Thecloverleaf interchange betweenUS 131,M-6 and 68th Street inCutlerville, Michigan, United States, shows many of the features of controlled-access highways: entry and exit ramps,median strips for opposing traffic, noat-grade intersections and no direct access to properties.This sign, or some variation thereof, is used to denote controlled-access highways in many countries.Typical overhead signage on Ontario'sKing's Highway network featuring an airportpictogram, distances to upcoming interchanges, and lane guidance
Acontrolled-access highway is a type ofhighway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms arefreeway,[a]motorway,[b] andexpressway.[c] Other similar terms includethroughway orthruway[d] andparkway. Some of these may belimited-access highways, although this term can also refer to a class of highways with somewhat less isolation from other traffic.
In countries following theVienna convention, the motorway qualification implies that walking and parking are forbidden.
A fully controlled-access highway provides an unhindered flow of traffic, with notraffic signals,intersections orproperty access. They are free of anyat-grade crossings with other roads, railways, or pedestrian paths, which are instead carried byoverpasses andunderpasses. Entrances and exits to the highway are provided atinterchanges by slip roads (ramps), which allow for speed changes between the highway andarterials andcollector roads. On the controlled-access highway, opposing directions of travel are generally separated by amedian strip or central reservation containing atraffic barrier or grass. Elimination of conflicts with other directions of traffic dramatically improves safety,[2] while increasing traffic capacity and speed.
Controlled-access highways evolved during the first half of the 20th century.Italy was the first country in the world to build controlled-access highways reserved for fast traffic and for motor vehicles only.[3][4] Italy opened its firstautostrada in 1924,A8, connectingMilan toVarese. Germany began to build its first controlled-accessautobahn without speed limits (30 kilometres [19 mi] on what is nowA555, then referred to as adual highway) in 1932 betweenCologne andBonn. It then rapidly constructed the first[5] nationwide system of such roads. The firstNorth Americanfreeways (known as parkways) opened in theNew York City area in the 1920s. Britain, heavily influenced by the railways, did not build its firstmotorway, thePreston By-pass (M6), until 1958.
Most technologically advanced nations feature an extensive network of freeways or motorways to provide high-capacity urban travel, or high-speed rural travel, or both. Many have a national-level or even international-level (e.g.European E route) system ofroute numbering.
There are several international standards that give some definitions of words such as motorways, but there is no formal definition of the English language words such asfreeway,motorway, andexpressway, or of the equivalent words in other languages such asautoroute,Autobahn,autostrada,autocesta, autoput, that are accepted worldwide—in most cases these words are defined by local statute or design standards or regional international treaties. Descriptions that are widely used include:
"Motorway" means a road specially designed and built for motor traffic that does not serve properties bordering on it, and that:
Is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for the two directions of traffic, separated from each other either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic or, exceptionally, by other means;
Does not cross at level with any road, railway or tramway track, or footpath; and,
Motorway: Limited-accessdual carriageway road, not crossed on the same level by othertraffic lanes, for the exclusive use of certain classes of motor vehicle.
Freeway: A divided major roadway with full control of access and with no crossings at grade. This definition applies to toll as well as toll-free roads.
Freeway A: This designates roadways with greater visual complexity and high traffic volumes. Usually this type of freeway will be found in metropolitan areas in or near the central core and will operate through much of the early evening hours of darkness at or near design capacity.
Freeway B: This designates all other divided roadways with full control of access where lighting is needed.
In theEuropean Union, for statistical and safety purposes, some distinction might be made betweenmotorway andexpressway. For instance a principal arterial might be considered as:
Roads serving long distance and mainly interurban movements. Includes motorways (urban or rural) and expressways (road which does not serve properties bordering on it and which is provided with separate carriageways for the two directions of traffic). Principal arterials may cross through urban areas, serving suburban movements. The traffic is characterized byhigh speeds and full or partial access control (interchanges or junctions controlled by traffic lights). Other roads leading to a principal arterial are connected to it through side collector roads.[9]
In this view, CARE's definition stands that a motorway is understood as a
public road with dual carriageways and at least two lanes each way. All entrances and exits are signposted and all interchanges are grade separated. Central barrier or median present throughout the road. No crossing is permitted, while stopping is permitted only in an emergency. Restricted access to motor vehicles, prohibited to pedestrians, animals, pedal cycles, mopeds, agricultural vehicles. The minimum speed is not lower than 50 km/h [31 mph] and the maximum speed is not higher than 130 km/h [81 mph] (exceptGermany where no speed limit is defined).[9]
Motorways are designed to carry heavy traffic at high speed with the lowest possible number of accidents. They are also designed to collect long-distance traffic from other roads, so that conflicts between long-distance traffic and local traffic are avoided.[10] According to the common European definition, a motorway is defined as "a road, specially designed and built for motor traffic, which does not serve properties bordering on it, and which: (a) is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for the two directions of traffic, separated from each other, either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic, or exceptionally by other means; (b) does not cross at level with any road, railway or tramway track, or footpath; (c) is specially sign-posted as a motorway and is reserved for specific categories of road motor vehicles."[11] Urban motorways are also included in this definition. However, the respective national definitions and the type of roads covered may present slight differences in different EU countries.[12]
The first version of modern controlled-access highways evolved during the first half of the 20th century. TheLong Island Motor Parkway onLong Island,New York, opened in 1908 as a private venture, was the world's first limited-access roadway. It included many modern features, includingbanked turns,guard rails and reinforced concretetarmac.[13] Traffic could turn left between the parkway and connectors, crossing oncoming traffic, so it was not a controlled-access highway (or "freeway" as later defined by the federal government'sManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices).
Modern controlled-access highways originated in the early 1920s in response to the rapidly increasing use of theautomobile, the demand for faster movement between cities and as a consequence of improvements in paving processes, techniques and materials. These original high-speed roads were referred to as "dual highways" and have been modernized and are still in use today.
A section of the GermanReichsautobahn in 1943, the first nationwide highway system.
Italy was the first country in the world to build controlled-access highways reserved for fast traffic and for motor vehicles only.[3][4] TheAutostrada dei Laghi ("Lakes Motorway") connectedMilan toLake Como andLake Maggiore, and is now parts of theA8 andA9 motorways. It was devised byPiero Puricelli and was inaugurated in 1924.[4] This motorway, calledautostrada, contained only one lane in each direction and no interchanges. The Bronx River Parkway was the first road in North America to utilize a median strip to separate the opposing lanes, to be constructed through a park and where intersecting streets crossed over bridges.[14][15] TheSouthern State Parkway opened in 1927, while theLong Island Motor Parkway was closed in 1937 and replaced by theNorthern State Parkway (opened 1931) and the contiguousGrand Central Parkway (opened 1936). In Germany, construction of theBonn-Cologne Autobahn began in 1929 and was opened in 1932 byKonrad Adenauer, then the mayor ofCologne.[16] The GermanAutobahn became the first nationwide highway system.[17]
InCanada, the first precursor with semi-controlled access wasThe Middle Road betweenHamilton andToronto, which featured a median divider between opposing traffic flow, as well as the nation's firstcloverleaf interchange. This highway developed into theQueen Elizabeth Way, which featured a cloverleaf andtrumpet interchange when it opened in 1937, and until theSecond World War, boasted the longest illuminated stretch of roadway built.[18] A decade later, the first section ofHighway 401 was opened, based on earlier designs. It has since gone on to become the busiest highway in the world.
The wordfreeway was first used in February 1930 byEdward M. Bassett.[19][20][21][22] Bassett argued that roads should be classified into three basic types: highways,parkways, and freeways.[19] In Bassett'szoning andproperty law-based system,abutting property owners have the rights oflight,air and access to highways, but not parkways and freeways; the latter two are distinguished in that the purpose of a parkway is recreation, while the purpose of a freeway is movement.[19] Thus, as originally conceived, a freeway is simply a strip of public land devoted to movement to which abutting property owners do not have rights of light, air or access.[19]
Freeways, by definition, have no at-gradeintersections with other roads,railroads ormulti-use trails. Therefore, no traffic signals are needed and through traffic on freeways does not normally need to stop at traffic signals. Some countries, such as the United States, allow for limited exceptions: somemovable bridges, for instance theInterstate Bridge onInterstate 5 betweenOregon andWashington, do require drivers to stop forship traffic.
The crossing of freeways by other routes is typically achieved with grade separation either in the form ofunderpasses oroverpasses. In addition tosidewalks (pavements) attached to roads that cross a freeway, specializedpedestrianfootbridges ortunnels may also be provided. These structures enable pedestrians andcyclists to cross the freeway at that point without a detour to the nearest road crossing.
Access to freeways is typically provided only at grade-separatedinterchanges, though lower-standardright-in/right-out (left-in/left-out in countries that drive on the left) access can be used for direct connections to side roads. In many cases, sophisticated interchanges allow for smooth, uninterrupted transitions between intersecting freeways and busyarterial roads. However, sometimes it is necessary to exit onto a surface road to transfer from one freeway to another. One example in the United States (notorious for the resulting congestion) is the connection fromInterstate 70 to thePennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 70 andInterstate 76) through the town ofBreezewood, Pennsylvania.[23]
Speed limits are generally higher on freeways and are occasionally nonexistent (as on much of Germany'sAutobahn network). Because higher speeds reduce decision time, freeways are usually equipped with a larger number ofguide signs than other roads, and the signs themselves are physically larger. Guide signs are often mounted on overpasses or overheadgantries so that drivers can see where each lane goes. Exit numbers are commonly derived from the exit's distance in miles or kilometres from the start of the freeway. In some areas, there are publicrest areas orservice areas on freeways, as well asemergency phones on theshoulder at regular intervals.
In the United States,mileposts usually start at the southern or westernmost point on the freeway (either its terminus or the state line).California,Ohio andNevada usepostmile systems in which the markers indicate mileage through the state's individual counties. However, Nevada and Ohio also use the standard milepost system concurrently with their respective postmile systems. California numbers its exits off its freeways according to a milepost system but does not use milepost markers.
Diagram showing lanes and road layout (Irish road markings)
In Europe and some other countries, motorways typically have similar characteristics such as:
A typical design speed in the range of 100–130 km/h (62–81 mph)
Minimum values for horizontal curve radii around 750 to 900 m (2,460 to 2,950 ft).
Maximum longitudinal gradients typically not exceeding 4% to 5%.
Cross sections incorporating a minimum of two through-traffic lanes for each direction of travel, with a typical width of 3.50 to 3.75 m (11 ft 6 in to 12 ft 4 in) each, separated by a central median.
