SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Federal, state and local leaders are set to gather in Springfield on Thursday to officially kick off the 100th anniversary of Route 66, highlighting the highway’s historic impact and future development.
The event, hosted by the Federal Highway Administration, will feature remarks from Mike Kehoe, along with transportation and city officials, as part of a broader celebration recognizing Springfield as the birthplace of the “Mother Road.”
Organizers say the kickoff will spotlight Missouri’s central role in the creation and legacy of Route 66 — from connecting communities to driving economic growth and shaping American travel culture…