Current and historic US Highway ends
in Gallup, NM

Photo credits: Justin Cozart; Alan Hamilton; Jim Teresco

US 666 originally used 3rd Street to connect with US 66 in Gallup (you can get more info, as well as view a map and several photos, on my main US 666 page).

In 1938, the south end of US 666 was extended west out of Gallup and into Arizona. But in 1992, Arizona removed the US 666 designation from their state (replacing it with a southern extension of US 191), so the southern terminus of US 666 returned to Gallup once again (but by this time, traffic had been rerouted onto a newer bypass called Munoz Drive). Then in 2003, the entire remaining segment of US 666 (from Gallup to Monticello UT) was replaced with the US 491 designation.

Looking at most maps, you'd think that 666 would've ended at its interchange with I-40, and that Munoz south of that interchange is NM hwy. 602. However, the reality is that 666 continued to end where it technically should have: at its junction with historic US 66 (which is now NM 118/Business Loop I-40). And according to signage (as you'll see below), US 491 still continues south of I-40 to old US 66.

It's a bit complicated though: when the Munoz bypass was built around Gallup, it was not possible to build an at-grade intersection at old route 66, because of the nearby river and railyards. Instead, the two highways are connected via a couple side roads. The progression of photos below - shot both before and after US 491 was commissioned - tells the story nicely:

Hamilton, 2000

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

The shots above are looking east (towards downtown Gallup) on old US 66. The overpass is Munoz, and you get to it by turning to the right here on Arnold Street. Alan reports the old US 666 signs were simply covered with US 491 decals, and offers this close-up photo as proof:

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

Below is a shot from the opposite direction (westbound on old US 66):

Teresco, Sep. 2003

After making that turn to the south on Arnold, traffic is then directed east on Aztec Avenue:

Hamilton, 2000

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

The "To" sign is technically a mistake, because this is US 491/old US 666; notice also how they've recently added a NM 602 marker. Turning to the left from here, we reach the actual intersection with Munoz, shown below. US highway traffic is directed left, over old US 66, and north to Shiprock:

Hamilton, 2000

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

After turning north, drivers pass beneath a sign bridge, shown below:

Hamilton, 2000

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

Continuing ahead, the first reassurance marker is north of the I-40 interchange:

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

Now, heading the opposite direction: the backside of the sign bridge above is shown in the photo below:

Hamilton, 2000

(That sign was the same in 2003, as there was no reason for it to change - although it would be more accurate to say "To BL I-40".) A right turn puts you on Aztec. After another right on Arnold, you reach old US 66/BL I-40. The photo below shows the signage posted across the road:

Hamilton, Oct. 2003

The brown signage denotes "Historic US Route 66", and you can see the street sign for this road. Historic US 66 through town doesn't have its own name, other than "Historic 66" (but I bet it used to have another name - like "Main Street" or something - please email me if you know). The two photos below illustrate how US 666 and NM 602 were both signed from I-40:

Cozart

Both shots were from the eastbound direction; in the one below, you can see the offramp at far right.

Cozart

Undoubtedly those US 666 shields have been replaced with US 491 now, but when I was there in 2006, this entire interchange was under construction, and all the signage was either down or covered up. If you have a photo of the current signage, please let me know!