An obstacle-free zone varying from 4.5 to 10 m (15 to 33 ft), or alternatively installation of appropriate vehicle restraint systems.
Proper design of grade-separated interchanges to provide for the movement of traffic between two or more roadways on different levels.
More frequent (compared to other road types) construction of tunnels and overpasses, requiring complex equipment and methods of operation.
Installation of highly efficient road equipment and traffic control devices.[24]
A controlled access highway may be two lanes known as atwo-lane expressway. They are often undivided, are sometimes built when traffic volumes are low (but may be upgraded later), right-of-way is limited or due to low funding. They may be designed for easy conversion to one side of a four-lane freeway and right of way may already be acquired. (For example, most of theMountain Parkway in easternKentucky is two lanes, but work has begun to make all of it four-lane.) These are often calledSuper two roads. Several such roads are infamous for a high rate of lethal crashes; an outcome because they were designed for short sight distances (sufficient for freeways without oncoming traffic, but insufficient for the years in service as two-lane road with oncoming traffic). An example of such a "Highway to Hell" wasEuropean route E4 fromGävle toAxmartavlan, Sweden. The high rate of crashes with severe personal injuries on that (and similar) roads did not cease until a median crash barrier was installed, transforming the fatal crashes into non-fatal crashes. Otherwise, freeways typically have at least two lanes in each direction; some busy ones can have as many as 16 or more lanes[e] in total.
These wide freeways may use separatecollector and express lanes to separate through traffic from local traffic, or specialhigh-occupancy vehicle lanes, either as a special restriction on the innermost lane or a separate roadway, to encouragecarpooling. TheseHOV lanes, or roadways open to all traffic, can bereversible lanes, providing more capacity in the direction of heavy traffic, and reversing direction before traffic switches. Sometimes acollector/distributor road, a shorter version of a local lane, shifts weaving between closely spaced interchanges to a separate roadway or altogether eliminates it.
In some parts of the world, notablyparts of the US,frontage roads form an integral part of the freeway system. These parallel surface roads provide a transition between high-speed "through" traffic and local traffic. Frequent slip-ramps provide access between the freeway and the frontage road, which in turn provides direct access to local roads and businesses.[25]
Except on some two-lane freeways (and very rarely on wider freeways), amedian separates the opposite directions of traffic. This strip may be as simple as a grassy area, or may include acrash barrier such as a "Jersey barrier" or an "Ontario Tall Wall" to preventhead-on collisions.[26] On some freeways, the two carriageways are built on different alignments; this may be done to make use of available corridors in a mountainous area or to provide narrower corridors through denseurban areas.[citation needed]
Control of access relates to a legal status which limits the types of vehicles that can use a highway, as well as aroad design that limits the points at which they can access it.
Majorarterial roads will often havepartial access control, meaning that side roads will intersect the main road at grade, instead of using interchanges, but driveways may not connect directly to the main road, and drivers must use intersecting roads to access adjacent land. At arterial junctions with relatively quiet side roads, traffic is controlled mainly by two-way stop signs which do not impose significant interruptions on traffic using the main highway.Roundabouts are often used at busier intersections in Europe because they help minimize interruptions in flow, while traffic signals that create greater interference with traffic are still preferred in North America. There may be occasional interchanges with other major arterial roads. Examples includeUS 23 betweenSR 15's eastern terminus andDelaware, Ohio, along with SR 15 between its eastern terminus andI-75,US 30,SR 29/US 33, andUS 35 in western and central Ohio. This type of road is sometimes called anexpressway.
Freeways are usually limited to motor vehicles of a minimum power or weight; signs may prohibitcyclists,pedestrians andequestrians and impose a minimum speed. It is possible for non-motorized traffic to use facilities within the same right-of-way, such assidewalks constructed along freeway-standardbridges andmulti-use paths next to freeways such as theSuncoast Trail along theSuncoast Parkway inFlorida.
De Lucht Rest Area on the Dutch A2 - a typical rest area in theNetherlands with services (fuel, refreshments and toilets). The only access is via the highway that it serves.
In some US jurisdictions, especially where freeways replace existing roads,non-motorized access on freeways is permitted. Different states of the United States have different laws. Cycling on freeways inArizona may be prohibited only where there is an alternative route judged equal or better for cycling.[27]Wyoming, the second least densely populated state, allows cycling on all freeways.Oregon allows bicycles except on specific urban freeways inPortland andMedford.[28]
In countries such as theUnited Kingdom new motorways require anAct of Parliament to ensure restricted right of way. Since upgrading an existing road (the "King's Highway") to a full motorway will result in extinguishing theright of access of certain groups such as pedestrians, cyclists and slow-moving traffic, many controlled access roads are not full motorways.[29] In some cases motorways are linked by short stretches of road where alternative rights of way are not practicable such as theDartford Crossing (the furthest downstream public crossing of theRiver Thames) or where it was not economic to build a motorway alongside the existing road such as the formerCumberland Gap. TheA1 is a good example of piece-wise upgrading to motorway standard—as of January 2013, the 639-kilometre-long (397 mi) route had five stretches of motorway (designated as A1(M)), reducing to four stretches in March 2018 with completion of the A1(M) throughNorth Yorkshire.
The Belgrade Urban Motorway, constructed between 1970 and 1977, required demolitions of streets and houses, characteristic of urban motorways. InNovi Beograd, the motorway path was already laid out, requiring no demolitions.
The most frequent way freeways are laid out is by building them from the ground up after obstructions such as forestry or buildings are cleared away. Sometimes they deplete farmland, but other methods have been developed for economic, social and even environmental reasons.
Full freeways are sometimes made by converting at-grade expressways or by replacing at-grade intersections with overpasses; however, in the US, any at-grade intersection that ends a freeway often remains an at-grade intersection. Often, when there is a two-lane undivided freeway or expressway, it is converted by constructing a parallel twin corridor, and leaving a median between the two travel directions. The median-side travel lane of the old two-way corridor becomes a passing lane.
Other techniques involve building a new carriageway on the side of a divided highway that has a lot of private access on one side and sometimes has long driveways on the other side since an easement for widening comes into place, especially in rural areas.
When athird carriageway is added, sometimes it can shift a directional carriageway by 20–60 metres (50–200 ft) (or maybe more depending on land availability) as a way to retain private access on one side that favours over the other. Other methods involve constructing a service drive that shortens the long driveways (typically by less than 100 metres (330 ft)).
An interchange or a junction is a highway layout that permits traffic from one controlled-access highway to access another and vice versa, whereas an access point is a highway layout where traffic from a distributor or local road can join a controlled-access highway. Some countries, such as theUnited Kingdom, do not distinguish between the two, but others make a distinction; for example,Germany uses the wordsKreuz ("cross") orDreieck ("triangle") for the former andAusfahrt ("exit") for the latter. In all cases one road crosses the other via a bridge or a tunnel, as opposed to anat-grade crossing.
The inter-connecting roads, orslip-roads, which link the two roads, can follow any one of a number of patterns. The actual pattern is determined by a number of factors including local topology, traffic density, land cost, building costs, type of road, etc. In some jurisdictions feeder/distributor lanes are common, especially forcloverleaf interchanges; in others, such as the United Kingdom, where theroundabout interchange is common, feeder/distributor lanes are seldom seen.
Motorways in Europe typically differentiate between exits and junctions. An exit leads out of the motorway system, whereas a junction is a crossing between motorways or a split/merge of two motorways. Themotorway rules end at exits, but not at junctions. However, on some bridges, motorways, without changing appearance, temporarily end between the two exits closest to the bridge (or tunnel), and continue asdual carriageways. This is in order to give slower vehicles a possibility to use the bridge. TheQueen Elizabeth II Bridge /Dartford tunnel atLondon Orbital is an example of this. London Orbital or the M25 is a motorway surroundingLondon, but at the lastRiver Thames crossing before its mouth, motorway rules do not apply. (At this crossing the London Orbital is labelled A282 instead.)
Parclo (partial cloverleaf) interchange: often used to link a minor road with a junction
Trumpet interchange: a motorway "T" junction, used where the interchange represents the terminus of one of the two roads; also common on toll roads as it requires only one tollbooth
Motorway split or merge; basic logic resembles the T-junction
There are many differences between countries in their geography, economy, traffic growth, highway system size, degree of urbanization and motorization, etc.; all of which need to be taken into consideration when comparisons are made.[33] According to some EU papers, safety progress on motorways is the result of several changes, including infrastructure safety and road user behaviour (speed or seat belt use), while other matters such as vehicle safety and mobility patterns have an impact that has not been quantified.[34]
Motorways are the safest roads by design. While accounting for more than one quarter of all kilometres driven, they contributed only 8% of the total number of European road deaths in 2006.[2] Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute providedInternational Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD) statistics for the year 2010, comparing overall fatality rates with motorway rates (regardless of traffic intensity):
The Germanautobahn network illustrates the safety trade-offs of controlled access highways. The injury crash rate is very low on autobahns,[37] while 22 people died per 1,000 injury crashes—although autobahns have a lower rate than the 29 deaths per 1,000 injury accidents on conventional rural roads, the rate is higher than the risk on urban roads. Speeds are higher on rural roads and autobahns than urban roads, increasing the severity potential of a crash.[38]
According to ETSC, German motorways without a speed limit, but with a 130 km/h (81 mph) speed recommendation, are 25% more deadly than motorways with a speed limit.[39]
Germany also introduced some 130 km/h (81 mph) speed limits on various motorway sections that were not limited. This generated a reduction in deaths in a range from 20% to 50% on those sections.[40]
Speed, in Europe, is considered to be one of the main contributory factors to collisions. Some countries, such as France and Switzerland, have achieved a death reduction by a better monitoring of speed. Tools used for monitoring speed might be an increase in traffic density; improved speed enforcement and stricter regulation leading to driver licence withdrawal; safety cameras; penalty point; and higher fines. Some other countries use automatic time-over-distance cameras (also known assection controls) to manage speed.[34]
Fatigue is considered as a risk factor more specific to monotonous roads such as motorways, although such data are not monitored/recorded in many countries.[34] According toVinci Autoroutes, one third of accidents in French motorways are due to sleepy driving.[41]
23% of people killed on French motorways were not wearing seat belts, while 98% of front-seat passengers and 87% of rear-seat passenger wear seat belts.[34]
Although safety results do not change much from year to year, in Europe some changes have been observed: motorway fatalities decreased by 41% during the 2006–2015 decade, but increased by 10% between 2014 and 2015. However, taking into account motorway network length to reflect exposure, data shows that fatalities per thousand kilometres halved between 2006 and 2015.[42]
AUniversity of Barcelona study suggests that iftolls are implemented on a controlled-access highway, drivers mayseek alternative routes to avoid paying the tolls. This may result in a decrease of safety on roads which are not designed for heavy traffic.[43]
In the United Kingdom, there are very few studies regarding the impact of road traffic accidents from existing and new urban motorways.[44] In particular, new urban motorways do not grant a reduction of traffic accidents.[citation needed]
In Italy, a study performed on urban motorwayA56Tangenziale di Napoli showed that reduction of speed leads to a decrease in accidents.[45]
InMarseille, France, from June 2009 to May 2010, CEREMA, the French centre for studies on risk, mobility and environment, performed a study onMarius, a network of urban motorways. This study established a link between accidents and traffic variables:[46]
for single vehicle accidents, the 6-minute average speed on the fast lane; and the time headway (on every lane),
for multiple vehicle accidents, the occupancy, and the time headway (for the middle lane).
