I've always thought I-40 didn't kill Route 66. It didn't help, however. What really knocked it off was the road itself. It was obsolete. The road was built along the texture of the earth, with only a few modern engineering features on the way. The Route did help establish several engineering standards, such as the 4-lane concept, shoulders on the road and functional things like business routes or connections with other roads. In New Mexico protesting the opening of I-40 went on for years, slowing down its implementation and running up its cost. To placate the towns being bypassed totally or only marginally (like Tucumcari or Santa Rosa) extra exits were added to allow drivers to exist easily. Some towns, like Grants in western New Mexico, have 4 exits spread out over a few miles where only one was needed. Tucumcari used to have the most motel rooms along the road. But, as I-40 took over most of them folded up or were sold. Same for nearly all highway related businesses. The town has a few survivors like the Swallow and others as well a couple of places to eat like La Cita or Del's. Del's, I think, is the senior place to eat in town. In reality, once you leave Amarillo you will have a hard time finding a good place to eat until you hit Albuquerque. Many people today think the state is, outside of green chili, a gastronomic wasteland. I have eaten at Del's several times over the years and it has remained true to form with good, basic food and fine service.
Tucumcari is nice to visit but living here is a joke like ten families run the town and literally have gotten away with running people over with vehicles
Ha - was the mattress original also. Looks like a fun trip.
Brings back memories ❤
I've always thought I-40 didn't kill Route 66. It didn't help, however. What really knocked it off was the road itself. It was obsolete. The road was built along the texture of the earth, with only a few modern engineering features on the way. The Route did help establish several engineering standards, such as the 4-lane concept, shoulders on the road and functional things like business routes or connections with other roads. In New Mexico protesting the opening of I-40 went on for years, slowing down its implementation and running up its cost. To placate the towns being bypassed totally or only marginally (like Tucumcari or Santa Rosa) extra exits were added to allow drivers to exist easily. Some towns, like Grants in western New Mexico, have 4 exits spread out over a few miles where only one was needed. Tucumcari used to have the most motel rooms along the road. But, as I-40 took over most of them folded up or were sold. Same for nearly all highway related businesses. The town has a few survivors like the Swallow and others as well a couple of places to eat like La Cita or Del's. Del's, I think, is the senior place to eat in town. In reality, once you leave Amarillo you will have a hard time finding a good place to eat until you hit Albuquerque. Many people today think the state is, outside of green chili, a gastronomic wasteland. I have eaten at Del's several times over the years and it has remained true to form with good, basic food and fine service.
4:22 -- the Lounge sign.
Tucumcari is nice to visit but living here is a joke like ten families run the town and literally have gotten away with running people over with vehicles
That's horrible!!
@@ridingwithmarshall they decided not to let Walmart build a store here too 5.19 for jar of pickles 8 dollars per pound of cheese it's ridiculous