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WPA Pedestrian Underpass

Elm St.& 4th St. (Route 66)
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East < GO > West

This underpass, built by the depression era WPA (Works Progress Admiistration) to protect school children, stands as a reminder of how much traffic Route 66 once carried. The underpass was started by the WPA in late 1939 and opened early 1940. The entrances on each side of the street have storm shelter style doors but I'm not sure if they were part of the original installation.

As this sign states the pedestrian underpass was intended to protect children on their way to school it is now used as a storm shelter as well as an underpass.

On the rainy day we were there the underpass provided a relatively dry way to cross the street.

Photo(s): 2017