania Turnpike's "Little Panama" near Bedford for the deepest cut attempted in highway construction. One of the most scenic drives on Route 66, that was built to carry traffic to and from Fort Leonard Wood during World War II. The first twisting, narrow stretch of Route 66 through Devil's Elbow was obviously not adequate for the many moving men and equipment and the new four lane stretch was completed in 1943. Today, most of this old four-lane is still original and is in very good condition considering its age. Passing through the steep bluffs of the Big Piney River, the Hooker Cut was one of the deepest road cuts in the nation at the time of its construction.
Interestingly, the curbs along this stretch of road are inclined towards the roadway. This was a common building practice at the time, as it was believed that such a design would keep cars from going off the road. However, they soon found out that the curb design actually caused cars to overturn and was soon discontinued.
This section is easily asscessable and travelled by Rt 66 geeks like myself, but today it was for all intents and purposes, abandoned. It was bypassed when Interstate 44 was built in the 1960's. What a great movie set!!!
Let the arguments begin--was this first or was the PA turnpike the first four lane? I know, it opened on October 1, 1940 and was continuous, limited access...so perhaps we give a nod to the turnpike. My lifeline dream to trace Rt 66 in missouri is now complete!!!