The 150-kilometre-long (93 mi) Marius network counts 292 injury accidents or fatalities for 1.5 billion of vehicle-kilometres, that is 189 injury accidents or fatalities for 1 billion of vehicle-kilometres.
Some European countries have improved safety of urban motorways, with a set of measures to dynamically manage traffic flow in response to changing volumes, speeds, and incidents, including:
Variable speed limits, line control, and speed harmonization
Shoulder running with emergency refuge areas
Queue warning and variable messaging
24/7 monitoring of traffic with cameras and/or in-pavement sensors (both to detect incidents and identify when to reduce speed limits)
Incident management
Automated enforcement
Specialized algorithms for temporary shoulder running, variable speed limits, and/or incident detection and management
Ramp metering (coordinated or independent function)[47]
In 1994, it was assumed that lighting urban motorways would benefit from more safety than unlighted ones.[48]
InCalifornia, in 2001, a study established, for urban freeways, some relationships among urban freeway accidents, traffic flow, weather, and lighting conditions:[49]
it establishes a difference between dry freeways in daylight and wet freeways in darkness
it establishes that left-lane collisions are more likely induced by volume effects, while right-lane collisions are more closely tied to speed variances in adjacent lanes (in California, people drive in the right lane except when passing).
Controlled-access highways have been constructed both between major cities as well as within them, leading to the sprawlingsuburban development found near most modern cities. Highways have been heavily criticized by environmentalists, urbanists, and preservationists for the noise,[50] pollution, and economic shifts they bring.[51] Additionally, they have been criticized by the driving public for the inefficiency with which they handle peak hour traffic.[52][53][54]
Often, rural highways open up vast areas to economic development and municipal services, generally raising property values. In contrast to this, above-grade highways in urban areas are often a source of lowered property values, contributing tourban decay. Even with overpasses and underpasses, neighbourhoods are divided—especially impoverished ones where residents are less likely to own a car, or to have the political and economic influence to resist construction efforts.[55] Beginning in the early 1970s, theUS Congress identified freeways and other urban highways as responsible for most of the noise exposure of the US population.[56] Subsequently, computer models were developed to analyse freeway noise and aid in their design to help minimize noise exposure.[57]
An alternative to surface or above-ground freeway construction has been the construction of underground urban freeways using tunnelling technologies. This has been employed inMadrid andPrague, as well as theAustralian cities ofSydney (which has five such freeways),Brisbane (which has three), andMelbourne (which has two). This has had the benefit of not creating heavily trafficked surface roads and, in the case of Melbourne'sEastLink freeway, prevented the destruction of an ecologically sensitive area.
Other Australian cities face similar problems (lack of available land, cost of home acquisition, aesthetic problems and community opposition).Brisbane, which also has to contend with physical boundaries (theBrisbane River) and rapid population increases, has embraced underground freeways. There are currently three open to traffic (Clem Jones Tunnel (CLEM7),Airport Link andLegacy Way) and one (East-West Link) is currently in planning. All of the tunnels are designed to act as an inner-cityring road or bypass system and include provision for public transport, whether underground or in reclaimed space on the surface.[58] However, freeways are not beneficial for road-based public transport services, because the restricted access to the roadway means that it is awkward for passengers to get to the limited number of boarding points unless they drive to them, largely defeating the purpose.[59]
In Canada, the extension of Highway 401 towardDetroit, known as theHerb Gray Parkway, has been designed with numerous tunnels and underpasses that provide land for parks and recreational uses.
Freeway opponents have found that freeway expansion is often self-defeating: expansion simply generates more traffic. That is, even if traffic congestion is initially shifted from local streets to a new or widened freeway, people will begin to use their cars more and commute from more remote locations. Over time, the freeway and its environs become congested again as both the average number and distance of trips increases. This phenomenon is known asinduced demand.[60][61]
Urban planning experts such as Drusilla Van Hengel, Joseph DiMento and Sherry Ryan argue that although properly designed and maintained freeways may be convenient and safe, at least in comparison to uncontrolled roads, they may not expand recreation, employment and education opportunities equally for different ethnic groups, or for people located in certain neighbourhoods of any given city.[62] Still, they may open new markets to somesmall businesses.[63]
Construction of urban freeways for the USInterstate Highway System, which began in the late 1950s, led to the demolition of thousands of city blocks and the dislocation of many more thousands of people. The citizens of many inner city areas responded with thefreeway and expressway revolts. Through the study ofWashington's response, it can be shown that the most effective changes came not from executive or legislative action, but instead from policy implementation. One of the foremost rationales for the creation of theUnited States Department of Transportation (USDOT) was that an agency was needed to mediate between the conflicting interests of interstates and cities. Initially, these policies came as regulation of the state highway departments. Over time, USDOT officials re-focused highway building from a national level to the local scale. With this shift of perspective came an encouragement for alternative transportation, and locally based planning agencies.[64]
At present, freeway expansion has largely stalled in theUnited States, due to a multitude of factors that converged in the 1970s: higherdue process requirements prior to taking of privateproperty, increasing land values, increasing costs for construction materials, local opposition to new freeways in urban cores, the passage of theNational Environmental Policy Act (which imposed the requirement that each new federally funded project must have anenvironmental impact statement or report) and fallinggas tax revenues as a result of the nature of the flat-cent tax (it is not automatically adjusted for inflation), thetax revolt movement,[65] and growing popular support for high-speed mass transit in lieu of new freeways.[citation needed]
InEngland and Wales, the numbers of major motorways followed a numbering system separate from that of the A-road network, though based on the same principle of zones.[citation needed] Running clockwise from theM1, the zones were defined for Zones 1 to 4 based on the proposedM2,M3 andM4 motorways. TheM5 andM6 numbers were reserved for the other two planned long-distance motorways.[citation needed] ThePreston Bypass, the UK's first motorway, should have been numbered A6(M) under the scheme decided upon, but it was decided to keep the number M6 as it had already been applied.[citation needed]
A mapShowing Future Pattern of Principal National Routes was issued by theMinistry of War Transport in 1946 shortly before the law that allowed roads to be restricted to specified classes of vehicle (theSpecial Roads Act 1949) was passed. The first section of motorway, theM6 Preston Bypass, opened in 1958, followed by the first major section of motorway (theM1 betweenCrick and Berrygrove inWatford), which opened in 1959. From then until the 1980s, motorways opened at frequent intervals; by 1972 the first 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) of motorway had been built.
While roads outside of urban areas continued to be built throughout the 1970s, opposition to urban routes became more pronounced. Most notably, plans by theGreater London Council for a series ofringways were cancelled following extensiveroad protests and a rise in costs. In 1986 the single-ring,M25 motorway was completed as a compromise. In 1996 the total length of motorways reached 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi).
Motorways in Great Britain, as in numerous European countries, will nearly always have the following characteristics:
No traffic lights (except occasionally on slip roads before reaching the main carriageway).
Exit is nearly always via a numbered junction and slip road, with rare minor exceptions.
Pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles below a specified engine size are banned.
There is a central reservation separating traffic flowing in opposing directions. (The only exception to this is the A38(M) inBirmingham where the central reservation is replaced by another lane in which the direction of traffic changes depending on the time of day. There was another small spur motorway nearManchester with no solid central reservation, but this was declassified as a motorway in the 2000s.)
No roundabouts on the main carriageway. This is only the case on motorways beginning with M (so called 'M' class). In the case of upgraded A roads with numbers ending with M (i.e. Ax(M)), roundabouts may exist on the main carriageway where they intersect 'M' class motorways. In all 'M' class motorways bar two, there are no roundabouts except at the point at which the motorway ends or the motorway designation ends. The only exceptions to this in Great Britain are:
theM271 inSouthampton which has a roundabout on the main carriageway where it meets the M27, but then continues as the M271 after the junction.
on theM60. This came about as a result of renumbering sections of theM62 andM66 motorways near Manchester as the M60, to form a ring around the city. What was formerly the junction between the M62 and M66 now involves the clockwise M60 negotiating a roundabout, while traffic for the eastbound M62 and northbound M66 carries straight on from the M60. This junction, known asSimister Island, has been criticized for the presence of a roundabout and the numbered route turning off.
the A1(M) between the M62 inNorth Yorkshire andWashington in Tyne and Wear is built to full 'M' class standards without any roundabouts. It has been suggested that this section of the A1(M) should be reclassified as the northern extension of the M1.[66]
It was proposed in 2013 that the Ax(M) format number would be used for the highest standard of a new classification of road referred to inEngland as "expressways", which would be roads without normal roundabouts or right turns across the central reservation, and with graded junctions. Such roads would have motorway-style restrictions but emergency reservations rather than standard major motorway-standard hard shoulders.
In Scotland, where theScottish Office (superseded by the Scottish Executive in 1999) rather than theMinistry of Transport and Civil Aviation had the decision, there is no zonal pattern, but rather the A-road rule is strictly enforced. It was decided to reserve the numbers 7, 8 and 9 for Scotland.[citation needed] TheM8 follows the route of theA8, and theA90 became part of theM90 when the A90 was re-routed along the path of theA85.
Motorways follow an "M"-format, with two exceptions: the A823(M) nearRosyth joining the A823 to the M90, and the A74(M) between the English M6 atGretna and the M74 atAbington.
