Sen. Bergstrom appointed to Route 66 Centennial Commission

State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has been appointed to serve on the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, a 21-member panel that will help plan the state’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of “The Mother Road.”

The commission was created by legislation approved and signed into law this year. Its members are charged with planning, coordinating and implementing programs and special events to celebrate the historic highway’s centennial in 2026 with the support of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat appointed Bergstrom to serve on the panel.

Construction on the highway began in 1926, connecting Chicago to Santa Monica with a route that ran through eight states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Approximately 400 miles of the historic highway runs through Oklahoma with a significant stretch running throughout Senate District 1.

“I’m honored and want to thank Senator Treat for appointing me to the Route 66 Commission. This historic highway’s centennial is going to provide a tremendous opportunity to further develop our state and district’s tourism industry,” said Bergstrom. “This will also help us energize our efforts to spur economic development and attract business and good jobs to the state and our district.”
The commission will meet quarterly to plan and sponsor official Route 66 Centennial events and activities.

Route 66 lost its official designation as a U.S. Highway in 1985.