Devil's Highway - U.S. 666 - gets roadside exorcism

With the blessings of officials from three Western states, the stretch of highway that cuts across northwestern New Mexico got a new identity Wednesday: U.S. 666 became U.S. 491.

"We're kicking the devil out of New Mexico," said Rhonda Faught, secretary of New Mexico's Department of Transportation.

Here is the rest of the story:
www.sfgate.com.../news/archive/2003/07/30/state1618EDT7578.DTL

that's strange?
I thought he went down to georgia.
hmmm...

Damn!!! There was no reason to change the name of this highway! WTF

DEATH STALKS THE HUNTED

now the high way will be a legend.

this highway was once the 666 and the 666 still lives on.

i imagine a whole lot of crashes occur on there.

surely this is just the association with the number, I found something about this on weird us, but it just seemed like, it was urban stories to sell books, I believe someone called linda godfrey wrote a book about it

but guess, it is a good campfire tale

a reply to: Ocelot

Kicking the devil out?
Above Top Secret
They better get busy.

I live about 2 miles from devils slide on highway 1. Look it up.

It always gave me white knuckles when I drove through it.

a reply to: randyvs

That's nuts! I would never have thought that so many places would be named for the devil and hell and such. I drive past a road every time I go to band practice called "Hell's Delight Road" and I always tell my wife I'd never live on a road with a name like that.

a reply to: wtbengineer

I'd bet all that I'm worth, that it gives her a sense of security.


Did you notice the Bible belt? How void it is of such names?

a reply to: randyvs

Yeah, you know, that doesn't surprise me much... I was amazed at all the devil names and stuff, but not surprised really. The fact that you don't see it so much in the 'Bible belt' isn't surprising either, we both see where the world is going don't we? I just wish I didn't have to worry about my little children growing up in it.

Is there one called "Devil's Due..." ??????

a reply to: Pinocchio

I don't know, but there is this.

reply to: randyvs
Well Done Laddy...

I think it's a hoot and they should have kept it 666. It's a conversational item. Kinda fun. And as for the '666' thing, a lot of bible scholars think the number is really 616. And a lot of others think that '666' has already lived and died waaaay back in Johns time when he wrote Revelation.

Shoulda' kept 666.

a reply to: FlyersFan

True about the scholars. But with the thought of horrible
accidents that do occur on every highway. I think the change
is at least far less insensitive, to those surviving loved ones
who will be killed in future accidents. Just think if someone
you loved died on route 666. I know some might say it wouldn't
bother them. But it would bother me. And it would always be there
in the back of anyones mind IMO. So I think the change is cool.

a reply to: randyvs

Okay .. that's true. It is more sensitive to be rid of the number because there are people who would be upset by it if there was an accident and they lost family members on it. So yes, I agree. I didn't think of that.

(I just thought the fun factor was cool. )

I have actually driven on that highway with a dead body in the back and listening to Art Bell at 2 in the morning. Nah, I wasn't scared.

a reply to: FlyersFan

(I just thought the fun factor was cool. )

I agree.