Here’s the cover art for the second part of the DVD release of the first season of the original “Route 66″ television show. As you can see, it’s similar to the first set.

As previously reported, it’s another four-disc set that retails for $29.95. Amazon.com is already taking pre-orders for a substantial discount.

I e-mailed a publicist for Roxbury Entertainment, which owns the rights to “Route 66,” and asked what special features are on the next DVD set. This was her reply:

“There are no major special features except a cast bio for each episode. However, the (episodes) are telescene’d so the quality is amazing on this release compared to Volume One.”

I’ve never heard of the telescene, or telecine, process. Here’s a resource that provided a definition:

The technique for converting movie film to TV/video. Pronounced “tel-uh-sin-ee,” “tel-uh-sin-uh” or “tel-uh-scene.” Because film runs at 24 frames per second (fps), and NTSC video runs at 30 fps, telecine inserts duplicate frames into the video to make up the difference. Telecine has been used to convert countless movies to videotape for ultimate distribution via TV, cable and satellite networks.

This appears to be good news for those who complained about the visual quality of the first “Route 66″ DVD set (although I thought the episodes looked quite good for their age). It appears Roxbury heard those complaints, and has attempted to address them.

If future DVD releases of “Route 66″ continue to look subpar, then it’s probably because of film degradation over the years.

The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports that the Route 66 town of Miami, Okla., will shell out about $150,000 for historical markers and other projects along the Mother Road.

About $120,000 of that will come from the National Scenic Byways program, while the rest will be provided by the city and tourism bureau.

The projects are:

– Reconstruction of a 1900-era 40-foot-wide metal overhead sign on Main Street just north of Steve Owens Boulevard. The archway, “Miami, Oklahoma — The Gateway,” will welcome visitors to the downtown area.

– Reconstruction of a 21-foot tall Ozark Trail milepost marker in downtown Miami. The original marker, constructed in 1919 in the middle of the street at Central and Main streets, marked the trail system, and cited the distance from Miami to other cities on the route.

– Installation of directional signs on state highways directing tourists to the Coleman Theatre and the Route 66 Ribbon Highway, located south of the city on Highway 69 near Narcissa.

– Erect historical markers in front of the Coleman Theater, at the Route 66 Ribbon Highway and at the Ozark Trail milepost marker and at the gateway arch.

Funds from the city and the Miami Convention and Visitors’ Bureau will be used to place an historical marker at the old Marathon Gas Station at 331 S. Main St., Eller said.

The Ribbon Highway refers to the 9-foot-wide historic highway south of town. First-time travelers find it a bit hard to track down.

If you want to finally drive Route 66 over the Mississippi River to St. Louis, you’ll finally have your chance after about 3 p.m. Monday.

The Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reports that the McKinley Bridge, which was closed since 2001 for much-needed repairs, will open at mid-afternoon Monday at the latest.

The 1910 bridge carried an early alignment of Route 66 from Venice, Ill., to St. Louis before the Chain of Rocks Bridge was built in the 1930s. The “new” McKinley Bridge will have lanes for bicyclists and pedestrians, in addition to vehicular traffic. It also will be a free bridge for the first time in decades. It’s estimated the McKinley will carry 10,000 vehicles a day once it’s reopened.