End of historic US highway 126 |
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c. 1956, Gousha
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US 126 was a relative latecomer, and the route lasted only about 20 years. It was commissioned in 1951 along what had been part of the former US 28. The east end of US 126 was always in Prineville:
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c. 1962, USGS
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These photos were looking at the end of modern OR hwy. 126, where US 126 ended historically. Unfortunately the US route shields were removed sometime after 2008:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
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Elbert, Oct. 2024
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Here, we are on eastbound US 26 heading into Prineville. The east beginning of US 126 was to the right at the fork in the road:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
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Elbert, Jul. 2005
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Elbert, Oct. 2024
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And finally, a shot from westbound US 26 -- eastbound US 126 formerly began to the left:
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Elbert, Jul. 2005
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The nearby Ochoco Wayside State Park provides a beautiful overhead view of this historic junction.
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The west end of US 126 was always in the Eugene area, but things changed there about two years after the route was commissioned. In 1952, US 99 was still using Franklin Boulevard out of Eugene all the way to Goshen. So US 126 originally began where Springfield's Main Street splits off from Franklin and crosses the river, as shown in this interactive image:
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Two years later, the "US 99 cutoff" (now part of I-5) was completed; then US 99 used the flyover ramps from Franklin to I-5. So the US 126 designation had to be extended about a mile west on former US 99 to the new freeway (today's exit 192). Interestingly - because the new interchange provided only partial access - US 126 also had to be extended south along former US 99 to exit 189. In other words, it had a split terminus (photos, maps, and more info on the Eugene page).
Research and/or photo credits: Chris Elbert; Dale Sanderson; Michael Summa
Page originally created 2000;
last updated Oct. 26, 2024.
last updated Oct. 26, 2024.
