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100 years of US routes: 1926-2026
Endpoints of
c. 1956, Gousha
Prineville
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:
c. 1962, USGS
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
Elbert, Oct. 2024
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
Elbert, Jul. 2005
Elbert, Oct. 2024
And finally, a shot from westbound US 26 -- eastbound US 126 formerly began to the left:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
The nearby Ochoco Wayside State Park provides a beautiful overhead view of this historic junction.
Eugene
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:
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 image credits: Chris Elbert; Dale Sanderson; Michael Summa
Page originally created 2000;last updated Aug. 16, 2025.
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