Newcomers to the Phoenix, AZ area are often glued to their GPS devices, trying to learn how to navigate the valley’s freeways that weave through cityscapes and desert vistas. If you listen to your GPS, you’ll hear highway names like I-17, I-10, State Route 51, and more. But driving with the locals? You’re more likely to hear something like “Sorry, I’m late… I got stuck on the Broadway curve!” Valley Freeway nicknames can be confusing, especially for newcomers.
The truth is, the greater Phoenix area is full of freeway nicknames. While they make a lot of sense to seasoned drivers, they can be a little confusing to those who don’t know the area that well. Today we’re going to explain some of the most common highway nicknames in the valley so you can drive like a local and know where you’re going while you’re at it!
6 nicknames of the valley highway and where they come from
1. The Maricopa Freeway (I-17, I-10 and Loop 202)
- Nickname: The Pile
- Why the nickname: Where I-10 and I-17 meet, forming a stack-like interchange, locals often refer to this complex network of ramps and overpasses as “The Stack.” It’s a critical time in Phoenix’s highway system.
2. The intersection of I-17 and the 101 loop
- Nickname: The North Pile
- Why the nickname: It is a stack-like four-level interchange located north of Bell Road and ‘The Stack’, hence its name.
3. The intersection of Papago Freeway (I-10), State Route 51 and Loop 202
- Nickname: The Mini-Pile
- Why the nickname: We’re not exactly sure where the “mini” part of the nickname came from, but maybe it was just to differentiate it from the other “stacks” in the area. This is another four-level interchange, located east of “The Stack” and at the intersection of I-10, State Route 51, and Loop 202.
4. I-10 near the Tempe-Phoenix border
- Nickname: Broadway Curve
- Why the nickname: Aptly named for its location near Broadway Road, this sharp curve often presents a bottleneck for motorists passing through the area at rush hour.
5. US Highway 60
- Nickname: The Superstition Speedway
- Why the nickname: Named for the nearby Superstition Mountains, US 60 offers a scenic drive and a direct route to the stunning Apache Trail (the perfect road trip destination). The “Speedway” part of this valley highway moniker refers to the fast-paced nature of the route and the captivating landscapes it traverses.
6. Intersection of US 60 with the north and south parts of Loop 202
- Nickname: SuperRedTan
- Why the nickname: To fully understand where this Valley Highway nickname comes from, you need to familiarize yourself with other nicknames for the roads that intersect here. US 60 is also known as the superstition Speedway, as we have already discussed. The northern part of the 202 loop is known as red The mountain and the southern part of Loop 202 is commonly known as the SanSo. Combine parts of each name and you get SuperRedTan.
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