Can Highway 66 be Preserved?

America’s iconic Route 66, the nostalgic drive that runs through eight states, is seeing a campaign to save it from development.

Local businesses work hard to do their part to preserve the historic landmarks along the route, which see preservation funding expire in two years. Local lawmakers and residents are hoping to find new funding to ensure the route is preserved for a new generation of road trippers.

Route 66 first became threatened in the 1960s, when sections were bypassed or replaced by major highways and interstates. In 1987, efforts to revive the highway began. In 1999, the U.S. government introduced the National Route 66 Preservation Program to fund restoration projects along the route.

That law will expire in 2019, and communities along the road fear the bill won’t be renewed, taking away the funding. Since it was implemented, the law restored landmarks, gas stations and even throwback neon signs.

Another option is to have the route designated a National Historic Trail, which would protect its funding.

Along with the historical significance, the funds helped hundreds of small towns along the route, many with economies intrinsically tied to the route and its passing roadtrippers.