Thursday, December 15, 2005

MODOT Announces Half-Billion Dollar Project to Improve Highway 40

"We've probably should have spent a few bucks on it before," said a guy in the MODOT parking lot. "We simply thought that changing the name to Interstate 64 alone would be enough, " he continued, "but our consultant were just plain wrong, go figure."

Note: I actually lifted the picture from Stan's post, where he goes searching for his lost youth in the Oregon wilderness but, oddly enough, only finds plates of biscuits.

7 comments:

Jay Noel said...

Maybe they should just change the name to Hwy 666?

stan said...

And change the song to "I get my kicks...on Route Sixty-Sixty-Six"

Jim said...

Phoenix -- the number is actually available again -- it was a branch of 66 in New Mexico but, according to the New Mexico Legislature:

==>U.S. 666 is "the site of many accidents," noting that "although the rate of accidents has decreased due to road improvements, it is still a dangerous stretch of highway."
WHEREAS, people living near the road already live under the cloud of opprobrium [disgrace, scorn] created by having a road that many believe is cursed running near their homes and through their homeland; and
WHEREAS, the number "666" carries the stigma of being the mark of the beast, the mark of the devil, which was described in the book of revelations in the Bible; and
HEREAS, there are people who refuse to travel the road, not because of the issue of safety, but because of the fear that the devil controls events along United States route 666; and
WHEREAS, the economy in the area is greatly depressed when compared with many parts of the United States, and the infamy brought by the inopportune naming of the road will only make development in the area more difficult.<==

The highway was renumbered to 491 in 2003. I assume the burning of witches will commence shortly.

Jim said...

Stan -- is that you popping up from behind the wall in your post??????

stan said...

Yes, I climbed around the back side of the wall (which is made of big chunky rocks, plenty of footholds, not to worry), and stood at a height that made it look like I was hanging on for dear life. As I said in this post, I posed for a similar shot in the same place almost 15 years ago. (If I ever find that photo I'll scan it in for a comparison.)

Jim said...

is that were you hid to watch the other kids??????

stan said...

Draw your own conclusions.