InNorthern Ireland a distinct numbering system is used, which is separate from the rest of theUnited Kingdom, though the classification of roads along the lines of A, B and C is universal throughout the UK and theIsle of Man. According to a written answer to aparliamentary question to theNorthern Ireland Minister for Regional Development, there is no known reason as to how Northern Ireland's road numbering system was devised.[67] However motorways, as in the rest of the UK, are numbered M, with the two major motorways coming fromBelfast being numberedM1 andM2. TheM12 is a short spur of the M1, with theM22 being a short continuation (originally intended to be a spur) of the M2. There are two other motorways, the shortM3, theM5 and a motorway section of theA8 road, known as theA8(M).
Signage on theM6 nearKinnegad inIreland. The pictogram of a dual carriageway traversed by an overpass is used in many European countries to indicate the start of motorway regulations. In this case the appropriate motorway number is shown and in accordance with Irish practice a continuous yellow line indicates a motorway rather than ahigh-quality dual carriageway (HQDC).
InIreland, since the passage of the Roads Act 1993, all motorways are part of, or form,national primary roads. These routes are numbered in series, (usually, radiating anti-clockwise fromDublin, starting with the N1/M1) using numbers from 1 to 33 (and, separately from the series, 50). Motorways use the number of the route of which they form part, with an M prefix rather than N for national road (or in theory, rather than R forregional road).[68] In most cases, the motorway has been built as a bypass of a road previously forming the national road (e.g. theM7 bypassing roads previously forming theN7)—the bypassed roads are reclassified asregional roads, although updated signposting may not be provided for some time, and adherence to signage colour conventions is lax (regional roads have black-on-white directional signage, national routes use white-on-green).
Under the previous legislation, the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act 1974, motorways theoretically existed independently to national roads. However, the short sections of motorway opened during this act, except for the M50, always took their number from the national road that they were bypassing. The older road was not downgraded at this point (indeed, regional roads were not legislated for at this stage). Older signage at certain junctions on the M7 and M11 can be seen reflecting this earlier scheme, where for example N11 and M11 can be seen coexisting.
TheM50, an entirely new national road, is an exception to the normal inheritance process, as it does not replace a road previously carrying an N number. The M50 was nevertheless legislated in 1994 as the N50 route (it had only a short section of non-motorway section from the Junction 11Tallaght to Junction 12Firhouse until its extension as the Southern Cross Motorway). The M50's designation was chosen as a recognisable number. As of 2010, the N34 is the next unused national primary road designation. In theory, a motorway in Ireland could form part of a regional road.[68]
InAustralia, highway and motorway (also called freeway or expressway) numbers either use alphanumeric route markers with M prefix for motorways, freeways and expressways or national/state route markers.
Before the implementation of alpha-numeric route markers, controlled-access highways were marked with a Metroad, National Highway, National Route or State Route Marker. InSydney, Metroad route markers were used for motorways and freeways, except thePacific Motorway (then F3 Freeway), which was marked with a National Highway marker. InBrisbane, Metroad, State routes were used for motorways and freeways. InMelbourne, all motorways and freeways used State Route markers. In Western Australia, National Route markers are used for expressways and freeways.
After the implementation of alphanumeric route markers, all route markers being used for motorways and freeways in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney were replaced with a M marker. In Western Australia, they have not implemented the new system yet.
Alphanumeric route marker. Replaced all previous route markers except Western Australia.
State Route marker, used for Motorways in Western Australia and Queensland (only Smith Street Motorway and Sunshine Motorway).
Metroad (fell out of use), were used in Metropolitan Sydney and Brisbane.
National Route marker (fell out of use), were used in Sydney and Western Australia.
National Highway, used for some freeways in Tasmania.
Sign on a SwissAutostrada (A2/E35 nearLugano, Switzerland)
InHungary, similar to Ireland, motorway numbers can be derived from the original national highway numbers (1–7), with an M prefix attached, e.g.M7 is on the route of the old Highway 7 fromBudapest towardsLake Balaton andCroatia. New motorways not following the original Budapest-centred radial highway system get numbers M8, M9, etc., or M0 in the case of the ring road around Budapest.
In theNetherlands, motorway numbers can be derived from the original national highway numbers, but with an A (Autosnelweg) prefix attached, likeA9.
Numbering scheme in Germany
InGermany federal motorways have the prefix A (Autobahn). If the following number is odd, the motorway generally follows a north–south direction, while even-numbered motorways generally follow an east–west direction. Other controlled-access roads (dual carriageways) in Germany can be federal highways (Bundesstraßen), state highways (Landesstraßen), district highways (Kreisstraßen) and city highways (Stadtstraßen), each with their own numbering system.
InItaly, motorways follow a single numbering, even if managed by different concessionaire companies: they are all marked with the letter "A" (forautostrada; "RA" in the case of motorway junctions, with the exception of theBereguardo-Pavia junction numbered on the signs asAutostrada A53, and "T" for the internationalAlpine tunnels) followed by a number. Therefore a motorway with the same numbering can be managed by different concessionaire companies (for example theAutostrada A23 is managed for a stretch bySocietà Autostrade Alto Adriatico [it] and for the remaining stretch byAutostrade per l'Italia[69][70]).
InNew Zealand, as well as inBrazil,Russia,Finland, and theScandinavian countries, motorway numbers are derived from the state highway route that they form a part of, but unlike Hungary and Ireland, they are not distinguished from non-motorway sections of the same state highway route. In the cases where a new motorway acts as a bypass of a state highway route, the original state highway is either stripped of that status or renumbered. A low road number means a road suitable for long-distance driving.
InBelgium, motorways but also some dual carriageways have numbers preceded by an A. However, those that also have an E-number are generally referenced with that one. City rings and bypasses have numbers preceded by an R; these also can be either motorways or dual carriageways.
InCroatia, motorway numbering is independent of state route numbering. Motorways are prefixed by an A (forautocesta), as in many other European countries. Some motorways are the result of an upgrade of an older two-lane road, and carry concurrencies with state routes. In some other cases, such as with theA2, following the upgrade, the state route was rerouted onto thefrontage road.
While the design characteristics listed above are generally applicable around the globe, every jurisdiction provides its own specifications and design criteria for controlled-access highways.
InAlgeria, the motorway network has about 2,318 km (1,440 mi) in 2x3 lanes. The network is expanding increasingly, along with other kinds of infrastructure, though this is only true for the northern region of the country, where most of its population lives. And this infrastructure is pretty well developed forNorth African standards.
For the moment, the entire Algerian motorway network is toll-free. The toll stations are being finalized and the launch of the motorway toll is scheduled for early 2021.[needs update] The maximum speed authorized on the entire network is 120 km/h (75 mph).
Egypt has many multiple-lane, high-speed motorways. Two routes in theTrans-African Highway network originate inCairo. Egypt also has multiple highway links with Asia through theArab Mashreq International Road Network. Egypt has a developing motorway network, connecting Cairo withAlexandria and other cities. Though most of the transport in the country is still done on the national highways, motorways are becoming increasingly an option in road transport within the country. The existing motorways in the country are:
Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road: Running between Cairo and Alexandria, with an extension of 215 km (134 mi), it is the main motorway in Egypt.
International Coastal Road: It runs from Alexandria toPort Said, along the northernNile Delta. It has a length of 280 km (170 mi). Also, among other cities, it connectsDamietta andBaltim.
Geish Road: It runs betweenHelwan andAsyut, along theNile, also connectingBeni Suef andMinya. Its length is 306 km (190 mi).
Ring Road: It serves as an inner ring-road for Cairo. It has a length of 103 km (64 mi).
Regional Ring Road: It serves as an outer ring road for Cairo, also connecting its suburbs likeHelwan and10th of Ramadan City. Its length is 130 km (81 mi).
Much ofEthiopia's highway network is developing. Road projects now represent around a quarter of the annual infrastructure budget of the Ethiopian government. Additionally, through the Road Sector Development Program (RSDP), the government has earmarked $4 billion to construct, repair and upgrade roads over the next decade. Ethiopia has over 100,000 km (62,000 mi) of roads. In 2014, theAddis Ababa–Adama Expressway opened, becoming the first expressway in Ethiopia.
Class S: "A Highway that connects two or more cities and carries safely a large volume of traffic at the highest speed of operation."
Class A: "A Highway that forms a strategic route and corridor connecting international boundaries at identified immigration entry and exit points and international terminals such as international air or sea ports."
Class B: "A Highway that forms an important national route linking national trading or economic hubs, County Headquarters and other nationally important centers to each other and to the National Capital or to Class A roads."
The motorways and expressways ofMorocco are a network of multiple-lane, high-speed, controlled-access highways.
As of November 2016 the total length of Morocco's motorways was 1,808 km (1,123 mi) and 1,093 km (679 mi) expressways. Morocco plans to expand the road network. In the country 3,400 km (2,100 mi) of motorways and 2,100 km (1,300 mi) of expressways are currently under construction in different parts of the country.
In the year 2035 the total length of the motorways will be 5,185 km (3,222 mi) of motorways and 3,700 km (2,300 mi) of expressways. According to the minister of Morocco, this plan also includes a program specific to rural roads for the construction of 30,000 km (19,000 mi) of roads for an investment of 30 billion dirhams.
Mozambique's highways are classified as a national or primary road (estrada nacional orestrada primária), or as regional – secondary or tertiary – roads (estradas secundárias andestradas terciárias). National roads are given the prefix "N" or "EN" followed by a one- or two-digit number. The numbers generally increase from the south of the country to the north. Regional roads are given the prefix "R", followed by a three-digit number. Mozambique has over 32,000 kilometres (20,000 mi) of paved roads.
InSouth Africa, the termfreeway differs from most other parts of the world. A freeway is a road where certain restrictions apply.[73]
The following are forbidden from using a freeway:
a vehicle drawn by an animal;
a pedal cycle (such as a bicycle);
a motorcycle having an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3 or that is propelled by electrical power;
a motor tricycle or motor quadricycle;
pedestrians
Drivers may not use hand signals on a freeway (except in emergencies) and the minimum speed on a freeway is 60 km/h (37 mph). Drivers in the rightmost lane of multi-carriageway freeways must move to the left if a faster vehicle approaches from behind to overtake.
