Road marker change gains

If the devil goes down to Georgia, the road trip will soon no longer include a scenic stretch of Utah highway that once bore his biblical numerical mark.

U.S. 666 would be officially changed to U.S. 491 under legislation approved Tuesday by the House Transportation Committee.

The 190-mile stretch of highway that runs from southeastern Utah through western Colorado and into New Mexico had its route number changed last June by the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The Legislature's approval would officially take the "666" off Utah's books.

Although the association has the power to change route numbers, only states can update renamed routes.

"Basically, it was just a clerical change to the state's code book," Utah Department of Transportation spokesperson Tom Hudachko said.

The 17 miles that run through Utah were "a headache to maintain," Hudachko said, noting that people regularly stole or vandalized the road signs.

The uproar began when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sought to rename the road last spring. Before that could happen, he was told, he would need to get the green light from transportation officials in Utah and Colorado.

"We didn't have any problem at all supporting his request," Hudachko said.

The christening of U.S. 491 came mostly at the requests of local citizens, said Linda Hull, director of legislative and government affairs for UDOT.

"Citizens who lived in the surrounding area were concerned about the numbering of that road," Hull said, "and since it has already been changed in New Mexico and Colorado, we changed it to be consistent."

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E-mail: abenson@desnews.com