The Mother Road commands enormous international interest: A few years back, Paul McCartney left his place in the Hamptons for a road trip on America’s old Route 66 in a 1989 Ford Bronco, hoping (yet failing) to stay incognito. A commemorative sign in Arcadio, Oklahoma, now marks where the former Beatle stopped to ask for directions. The state of Illinois has greatly improved its Route 66 signage in recent years, a crucial part of building tourism, since the road’s trajectory in the Prairie State can be hard to track. Not only does some of the road crisscross (and meld) into I-55, but following the historic trajectory — a fine thing to do on or around the July 4 holiday — sometimes means choosing between the original 1926 blacktop and later deviations, pre- and postwar. Still, historic Illinois communities like Wilmington, Pontiac and Collinsville will be seeing plenty of action this week as travelers on the mother of all road trips seek out such iconic and well-preserved Illinois Route 66 sites as the Gemini Giant, the Pink Elephant Antique Mall and the Brooks Catsup Water Tower. But while Lou Mitchell’s well-located retro eatery long has seen its share of Route 66 business, Chicago generally has made little of its status as the start of Route 66 (or the end, depending on which way you are going). The road now officially starts at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street and ends at Michigan at Jackson, an unfortunate disparity caused by one-way streets. But you’d hardly notice either one. On Tuesday, the city tourism office known as Choose Chicago! said it was putting this right, announcing a program to beef up Route 66 awareness in Chicago, just in time for Route 66 to mark its centenary in 2026. Plans include spiffy new signs not just for the start and end — no small deal — but for the historic areas of North Lawndale and Douglass Park too. There also are plans for trolley tours along the city’s stretch of Route 66, as well as classic car shows along Ogden Avenue, long one of our favorite, less-traveled Chicago streets, for its relative speed as well as its history. Most Route 66 fans probably are seeking to get their kicks on the open road rather than in urban neighborhoods. But minds can be opened. The old Route 66 within Chicago is filled with retro pleasures to discover, especially old gas stations, eateries (like Lulu’s Hot Dogs in the Tri-Taylor area) and other classic businesses with fabulous swinging signage. This city, after all, is inextricably linked to the Mother Road, which, as the famous song points out, “winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way.” Finally, we are taking some advantage. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.