Those traveling on a prominent Route 66 alignment in St. Louis may have to make a detour in the next few months, or even years.

City officials have closed a one block of Tucker Boulevard north of downtown because of fears that a portion of the road might sag because of deterioration of a tunnel, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Rebuilding the bridge over the tunnel is estimated to cost $30 million, Melton said. The dollar figure will likely change once officials decide whether to rebuild the bridge or fill in the tunnel. The city plans to ask Congress for the money in the next highway reauthorization bill, which, at the earliest, would take effect in fall 2009.

For the short term, the city has requested $550,000 in federal funds to keep Tucker functional. Meanwhile, city officials are hiring consultants to figure out the most cost-effective solution, Melton said. [...]

Initially, the tunnel served trains that traveled across the elevated bridge that crosses I-70, and then to the McKinley Bridge and into Illinois. Passenger service stopped in 1958 because of competition with the automobile, reports from the time say.

Looking over maps, it appears 10th Street or 14th Street is the best detour for westbound travelers. Tucker is unimpeded south of Washington Avenue.

CNN.com posted a story about the origins of certain food items.

For the corn dog, it listed the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.:

In 1946, Ed Waldmire, Jr., revolutionized the stick-meat world when he debuted the Cozy Dog — the first corn dog on a stick.

At first, he wanted to call his creation the “Crusty Cur,” but his wife convinced him to change the name to “Cozy Dog.” She felt people wouldn’t want to eat something described as “crusty.”

Good call, Mrs. Waldmire. Shortly after the Cozy Dog’s inception, the Cozy Dog Drive In opened alongside old Route 66 and has been serving up corn dogs ever since.

If you don’t care for corn dogs, the cheeseburgers and fries are highly recommended.

(Hat tip: Lulu Bagdon.)