ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – There is a long rich history on Route 66. A decade ago, the road was built with the song America the Beautiful playing when people drove over a certain section. Now, ten years later, the song is hitting a lower note and might soon be gone.
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Video shows drivers clearly hearing the song while going on Route 66 near Tijeras a decade ago. These days, it’s hard to recognize the song when you drive over these rumble strips.
“It was to test if people could go 45 mph, do the speed limit along with listening to a song,” said Public Information Officer Kimberly Gallegos, New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3.
National Geographic added those singing rumble strips back in 2014, but NMDOT said they haven’t done maintenance on those strips since. “They used specialized equipment in these rumble strips to put the tune and the song to it so that in itself seems far out of our league. We watched as they did it and it was an interesting watch but that’s not something that dot has put down on our roads before,” said Gallegos.
National Geographic brought the rumble strips to the stretch of Route 66 to slow drivers down as part of a study. NMDOT says they never got the results of that study but were happy to be featured on the show.
They also said they do not know how much it would cost to restore to its original song. “So there’s two to three years of life remaining on that roadway,” said Gallegos.
They say they are seeing what they could put in place to honor Route 66 but as of now, it’s just preliminary talks. “I’m not sure how much of a loss it would be. I’m sure the community appreciates that area so I couldn’t really tell you for those who use it, I’m sure they will miss it if it wasn’t there, but whose today future plans won’t bring something else,” said Gallegos.
The sign to tell drivers where the singing road is has been gone for years. It was replaced by homemade signs.