Despite popular opinion that "freeway" means a road with at least two carriageways, single carriageway freeways exist, as is evidenced by the statement that "[South Africa's] roads include 1,400 km (870 mi) of dual carriageway freeway, 440 km (270 mi) of single carriageway freeway and 5,300 km (3,300 mi) of single carriage main road with unlimited access."[74]
Argentina has a national route system. It is connected to thePan-American Highway. Argentina has a total of over 82,000 km (51,000 mi) of paved roads.[75]
Few highways in Brazil prohibit cyclists or pedestrians and are built according to the motorway standards defined by theVienna Convention on Road Traffic,[76] ratified by Brazil in 1980.[77] There is no distinct designation for controlled-access highways in theBrazilian federal and state highway systems. The termautoestrada (Portuguese for "motorway" or "freeway") is not commonly used in Brazil; the termsestrada ("road") and especiallyrodovia ("highway") are instead preferred, though neither refers specifically to motorways. Nevertheless, the most technically advanced motorways in Brazil are definedClass 0 expressways by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT). These expressways are built to safely allow for vehicular speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph). In mountainous terrain, the maximum allowable gradient is 5%, and the minimum allowable radius of curvature is 665 m (2,182 ft) (with 12% super-elevation).
São Paulo state has the most motorways in the country. It is also the state with more highways conceded to the private sector.
Brazil's first expressway, theRodovia Anhanguera in São Paulo state, was completed in 1953 as an upgrade of the earlier undivided highway. That same year, construction of the second highway,Rodovia Anchieta, between São Paulo and the Atlantic coast, began. Expressway construction, most of them upgrades of older undivided highways, quickened in the following decades. The current Class 0 expressways include:Rodovia dos Bandeirantes,Rodovia dos Imigrantes,Rodovia Castelo Branco,Rodovia Ayrton Senna/Carvalho Pinto,Rodovia Osvaldo Aranha (also known as "Free-way") and São Paulo's Metropolitan BeltwayRodoanel Mário Covas – all modern, post-1970s highways meeting modern European standards. Other stretches of highway such as the under-construction south BR-101 andRodovia Régis Bittencourt are of older design standards.
Canada has no current national system for controlled-access highways. All controlled-access freeways, including sections that form part of theTrans-Canada Highway, are under provincial jurisdiction, and have no numeric continuation across provincial boundaries. The largest networks in the country are inOntario (400-series highways) andQuebec (Autoroutes). Speed limits are not federally set, since provincial governments set speed limits for their respective regions. These roads are influenced by, and have influenced, US standards, but have design innovations and differences. The total length of dual-carriageways with controlled access in Canada is 6,350 km (3,950 mi), of which 564 km (350 mi) are inBritish Columbia, 642 km (399 mi) inAlberta, 59 km (37 mi) inSaskatchewan, 2,135 km (1,327 mi) in Ontario, 1,941 km (1,206 mi) in Quebec, and 1,000 km (620 mi) in theMaritimes.
TheRN-21 (East–West, Boulevard Monseñor Romero), is the very first freeway to be built inEl Salvador and inCentral America. The freeway passes the northern area of the city ofSanta Tecla, La Libertad. It has a small portion servingAntiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, and merges with theRN-5 (East–West, Boulevard de Los Proceres/Autopista del Aeropuerto) inSan Salvador. The total length of the RN-21 is 9.35 km (5.81 mi) and is currently working as a traffic reliever in the metropolitan area. Although the RN-21 was to be named in honour of the first mayor of San Salvador,Diego de Holguín, due to political reasons it was renamed Boulevard Monseñor Romero, in honour ofÓscar Romero. The first phase of the highway was completed in 2009, and the second phase was completed and opened in November 2012.
InMexico, federal highways (Spanish:Carretera Federal) are a series of highways that connect with roads from foreign countries or that link two or more states of the Federation.
Interstate Highway System in the contiguous United States
Two-digit interstates
Selected three-digit interstates
Selected planned interstates
In theUnited States, afreeway is defined by the US government'sManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as a divided highway with full control of access.[78] This means two things: first, adjoining property owners do not have a legal right of access,[79] meaning all existing driveways must be removed and access to adjacent private lands must be blocked with fences or walls; instead,frontage roads provide access to properties adjacent to a freeway in many places.
Second, traffic on a freeway is "free-flowing". All cross-traffic (and left-turning traffic) is relegated to overpasses or underpasses, so that there are no traffic conflicts on the main line of the highway, which must be regulated by traffic lights, stop signs, or other traffic control devices. Achieving such free flow requires the construction of many overpasses, underpasses, and ramp systems. The advantage of grade-separated interchanges is that freeway drivers can almost always maintain their speed at junctions since they do not need to yield to vehicles crossing perpendicular to mainline traffic.
In contrast, anexpressway is defined as a divided highway with partial control of access.[80] Expressways may have driveways and at-grade intersections, though these are usually less numerous than on ordinary arterial roads.
In turn, the definitions were incorporated into AASHTO's official standards book, theManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which would become the national standards book of USDOT under a 1966 federal statute. The same distinction has also been codified into the statutory law of eight states:California,[83]Minnesota,[84]Mississippi,[85]Missouri,[86]Nebraska,[87]North Dakota,[88]Ohio,[89] andWisconsin.[90]
However, each state codified the federal distinction slightly differently.California expressways do not necessarily have to be divided, though they must have at least partial access control. For both terms to apply, inWisconsin, a divided highway must be at least four lanes wide; and inMissouri, both terms apply only to divided highways at least 16 km (10 mi) long that are not part of the Interstate Highway System. InNorth Dakota andMississippi, expressways may have "full or partial" access control and "generally" have grade separations at intersections; a freeway is then defined as an expressway with full access control. Ohio's statute is similar, but instead of the vague word "generally", it imposes a requirement that 50% of an expressway's intersections must be grade-separated for the term to apply.[91] OnlyMinnesota enacted the exact MUTCD definitions, in May 2008.
The term "expressway" is also used in some areas of the country for what the federal government calls "freeways".[92] Where the terms are distinguished, freeways can be characterized as expressways upgraded to full access control, while not all expressways are freeways.
Unlike in some jurisdictions, not all freeways in the US are part of a single national freeway network (although together with non-freeways, they form theNational Highway System). For example, many state highways such asCalifornia State Route 99 have significant freeway sections. Many sections of the olderUnited States Numbered Highway System have been upgraded to freeways but have kept their existing US Highway numbers.[citation needed]
InPuerto Rico, controlled access highways are namedautopista.[93] Autopistas are tolled roads in the island, but toll cabins do exist on other types of roads as well. One of the best known autopistas in Puerto Rico is theAutopista Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Expressway), which goes fromSan Juan, the capital to the north, toPonce, the island's second largest city, to the south.
Many highways of Afghanistan were built in the 1960s with American and Soviet assistance. The Soviets built a road and tunnel through the Salang pass in 1964, connecting northern and eastern Afghanistan. A highway connecting the principal cities of Herat, Kandahar, Ghazni, and Kabul with links to highways in neighbouring Pakistan formed the primary highway. The historicalHighway 1 currently connects the major cities. Afghanistan has over 42,000 km (26,000 mi) of roads, with 12,000 km (7,500 mi) being paved. The highway infrastructure is currently going through reconstruction and can often be risky due to the instability of the country.
Armenia has about 8,140 km (5,060 mi) of paved roads, of which 96% are asphalted. Armenia is connected to Europe through theInternational E-road network and Asia through theAsian Highway Network. Armenia is a member of the International Road Transport Union and the TIR Convention.
Azerbaijan has about 29,000 km (18,000 mi) of paved roads; the first paved roads were built during the Russian Empire. The road network, from rural roads to motorways, is today undergoing a rapid modernization with rehabilitations and extensions. For every 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) of national territory, there are 334 km (208 mi) of roads. Azerbaijan is connected to Europe through theInternational E-road network and Asia through theAsian Highway Network.
The expressway network of China, with the national-level expressway system officially known as theNational Trunk Highway System (Chinese:中国国家干线公路系统;pinyin:Zhōngguó Guójiā Gànxiàn Gōnglù Xìtǒng; abbreviated asNTHS), is an integrated system of national and provincial-level expressways inChina.[94][95]
By the end of 2019, the total length of China's expressway network reached 149,600 km (93,000 mi),[96] the world's largest expressway system by length, having surpassed the overall length of the AmericanInterstate Highway System in 2011.[97] Planned length is 168,478 km (104,687 mi) by 2020.[97]
Expressways in China are a fairly recent addition to a complicated network of roads. According to Chinese government sources, China did not have any expressways before 1988.[98] One of the earliest expressways nationwide was theJingshi Expressway betweenBeijing andShijiazhuang inHebei province. This expressway now forms part of theJingzhu Expressway, currently one of the longest expressways nationwide at over 2,000 km (1,200 mi).
The road network inGeorgia consists of 1,595 km (991 mi) of main or international highways in good condition, of which by 2021 roughly 230 kilometres (140 mi) are controlled-access highway, while further expansion is ongoing. The 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) of domestic main roads are of mixed quality, although the conditions are improving. Some 12,400 kilometres (7,700 mi) of local roads are generally in poor condition. Georgia is connected to Europe via theInternational E-road network and Asia through theAsian Highway Network.
In Hong Kong major motorways are numbered from 1 to 10 in addition to their names. Speed limits on expressways typically range from 70 to 110 km/h (43 to 68 mph).
Expressways (known as "Gatimarg/गतिमार्ग", or "Speedways" inHindi and other Indian languages) are the highest class of roads in India's road network and currently make up around 45,890 km (28,510 mi) of theNational Highway System, with additional 21,637 km (13,445 mi) under various phases of implementation. They have a minimum of six or eight-lane controlled-access highways where entrance and exit is controlled by the use ofslip roads. The expressways are operated and maintained by theUnion, through theNational Highways Authority of India.
In Indonesia all expressways (Indonesian:Jalan Bebas Hambatan, "obstacle-free road") are tolled, so they are better known astoll road (Jalan Tol). Indonesia has 1,710 km (1,060 mi) expressway length so far, almost 70% of its expressways are in Java island.
In 2009, the Indonesian government had planned to expand more expressway network in Java island by connectingMerak toBanyuwangi which is the total length of Trans-Java toll road including large cities expressway in Java such asJakarta,Surabaya,Bandung and its complements is more than 1,000 km (620 mi).The Indonesian government also had planned to build the Trans-Sumatra toll road which connectsBanda Aceh toBakauheni spanning 2,700 km (1,700 mi). In 2012, the government allocated 150 trillion rupiah for the construction of the toll roads. There are three stages of construction of Trans-Sumatra toll road which is expected to be connected together in 2025.[99]
The other islands in Indonesia such asKalimantan,Sulawesi also has begun constructed its expressways including connectingManado toMakassar in Sulawesi and alsoPontianak toBalikpapan in Kalimantan.[100] However, there are still no plans to build an expressway inWestern New Guinea due to its slow population growth. Indonesia is expected to have at least 7,000 km (4,300 mi) of expressway in 2030.
