The western end of US 266, which is entirely in Oklahoma and at only 42 miles long is the shortest US highway left (tied with US 730, but 730 runs through two states).


A newly bypassed bridge east of Dewar over the Deep Fork River. There's a perfect place to park on the west shore, where the old and new alignments frame a dirt fishing parking lot. I'll start from there.


Climbing up onto the old alignment, built up well over ground level. Plenty of pavement remnants are left on the surface and the bridge is almost entirely intact, but unfortunately fenced off.


Fortunately, there are gaps in the fence, so I walk across eastward to the other end where there's a much more forbidding fence. The other half of the old alignment looms behind the vines.

Looking south on the river.

The decorative southeastern end of the bridge structure.


Walking back westward over the bridge. A couple of concrete rail sections have gone missing, probably crashed into and not replaced versus actually stolen (not easy to free one of those things). For having been a relatively recent sacrifice, the bridge sure looks like it's been sitting around years longer - in addition to the bridge railing wear, the center and shoulder stripes are considerably faded.


One last look back eastward.

WB west of Checotah in 1989, courtesy Michael Summa.


EB and WB, first photo courtesy Jeremy Lance.


Looking east and west along old US 266 from modern US 64. The old US 64/266 junction (where 266 ended) is in the background of the first photo, with former US 64 curving in from the right.

Onto US 75 and US 62/75
Onto US 62 alone
Onto US 69
Onto I-40
Onto US 64
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