SENATE MEMORIAL 11

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Gregg Schmedes

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSIDER RESTORATION OF THE ROUTE 66 MUSICAL HIGHWAY.

     WHEREAS, in 2014, the National Geographic channel got permission from the New Mexico department of transportation to build one thousand three hundred feet of the "route 66 musical highway" in Tijeras canyon; and

     WHEREAS, the strip plays a short clip of "America the Beautiful"; and

     WHEREAS, Roadside America describes how the highway was heated with giant blowtorches and a special rumble strip was pressed into the hot asphalt just inside the white line marking the edge of the road; and

     WHEREAS, audio engineers designed strip patterns to produce the individual note of a song when driven over at the proper speed; and

     WHEREAS, the musical highway was only installed in the eastbound lane of route 66; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico musical highway is only one of six of its kind in the world and the second in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the musical highway has fallen into great disrepair, with a section covered over with asphalt, leaving only a small section of the musical highway working properly; and

     WHEREAS, the signs for the musical highway have also been removed; and

     WHEREAS, if restored, the musical highway would have the potential for being a great asset for New Mexico tourism and the enjoyment of residents alike;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico department of transportation be requested to consider restoration of the route 66 musical highway; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of transportation.

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