?? A new driver’s guide to Boston traffic, from the Alewife Brook Parkway to the Zakim Bridge

Hiya! This is Dana Gerber , business reporter with the Boston Globe. Today’s installment of No Stupid Questions breaks down the nightmare that is Boston traffic.??

No, it’s not just you: The traffic here is a maddening, bewildering, often-dangerous hellscape. And to survive it, you have to understand it.?

Sure, Google Maps or Waze can (probably) direct you from Point A to Point B. But you should know at least the basics of the city’s dogpile of highways, tunnels, and bridges before getting behind the wheel.

This is a LinkedIn-exclusive installment of the No Stupid Questions series, which you can explore in full on our website.

??? Understand the difference between I-90, I-93, and I-95

• I-93 is a north-south route that stretches from the Dunkin’ capital of Canton, through downtown Boston, up into Somerville and Medford, and on to New Hampshire. (It was also the focus of the notorious Big Dig megaproject.)?
• I-90 runs east-west. It’s better known as the Massachusetts Turnpike, or simply the Pike.?
• I-95 encircles suburbs to the west of Boston, such as Dedham, Newton, and Lexington.

?? Know which tunnels will get you to and from the airport

• If you need to go to Logan Airport from Boston, you’ll either take the Ted Williams Tunnel, which travels from South Boston to East Boston underneath the Boston Harbor, or the Callahan Tunnel, which begins in the North End.?
• Coming back to Boston from the airport, you’d either take the Ted Williams or the Sumner Tunnel (if it’s open, that is).

?? Memorize roadway abbreviations

• Commonwealth Avenue = Comm. Ave.
• Massachusetts Avenue = Mass. Ave.
• Dorchester Avenue = Dot Ave.
• Blue Hill Avenue = Blue Hill Avenue (hey, they can’t all have fun nicknames).

? To learn more:

Check out our full breakdown here of the city’s grid — or lack thereof — to help you orient yourself before you hit the gas. (But you should probably still keep Waze on in the background.)

Let’s chat! What traffic tip has helped you navigate the city’s roads? Give us directions in the comments below.