The history offreeways in Iran goes back to before theIranian Revolution. The first freeway in Iran was built at that time, between Tehran and Karaj with additional construction and the studies of many other freeways started as well. Today Iran has about 2,160 km (1,340 mi) of freeway.
Iraq's network of highways connects it from the inside to adjacent countries such asSyria,Turkey,Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,Jordan andIran. WhenSaddam Hussein visited the United States, he was impressed at the highway style and ordered the highways to be built in American form.Freeway 1 is the longest freeway in the country, connecting fromUmm Qasr Port inBasra toAr Rutba inAnbar, spreading to a new freeway connecting it to Syria and Jordan. Iraq has about 45,550 km (28,300 mi) of highways, with 38,400 km (23,900 mi) of them paved.
Highway 431 nearRishon LeZion Ayalon Highway near Rokach Interchange
Controlled-access highways in Israel are designated by a blue colour. Blue highways are completely grade-separated but may include bus stops and other elements that may slow down traffic on the right lane.Highway 6 is Israel's longest freeway. It will extend to 260 km (160 mi) in length, fromShlomi in the north to the Negev Junction in the south.[101]
National expressways (高速自動車国道,Kōsoku Jidōsha Kokudō), generally known as 高速道路 (Kōsoku Dōro), make up the majority of controlled-access highways in Japan. The network boasts an uninterrupted link betweenAomori Prefecture at the northern part ofHonshū andKagoshima Prefecture at the southern part ofKyūshū, linkingShikoku as well. Additional expressways serve travellers inHokkaidō and onOkinawa Island, although those are not connected to the Honshū-Kyūshū-Shikoku grid. Expressways have a combined length of 9,429 km (5,859 mi) as of April 2018[update].[102][103][104]
Many Japanese expressways go through the steep mountains.
A group of green-coloured directional signs on a Japanese expressway
Toll gates are placed at most of the entrances and exits of Japanese expressways.
Aerial view of Toyota Junction, connecting Tomei Expressway and Ise-Wangan Expressway
TheShutokoC1 route forms a loop of the center of Tokyo.
Lebanon has an extensive network of highways that are in varying condition throughout the country. Many highways are part of theArab Mashreq International Road Network. Some highways have been upgraded to four-lane motorways, including the Beirut–Tripoli highway.
Controlled-access highways in Malaysia are known asexpressways (Malay:lebuhraya – this is also the name forhighways). However, some expressways, particularly bridges and tunnels such as thePenang Bridge, do not formally use theexpressway name; a small number confusingly use the termhighway, which is normally the designation forlimited-access roads.Route numbers of designated expressways begin with the letter E. All expressways (excluding a section of theSouth Klang Valley Expressway, which is atwo-lane expressway) are built withdual carriageways and at least two lanes in each direction; urban expressways generally have three or more lanes in each direction.
While all expressways aregrade separated at major roadways, many urban expressways in theGreater Kuala Lumpur region often have at-grade intersections, including with residential roads and shopfronts, thus do not meet the strict definition of a controlled-access highway. These expressways were previously normalarterial orcollector roads that had such intersections, and were not removed when the roads were converted to expressways due to the resulting accessibility and sometimes political issues. Despite this, no expressway allows traffic to cross themedian strip (apart fromU-turns on a limited number of expressways) and expressways do not have at-gradetraffic signals orroundabouts. Expressways have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph), while speed limits of 90 km/h (56 mph) or lower are typical in built-up areas.
Symbol used for motorways in PakistanNational highways of Pakistan, showing motorways and expressways
Themotorways of Pakistan andexpressways of Pakistan are a network of multiple-lane, high-speed, limited-access or controlled-access highways in Pakistan, which are owned, maintained and operated federally by Pakistan's National Highway Authority. The total length of Pakistan's motorways and expressways is 1,670 km (1,040 mi) as of November 2016.[107] Around 3,690 km (2,290 mi) of motorways are currently under construction in different parts of the country. Most of these motorway projects will be complete between 2018 and 2020.[108]
Pakistan's first motorway, theM-2, was inaugurated in November 1997; it is a 367-kilometre-long (228 mi), six-lane motorway that links Pakistan's federal capital,Islamabad, withPunjab's provincial capital,Lahore.[109] It is ranked among the world's top five speed highways/motorways. Other completed motorways and expressways are M1Peshawar–Islamabad Motorway, M4 PindiBhattian–Faisalabad-Multan Motorway, E75 Islamabad-Murree–Kashmir Expressway, M3Lahore–Multan Motorway, M8 Ratadero–Gawader Motorway, E8 Islamabad Expressway, M5Multan-Sukkur Motorway, M9Karachi-Hyderabad, Sindh and few others.[110]
The motorwayM-2 passes through theSalt Range mountains.
Map of expressways inLuzon, maroon for built expressways and expressways under construction, red for proposed expressways
Full control-access highways in the Philippines are referred to asexpressways, which are usually toll roads. The expressway network is concentrated in Luzon, with theNorth Luzon Expressway andSouth Luzon Expressway being the most important ones. The expressway network in Luzon do not form an integrated network, but there are ongoing construction projects to interconnect those highways as well as to decongest the existing roads in the areas they serve. Expressways are being introduced to Visayas and Mindanao through the construction of theCebu–Cordova Link Expressway inMetro Cebu andDavao City Expressway inDavao City.
Highways in Saudi Arabia vary from eight-laned roads to small two-lane roads in rural areas. The city highways and other major highways are well maintained, especially the roads in the capital Riyadh. The roads have been constructed to resist the consistently high temperatures and do not reflect the strong sunshine. The other city highways such as the one linking coast to coast are not as great as the inner-city highways but the government is now working on rebuilding those roads. Saudi Arabia is part of the Arab-Mashreq Highway Network and connects to the rest of Asia through the Asian Highway Network.
The expressways of Singapore are specialroads that allow motorists to travel quickly from one urban area to another. All of them aredual carriageways withgrade-separatedaccess. They usually have three to fourlanes in each direction, although there are two-lane carriageways at many expressway—expressway intersections and five-lane carriageways in some places. There are ten expressways, including the newMarina Coastal Expressway. Studies about the feasibility of additional expressways are ongoing.
Construction on the first expressway, thePan Island Expressway, started in 1966. As of 2014[update], there are 163 km (101 mi) of expressways in Singapore.[111]
SinceGyeongin Expressway linkingSeoul andIncheon opened in 1968, national expressway system inSouth Korea has been expanded into 36 routes, with total length of 4,481 km (2,784 mi) as of 2017. Most of expressways are four-lane roads, while 1,030 km (640 mi) (26%) have six to ten lanes. Speed limit is typically 100 km/h (62 mph) for routes with four or more lanes, while some sections having fewer curves have limit of 110 km/h (68 mph).
Expressways in South Korea were originally numbered in order of construction. Since 24 August 2001, they have been numbered in a scheme somewhat similar to that of the Interstate Highway System in the United States. Furthermore, the symbols of the South Korean highways are similar to the US red, white and blue.
Arterial routes are designated by two-digit numbers, with north–south routes having odd numbers, and east–west routes having even numbers. Primary routes (i.e. major thoroughfares) have 5 or 0 as their last digit, while secondary routes end in other digits.
Branch routes have three-digit route numbers, where the first two digits match the route number of an arterial route. This differs from the American system, whose last two digits match the primary route.
Belt lines have three-digit route numbers where the first digit matches the respective city's postal code. This also differs from American numbering.
Route numbers in the range 70–99 are not used in South Korea; they are reserved for designations in the event ofKorean reunification.
The Gyeongbu Expressway kept its Route 1 designation, as it is South Korea's first and most important expressway.
Sri Lanka currently has over 350 km (220 mi) of designated expressways serving the southern part of the country. The first stage of the E01 Expressway (Southern Expressway) which opened in 2011 was Sri Lanka's first expressway spanning a distance of 95.3 km (59.2 mi). The second stage of the Southern Expressway opened in 2014 and extends to Matara. The E03 Expressway (Colombo–Katunayake Expressway) opened in 2013 and connects Sri Lanka's largest cityColombo with the Bandaranaike International Airport covering a distance of 25.8 km (16.0 mi). All E-Grade highways in Sri Lanka are access controlled, toll roads with speeds limits in the range of 80–110 km/h (50–68 mph). The network is to be expanded to 518.5 km (322.2 mi) by 2024.
Syria has a well-developed system of motorways in the western half of the country. As the eastern part is underpopulated, it only has two lanes. Highways have been important in terms of transport for the ongoingcivil war. The main motorways are:
M1 - Runs from Homs to Latakia. It also connects Tartus, Baniyas and Jableh. Its length is 174 km (108 mi).
M2 - Runs from Damascus to Jdeidat Yabous, on the border with Lebanon. It also connects Al-Sabboura. Its length is 38 km (24 mi).
M4 - Runs from Latakia to Saraqib. It also connects Arihah and Jisr al-Shughur. Its length is 120 km (75 mi). It continues to the Iraqi border all the way to Mosul.
M5 - Often describes as the most important highway, it runs through much of the major cities in Syria and runs to the Jordanian border.
Taiwan has an extensive road network that includes two types of controlled-access highway: freeways and expressways. Only cars and trucks are allowed onto freeways, the first of which —Freeway 1 — was completed in 1974. Expressways allow car and truck traffic as well as motorcycles with engines of 250cc or more.
Expressways in Taiwan may be controlled-access highways similar to national freeways or limited-access roads. Most have urban roads and intra-city expressways (as opposed to Highway system) status, although some are built and maintained by cities.
Signs for Motorway 7 and Motorway 9 (Kanchanaphisek Road)
Sections of the expressway system
Controlled-access highways in Thailand are separated into urban expressways calledexpressways, which are operated by theExpressway Authority of Thailand andBEM (exceptDon Mueang Tollway, which is operated by Don Muang Tollway Public Company Limited) and have a span of 280.4 km (174.2 mi), while intercity expressways are calledmotorways, which have a span of 187 km (116 mi). The network is to be extended to 4,154.7 km (2,581.6 mi) according to the master plan.
Uzbekistan has 84,400 km (52,400 mi) of roads, about 72,000 km (45,000 mi) of which were paved. Much of the highways are in need of repair, although the condition has been improving. In 2017, the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to open a section of the M39 Highway by the Kazakh border.
Vietnam's motorway signExpressway network of Vietnam
At present, the expressway system of Vietnam is 895 km (556 mi) long. Under the government's plan, the national expressway system will have a total length of 6,411 km (3,984 mi). The expressway system in Vietnam is separate from the national highway system.[112]
Most of the expressways are located in the North, especially around Hanoi. Of the 21 expressways in Vietnam, 8 emanate from Hanoi and 14 are in the north, with a length of 1,368 km (850 mi). The first expressway in Vietnam is theHo Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, which is inaugurated and opened for traffic on February 3, 2010.
