PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (KY3) – A massive limestone cut carved through the Ozarks in the 1940s helped reshape how Route 66 \u2014 and later American highway construction \u2014 moved through the region.<\/p>\n
The site is known as Hooker Cut, named for the community it runs through. The roadway cut reaches just over 90 feet tall and was considered the largest road cut in the United States at the time, according to local historian and author Terry Primas.<\/p>\n
Today, the tall rock walls show visible \u201cshelves,\u201d which are grooves cut into the limestone to help prevent rockfalls \u2014 an innovation for its era. Historic construction photos from more than 80 years ago highlight the scale of the work.<\/p>\n
Primas said the Route 66 expansion was driven by growth tied to the construction of Fort Leonard Wood, as traffic outgrew the older, windy roadway. <\/p>\n
The project straightened the road and allowed for faster travel. It also included the first divided highway with a grass median.<\/p>\n
The changes also came with downsides. Faster travel and a straighter route meant some smaller communities were bypassed, hurting local businesses that depended on Route 66 traffic.<\/p>\n
Hooker Cut is now bypassed by Interstate 44, as transportation needs and road-building technology continue to evolve. The site remains a reminder of a period when major innovation was unfolding along the Mother Road.<\/p>\n