Editing Roosevelt Boulevard (section)

== History ==

The boulevard was planned in the early twentieth century as part of Philadelphia's effort to develop the Northeast as a residential area. Construction began in 1914, with the road designed as a grand landscaped boulevard with local lanes flanking central express lanes. The design reflected City Beautiful movement principles emphasizing aesthetic considerations alongside transportation function.<ref name="penndot"/>

The boulevard was originally named Northeast Boulevard before being renamed for Theodore Roosevelt in 1918 following the former president's death. The road opened in segments through the 1920s and 1930s, enabling residential development that transformed farmland into the dense neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia.<ref name="penndot"/>

Post-World War II growth dramatically increased traffic on the boulevard as Northeast Philadelphia's population boomed. The road that had seemed generously wide when built through farmland became increasingly congested as development filled in along its length. Strip commercial development, auto dealerships, and shopping centers lined the boulevard, generating traffic that mixed with through traffic on the regional route.<ref name="penndot"/>