Philadelphia drivers got an unexpected laugh during their commutes this week. A new freeway sign in the city’s Holmesburg neighborhood humorously read “Cenrtal Phila” instead of “Central Phila,” swapping the “R” and “T.”
Immediate response from officials
The misspelled sign, located on I-95, quickly became a talking point on morning news shows and social media. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation swiftly addressed the mistake. “We are aware of the misspelled sign at the new Cottman ramp at I-95 and have taken immediate action to address it,” they stated.
The department added, “The sign has been covered, the misspelled word will be corrected tonight, and a corrected sign will be installed this week. All costs of correcting this error will be covered by the contractor.”
Costly correction
Creating freeway signs can cost thousands of dollars, making this blunder an expensive one to rectify. Social media users were quick to mock the mistake. One user on X (formerly Twitter) quipped, “You had one job, PennDot!” Another joked, “I lived in Central Philadelphia. You’re probably better off in Cenrtal Philly.”
Lighthearted reactions
Fox 29’s news anchor joined in the fun, joking that the person responsible for the error is probably on the job hunt this week. Despite the costly error, the situation provided a bit of humor for Philadelphians and a reminder that even the smallest mistakes can catch widespread attention.
