History Spotlight
History of the “Blue Route” by Doug Humes Photos courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society
Newtown was a sleepy country crossroads for much of its history. Today, it is two miles from I-476. And if different choices had been made, the interstate highway would have crossed right through the eastern portion of the Township. The highway known by some as the “Blue Route” had its roots in regional planning starting in the 1920s. Planning accelerated in the 1950s with the explosive growth of the suburbs and the need for quicker routes through Delaware County, to take pressure off local two-lane north-south roads, Rte. 252 and Rte. 320, that had served the area since the 1700s.
PennDOT map showing three proposed routes
Planners came up with three possible routes through the county, color coded red, blue and green. As with many public improvement projects, everyone wanted the benefits, but no one wanted the highway in their backyard. The Green Route would have entered Newtown near the Community College campus, crossed the Dunwoody property and then run east of Bryn Mawr Avenue into Radnor. In 1960, the Blue Route was chosen, over opposition. Governor Scranton approved the
Make Your Summer Parties and BBQs Extra Special and Extra Tasty Without the Extra Work! 1983 view looking east down Bergdoll Hill, prior to construction of interchange
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Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
July 2022
