| State: | CA |
| Type: | CR |
| Route: | 66 |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | CR 66 highlighted in red |
| Tourist: | Scenic route (in its entirety) |
| County: | San Bernardino |
| Alternate Name: | National Trails Highway |
| Length Mi: | 175.7 |
| Established: | 2011 |
| Direction A: | West |
| Terminus A: | 1st Street in Oro Grande |
| Junction: |
|
| Direction B: | East |
| Terminus B: | in Arrowhead Junction |
| Counties: | San Bernardino |
| Previous Type: | CR |
| Previous Route: | S80 |
| Next Type: | CR |
| Next Route: | 145 |
County Route 66 (CR 66) is an east–west numbered road in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It runs for 175.7miles from Oro Grande (north of Victorville) to the U.S. Route 95 (US 95) at Arrowhead Junction (northwest of Needles). The entire route is part of the former U.S. Route 66 (US 66), connecting towns that were bypassed by Interstate 40 (I-40) such as Oro Grande and Amboy. It is the only numbered county route in San Bernardino County.
The route is part of the California Route Marker Program.[1] CR 66 begins at its western terminus, on the National Trails Highway at the intersection of 1st Street in unincorporated Oro Grande, near the Victorville city limits. From there, it heads north towards Barstow where it becomes Main Street headed eastbound. After an overlap with Interstate 15 Business (I-15 BL), it continues south to the I-40 interchange, where it runs concurrently with I-40 east for 4miles before splitting from the freeway at the Nebo Street exit. At that junction, CR 66 runs parallel to I-40 all the way to Ludlow, but then turns southeast towards Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark and the town of Amboy. It then heads back towards I-40, crossing paths with the freeway again at Fenner, before heading east on Goffs Road to the junction with US 95, where it terminates.
At 175.7miles in length, CR 66 is the longest county route in California, and it is even longer than some Interstate highways.[2] [3]
The CR 66 sign program began in San Bernardino County in June 2011,[4] defining the route from just north of I-15 in Victorville to US 95 northwest of Needles. Although the route officially stops short of the Victorville city limits, there has been signage for the route within that city.[5]
In 2012, the county announced an extension to the sign program which would sign the route through Needles.[6]
CR 66 originally was part of the historic US 66, established in 1926. California decommissioned this highway in 1979, and in 1985, it was decommissioned nationally. In 2011, San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzlefelt proposed Resolution 63, which would establish a county route with the number 66, as a tribute to the original "Mother Road". Route markers were first installed in September 2011, upon passage of the resolution, which also allowed the possibility of the route being extended in the future along other parts of old US 66 in San Bernardino County.[7] In May 2012, the County Board of Supervisors designated CR 66 a County Scenic Highway.
Since flash flooding in 2014, CR 66 has been closed between Chambless and Essex due to multiple bridge failures.[8]
San Bernardino County Public Works is in the process of replacing 128 timber bridges in excess of 80 years of age.[9] No known date of reopening is known as of 2023.[10]
As of 2024, Public Works has only repaired 12 bridges.[11]
In February 2024, Public works started the environmental review to replace another 33 bridges along the route.[12]