Currently, most of the expressways in Vietnam are four-lane highways, with some routes like Ha Noi - Haiphong, and Phap Van - Cau Gie being six-lane. The only elevated expressway in Vietnam is Mai Dich - Thanh Tri Bridge (also known as the third beltway in Hanoi). The cost of building Vietnam's highways is one of the most expensive in the world, with an average cost of $12 million per kilometre. Compared with China, where there are similarities, their highway costs only $5 million per kilometre, where in the US and European countries, costs $3–4 million per kilometre.[113]
According to road traffic laws of Vietnam, an expressway is a road for motor vehicles, with a divider separating opposing traffic directions, no at-grade crossings with intersecting roads, fully equipped facilities to ensure continuous traffic flow, safety and short journey times, and access allowed only at interchanges.
Ha Noi - Bac Giang Expressway in Bac Ninh
Long Thanh bridge of Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway
Cho Dem - Ben Luc Viaduct of Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway
Lien Khuong - Prenn Pass Expressway
Van Tien bridge of Hai Phong - Mong Cai Expressway
Regarding road function, motorways serve exclusively the function of flow. They allow for efficient throughput of, usually long distance, motorized traffic, with unhindered flow of traffic, no traffic signals, at-grade intersections or property access and elimination of conflicts with other directions of traffic, thus, dramatically improving both safety and capacity.[24]
Although roads are under the responsibility of each individual state, including within the European Union, there are some legal conventions (international treaties) and some European directives which give a legal framework for roads of a European importance with the goal to introduce some kind of homogenization between various members. They basically consider, at European level, three types of roads: motorways, express roads, and ordinary roads.[114]
Some European treaties also define aspects such as the range of speed limit, or for some geometric aspects of roads, in particularly for theInternational E-road network.
A motorway is a road specially designed and built for motor vehicle traffic, which does not directly provide access to the properties bordering on it. Other characteristics of motorways include:
two separated carriageways for the opposing directions of traffic, except at special points or, temporarily, due to carriageway repairs etc.;
carriageways that are not crossed at the level of the carriageway by any other road, railway or tramway track, or footpath; and
the use of special signposting to indicate the road as a motorway and to exclude specific categories of road vehicles and/ or road users.
In determining the extent of a motorway its entry and exit lanes are included irrespective of the location of the motorway signposts. Urban motorways are also included in this term.
Most of the European countries use the above motorway definition but different national definitions of motorways can be found in some countries.[24]
Motorways have separate carriageways for the two directions of traffic.
Motorways are not crossed at the same level by other roads, footpaths, railways
Traffic entrance and exit is performed at interchanges only.
Motorways have no access for traffic between interchanges and do not provide access to adjacent land.
Motorways are especially sign-posted
Motorways status is signalled at the entry and exit of the motorway by a symbol conforming to international agreements, but specific to each country.[115]
Sweden
Spain
Germany
United Kingdom, Ireland
Switzerland
France
Italy and Albania
Romania
Slovakia
Portugal
North Macedonia
The peripheral northern and eastern regions of the EU have a lower density motorway network. Within the European Union, there are 26 regions (NUTS level 2) with no motorway network in 2013. Those regions are islands or remote regions, for instance four overseas French regions and Corsica. The Baltic member state of Latvia, as well as four regions from Poland, and two regions from each of Bulgaria and Romania also reported no motorway network; several of these regions bordered onto adjacent non-member countries to the east of the EU.[116]
European motorways provide reduced accident risks: 50% to 90% lower compared to standard roads, when new motorways only reduce injuries by 7%.[24]
Some of the things which are considered as providing safety in the European motorways are central medians, grade separated interchanges, and access restrictions.[24]
Nonetheless, some specific conditions provide a height risk of a more severe accidents, such as:
Highways in Albania form part of the recent Albanian road system. Following the collapse of communism in 1991, the first highways in Albania started being constructed, The first was SH2, connecting Tirane with Durrës via Vora. Since the 2000s, main roadways have drastically improved, though lacking standards in design and road safety.[117][118] This involved the construction of new roadways and the putting of contemporary signs. However, some state roads continue to deteriorate from lack of maintenance while others remain unfinished.
A1 Nation's Highway in Northern Albania connecting Albania with Kosovo
A map of the Austrian Autobahn and Schnellstraße system. Blue = Autobahn; Green = Schnellstraße; Dotted = planned or under construction.
The Austrian autobahns (German: Autobahnen) are controlled-access highways in Austria. They are officially calledBundesstraßen A (Bundesautobahnen) under the authority of the federal government according to the Austrian Federal Road Act (Bundesstraßengesetz),[119] not to be confused with the former Bundesstraßen highways maintained by the Austrian states since 2002.
Austria currently has 18 Autobahnen, since 1982 built and maintained by the self-financed ASFiNAG stock company in Vienna, which is wholly owned by the Austrian republic and earns revenue from road-user charges and tolls. Each route bears a number as well as an official name with local reference, which however is not displayed on road signs. Unusually for European countries, interchanges (between motorways called Knoten, "knots") are numbered by distance in kilometres starting from where the route begins; this arrangement is also used in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, and most provinces of Canada (and in most American states, albeit in miles). The current Austrian Autobahn network has a total length of 1,720 km (1,070 mi).
Brenner Autobahn near Innsbruck
A22 Donauuferautobahn, near the exit Floridsdorfer Brücke
In 1937, the first motorway betweenBrussels andOstend was completed, following the example of neighbouring countries such asGermany. It mainly served local industries and tourism as a connection between the capital city and a coastal region. However, theSecond World War and the reparation of the complete road network after the war caused a serious delay in the creation of other motorways. In 1949, the first plans were made to build a complete motorway network of 930 km (580 mi) that would be integrated with the neighbouring networks. Although the plans were ready, the construction of the motorway network was much slower than in neighbouring countries because the project was deemed not to be urgent.
Because of economic growth in the 1960s, more citizens could afford cars, and the call for good-quality roads was higher than ever before. In each year between 1965 and 1973, over 100 km (62 mi) of motorway were built. At the end of the 1970s, the construction of motorways slowed down again due to costs, combined with an economic crisis, more expensive fuel and changing public opinion. In the following years, the only investments done were to complete already started motorway constructions. But most important cities were already connected. In 1981, the responsibilities for construction and maintenance of the motorways shifted from the federal to the regional governments. This sometimes caused tensions between the governments. For example, the part of the ring road aroundBrussels that crossesWallonian territory has never been finished, since onlyFlanders suffers from the unfinished ring.[120]
Belgium today has the longest total motorway length per area unit of any country in the world.[citation needed] Most motorway systems in Belgium have at least three lanes in each direction. Nearly all motorways have overhead lighting including those in rural areas. The dense population of Belgium and the still unfinished state of some motorways, such as the ring roads around Brussels andAntwerp cause major traffic congestion on motorways. On an average Monday morning in 2012, there was a total of 356 km (221 mi)[121] of traffic jams and the longest traffic jam of the year was 1,258 km (782 mi),[122] purely on the motorways.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has more than 208 km (129 mi) of highway, which connectsKakanj-Sarajevo. There is a plan to build highway onCorridor Vc, which will go fromriver Sava, acrossDoboj, Sarajevo andMostar toAdriatic Sea. Next sections areKakanj-Drivuša 16 km (9.9 mi), Zenica Sjever-Drivuša 11 km (6.8 mi), Svilaj-Odžak 11 km (6.8 mi), Vlakovo-Tarčin 20 km (12 mi), Počitelj-Bijača 21 km (13 mi). The speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph) or 100 km/h (62 mph) in tunnels.[123]
A1 motorway, exitBijača, towards the Zvirovići interchange
Legislation inBulgaria defines two types of highways: motorways (Aвтомагистрала,Avtomagistrala) and expressways (Скоростен път,Skorosten pat). The main differences are that motorways haveemergency lanes and the maximum allowedspeed limit is 140 km/h (87 mph), while expressways do not have emergency lanes and the speed limit is 120 km/h (75 mph). As of June 2018[update], 777 km (483 mi) of motorways are in service, with another 62 km (39 mi) under various stages of construction. More than 590 km (370 mi) are planned. Also, several expressways are planned.
The primary high-speedmotorways inCroatia are calledautoceste (singular:autocesta;Croatian pronunciation:[ˈaʊtotsesta]), and they are defined as roads with at least two lanes in each direction (includinghard shoulder) and a speed limit of not less than 80 km/h (50 mph). The typical speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph). As of 2017, there are 1,313 km (816 mi) of motorways in Croatia. There is also a category known asbrza cesta, meaning "expressway". These roads have a speed limit up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and are not legally required to be grade-separated, but nearly all are.
Motorways (Greek:αυτοκινητόδρομος, Turkish:Otoyol) connect all cities in Cyprus, although in the territory underde facto Turkish control these do not meet international standards for the definition of motorways. In the areas administered by the Republic of Cyprus, motorway numbers are prefaced with the letter A, and run from A1 to A6, to distinguish them from all other roads, designated B roads. Of the A roads, all are designated motorways, except for the A4, linking Larnaca with Larnaca Airport.
Motorways are also distinguishable by the use of green-backed road signs, with standard international graphics, and text in yellow in Greek and white in English, distinguishable from B road signage, which has signs with blue backgrounds.
Motorway junctions are theoretically designated with junction numbers, but signage is not consistent is indicating the exit numbers.
The Czech Republic has currently (2023) 1,363 km (847 mi)[124] of motorways (dálnice) whose speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph) (or 80 km/h (50 mph) within a town). The total length should be 2,000 km (1,200 mi) around 2030. The number of a motorway (in red) copies the number of the national route (in blue) which has been replaced by the motorway. There are also roads for motorcars (silnice pro motorová vozidla). Those common roads are not subject to a fee (in form of vignette) for vehicles with total weight up to 3.5 t (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) and their speed limit is 110 km/h (68 mph), partially up to 130 km/h (81 mph).
Denmark has a well covered motorway system today, which has been difficult to build due to the county's geography with many islands. The longest bridges are theGreat Belt and theØresund bridges to Skåne (Scania) in southern Sweden. Both are motorways with dual electrical train tracks added.
