Hwy.

RTE

This abbreviation often appears on road signs before a number, like the famous one that runs from Chicago to Santa Monica.

"Hwy." is a common abbreviation for "highway," but in crosswords, it often clues a shorter synonym. Here, the answer is "RTE," which stands for "route"—another term for a road or highway. The clue plays on the idea that both words describe the same thing but uses a less obvious abbreviation to make it a fair challenge. It’s a straightforward abbreviation swap, no tricks involved.