Take this Philly roads quiz and see if you can navigate like a local
Philly has nicknames for many of its highways and streets. Do you know the difference between the Blue Route and the Schuylkill?
All roads might lead home, but in Philadelphia, it can sometimes be tricky to know which road you’re supposed to take. Long-held nicknames for many of the city’s busiest thoroughfares can make it challenging for newcomers to navigate the city. Test your knowledge of the region’s highways, expressways, and streets before hitting the road.
Question 1 of 10
What road does “the Blue Route” refer to?
CorrectIncorrect. 89.9% of other readers got this question right.
The nickname for I-476 comes from the colored pencils planners used to sketch possible paths for a new highway that would link Philly’s western suburbs to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to a 1991 Inquirer article.
Question 2 of 10
What road does “the Schuylkill” refer to?
CorrectIncorrect. 93.5% of other readers got this question right.
Philadelphians refer to “the Schuylkill” when they’re talking about where Interstate 76 parallels the Schuylkill River. (Sometimes, this road is also referred to as a parking lot because of its well-known traffic snarls.)
Question 3 of 10
What road has the Conshohocken Curve?
CorrectIncorrect. 77.4% of other readers got this question right.
Interstate 76 has a sharp curve where the Schuylkill River bends, forcing the highway to twist similarly.
Question 4 of 10
Which is correct: City Avenue or City Line Avenue?
CorrectIncorrect. 37.9% of other readers got this question right.
The road’s proper name is City Avenue, but it’s often called “City Line Ave” by locals because it creates the border between Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.
Question 5 of 10
Which famous Roosevelt is the Roosevelt Boulevard named for?
CorrectIncorrect. 33.7% of other readers got this question right.
The major artery was named after Theodore in 1918. Prior to that, the road had been called Torresdale Boulevard and then Northeast Boulevard. Philadelphians often refer to it as just “the Boulevard.”
Question 6 of 10
Which of the following street names do not exist in Philadelphia?
CorrectIncorrect. 54.5% of other readers got this question right.
Front Street immediately follows Second Street. Broad Street runs between 13th and 15th Streets. The highest numbered street in Philadelphia is 90th Street.
Question 7 of 10
What road is included in “the Delaware Expressway”?
CorrectIncorrect. 73.5% of other readers got this question right.
The Delaware Expressway follows Interstate 95 from the Delaware state line to Bristol Township and Interstate 295 from Bristol Township to the New Jersey state line.
Question 8 of 10
What road does “the Vine Street Expressway” refer to?
CorrectIncorrect. 87.7% of other readers got this question right.
Interstate 676. The road is slated to be “capped” under the Chinatown Stitch project which would cover part of the below-ground-level expressway and connect Chinatown proper to the area known as Chinatown North.
Question 9 of 10
What is the name of the street that runs parallel to the Delaware River?
CorrectIncorrect. 56.3% of other readers got this question right.
Both. North of Spring Garden Street, it’s called Delaware Avenue. South of it, it’s called Christopher Columbus Boulevard. According to Philadelphia magazine, it was originally all Delaware Avenue until 1992 when the southern portion was renamed for the Italian explorer. An Italian-American group lobbied to change the full stretch amid protest from Native American and other community members. Splitting the road’s name was a compromise.
Question 10 of 10
What is State Highway 611 called in Philadelphia?
CorrectIncorrect. 88.1% of other readers got this question right.
Through most of the city, 611 follows Broad Street, the main north-south artery of Philadelphia. Though the street name changes depending on the location, the road runs into the Pocono Mountains.
Your Results
You have skipped 10 questions.
You scored XX out of 10.
The average reader scored 6.9 out of 10
Nice try, but don’t leave the GPS at home. To learn more about the region’s transit and transportation, read The Inquirer’s coverage.
Not bad, but you might still want to have Google Maps handy. To learn more about the region’s transit and transportation, read The Inquirer’s coverage.
Pretty good! You can probably skip the GPS. To learn more about the region’s transit and transportation, read The Inquirer’s coverage.
10/10! Congrats, you’re ready to hit the road! To learn more about the region’s transit and transportation, read The Inquirer’s coverage.