Finland has 863 km (536 mi) of motorway, which is only a small proportion of the whole highway network. More than half of the length of the motorway network consists of six radial motorways originating inHelsinki, toKirkkonummi (Länsiväylä),Turku (Vt1/E18),Tampere (Vt3/E12),Tuusula (Kt45),Heinola (Vt4/E75) andVaalimaa (Vt7/E18). These roads have a total length of 653 km (406 mi). The other motorways are rather short sections close to the biggest cities, often designed to be bypasses. The motorway section on national roads4 and29, betweenSimo andTornio, is said to be the northernmost motorway in the world.
Finnish motorways do not have a separate road numbering scheme. Instead, they carry national highway numbers. In addition to signposted motorways, there are also somelimited-access two-lane expressways, and other grade-separated four-lane expressways (perhaps the most significant example beingRing III near Helsinki).
Sign used denote the start of an AutorouteMap of French motorways (in yellow) and expressways (in red)
Theautoroute system inFrance consists largely oftoll roads, except around large cities and in parts of the north. It is a network of 11,882 km (7,383 mi) worth of motorways. Autoroute destinations are shown in blue, while destinations reached through a combination of autoroutes are shown with an added autoroute logo. Toll autoroutes are signalled with the wordpéage (toll).
Cross between A430 motorway and A43 motorway
Toll barrier in Hordain (south of Hordain), onautoroute A2
Germany's network of controlled-access expressways includes all federal Autobahnen and some parts ofBundesstraßen and usually noLandesstraßen (state highways),Kreisstraßen (district highways) norGemeindestraßen (municipal highways). The federalAutobahn network has a total length of 13,183 km (8,192 mi) in 2020, making it one of the densest networks in the world.The German autobahns have no generalspeed limit for some classes of vehicles (though nearly 30% of the total autobahn network is subject to local and/or conditional limits[125]), but theadvisory speed limit (Richtgeschwindigkeit) is 130 km/h (81 mph). The lower class expressways usually have speed limits of 120 km/h (75 mph) or lower.
German Motorway (Autobahn) - one of the world's earliest motorways
An autobahn with 4 lanes in each direction of travel for 21 km (13 mi). The section between Zeppelinheim and Darmstadt is the oldest Autobahn.
Greece's motorway network has been extensively modernised throughout the 1980s, 1990s and especially the 2000s, while part of it is still under construction. Most of it was completed by mid 2017 numbering around 2,500 km (1,600 mi) of motorways, making it the biggest highway network in Southeastern Europe and the Balkans and one of the most advanced in Europe.[126]
There are a total of 10 main routes throughout the Greek mainland and Crete, from which some feature numerous branches and auxiliary routes. Most important motorways are theA1 Motorway connecting Greece's two largest cities (Athens and Thessaloniki), theA2 motorway (Egnatia Odos), also known as the "horizontal road axis" of Greece, connecting almost all of Northern Greece from west to east and theA8 motorway (Olympia Odos) connecting Athens and Patras. Another important motorway is theA6 motorway (Attiki Odos), the main beltway of the Athens Metropolitan area.
InIreland theLocal Government (Roads and Motorways) Act 1974 made motorways possible, although the first section, theM7 Naas Bypass, did not open until 1983. The first section of theM50 opened in 1990, a part of which was Ireland's firsttoll motorway, theWest-Link. However it would be the 1990s before substantial sections of motorway were opened in Ireland, with the first completed motorway—the 83-kilometre (52 mi)M1 motorway—being finished in 2005.
Under theTransport 21 infrastructural plan,[127] motorways or high quality dual carriageways were built betweenDublin and the major cities ofCork,Galway,Limerick andWaterford by the end of 2010. Other shorter sections of motorway either have been or will be built on some other main routes. In 2007 legislation (theRoads Bill 2007) was created to allowexisting roads be designated motorways by order because previously legislation allowed only for newly built roads to be designated motorways.
As a result, most HQDCs nationwide (other than some sections near Dublin on theN4 andN7, which did not fully meet motorway standards) were reclassified as motorways. The first stage in this process occurred when all the HQDC schemes open or under construction on the N7 and N8, and betweenKinnegad andAthlone on the N6 andKilcullen and south ofCarlow on the N9, were reclassified motorway on 24 September 2008. Further sections of dual carriageway were reclassified in 2009.
As of December 2011, the Republic of Ireland has around 1,017 km (632 mi) of motorways.
Italian motorways (orautostrade) are mostly managed by concessionaire companies. From 1 October 2012 the granting body is theMinistry of Infrastructure and Transport and no longerAnas[133] and the majority (5,773.4 kilometres (3,587.4 mi) in 2009[134]) are subject totoll payments. On Italian motorways, thetoll applies to almost all motorways not managed byAnas. The collection of motorway tolls, from a tariff point of view, is managed mainly in two ways: either through the "closed motorway system" (km travelled) or through the "open motorway system" (flat-rate toll).[135]
Italy's motorways (orautostrade) have a standard speed limit of 130 km/h (80 mph) for cars. Limits for other vehicles (or when visibility is poor due to weather) are lower. Legal provisions allow operators to set the limit to 150 km/h (95 mph) on their concessions on a voluntary basis if there are three lanes in each direction and a workingSICVE, or Safety Tutor, which is a speed-camera system that measures the average speed over a given distance.
Type B highway (Italian:strada extraurbana principale), commonly but unofficially known assuperstrada (Italian equivalent forexpressway), is a divided highway with at least two lanes in each direction, paved shoulder on the right, no cross-traffic and no at-grade intersections. Access restrictions on such highways are exactly the same as motorways (orautostrade). The signage at the beginning and the end of thestrade extraurbane principali is the same, except the background colour is blue instead of green. The general speed limit onstrade extraurbane principali is 110 km/h (70 mph), unless otherwise indicated.Strade extraurbane principali are not tolled.
There is currently one category of controlled-access highways inLatvia, which are expressways (Latvian:ātrgaitas ceļš) with maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph). The first expressway in Latvia opened in October 2023, the Ķekava Bypass, which is a part of theA7.[136] Current length of the expressway network is 11 km (6.8 mi).
There are two categories of controlled-access highways inLithuania: expressways (Lithuanian:greitkeliai) with maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) and motorways (Lithuanian:automagistralės) with maximum speed 130 km/h (81 mph). The first sectionVilnius–Kaunas ofA1 highway was completed in 1970.Kaunas–Klaipėda section ofA1 was completed in 1987.[137]Vilnius-Panevėžys (A2 highway) was completed in stages during the 1980s and finished in the 1990s. Complete length of the motorway network is 310 km (190 mi). Expressway network length - 80 km (50 mi). Motorway section betweenKaunas and the Polish border is planned to be completed in the 2020s.
Roads in the Netherlands include at least 2,758 km (1,714 mi) of motorways and expressways,[138] and with a motorway density of 64 kilometres per 1,000 km2 (103 mi/1,000 mi2), the country has one of the densestmotorway networks in the world.[139] About 2,500 km (1,600 mi) are fully constructed to motorway standards,[140] These are calledAutosnelweg or simplysnelweg, andnumbered and signposted with anA and up to three digits, likeA12.
They are consistently built withat least two carriageways,guard rails andinterchanges withgrade separation. Since September 2012, the nationwide maximum speed has been raised to 130 km/h (81 mph), but on many stretches speed is still limited to 120 or 100 km/h (75 or 62 mph). Dutch motorways may only be used by motor vehicles bothcapable andlegally allowed to go at least 60 km/h (37 mph).
In March 2020, the general speed limit on Dutch motorways was lowered to 100 km/h (62 mph) during the day (6 am until 7 pm). At night, the maximum speed is different per stretch, but 130 km/h (81 mph) remained the upper limit.
Dutch roads are used with a very high intensity in relation to the network length[139] andtraffic congestion is common, due tothe country's high population density. Therefore, since 1979 large portions of the motorway network have been equipped with variable message signs and dynamic electronic displays, both of which are aspects ofintelligent transportation systems. These signs can show a lower speed limit, as low as 50 km/h (31 mph), to optimize the flow of heavy traffic, and a variety of other communications. Additionally there are peak, rushhour or plus lanes, which allow motorists to use the hard shoulder as an extra traffic lane in case of congestion. These extra lanes are observed by CCTV cameras from a traffic control center.
Less common, but increasingly, separateroadways are created for local/regional traffic and long-distance traffic. This way the number of weaving motions across lanes is reduced, and thetraffic capacity per lane of the road is optimized. A special feature of Dutch motorways is the use ofPorous Asphalt Concrete, which allows water to drain efficiently, and even in heavy rain no water will splash up, in contrast to concrete or otherroad surfaces. The Netherlands is the only country that uses PAC this extensively, and the goal is to cover 100% of the motorways with PAC, in spite of the high costs of construction and maintenance.
Local and express lanes connected using abasketweave
Dynamic Route Information Panel (DRIP) onDutch A13 freeway during evening rush hour
The total motorway network length in North Macedonia is 317 km (197 mi) as of Spring 2019. Another 70 km (43 mi) are under construction, 57 km (35 mi) (Ohrid to Kicevo) and 13 km (8.1 mi) (Skopje to Kosovo border). The stretch from Gostivar to Kicevo is planned to start with construction in 2021. The three motorway routes areA1, which is part of the European corridorE-75,A2 (part ofE-65) and the recently builtA4 corridor that connects Skopje to Stip. A1 connects the northern border (Serbia) with the southern one (Greece), while A2 traverses the country from the East (Bulgaria border) to West (Albania border), but only the stretch from Kumanovo to Gostivar is a divided motorway, while the rest of the length is either an undivided two-way road or in the process of turning into a motorway.[141]
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Norway has (2022) 770 km (480 mi) of motorways, in addition to 498 km (309 mi) oflimited-access roads (in Norwegianmotortrafikkvei) where pedestrians, bicycles, etc. are forbidden, though with a bit lower standard than true motorway. Most of the network serves the big cities, chieflyOslo,Stavanger andBergen. Northernmost motorway is, as of 2022, on E6 just south ofTrondheim: see also the E6, E18 and the E39. Most motorways use four-rampDumbbell interchanges, but alsoRoundabout interchanges can be found. The first motorway was built in 1964, just outside Oslo. The motorways' road pattern layout is similar to those in the United States and Canada, featuring a yellow stripe towards the median, and white stripes between the lanes and on the edge. The speed limits are 90–110 km/h (56–68 mph).
The highways inPoland are divided into motorways and expressways, both types featuring grade-separatedinterchanges with all other roads,emergency lanes, feeder lanes, wildlife protection measures and dedicated roadsiderest areas. Motorways can be onlydual carriageways, while expressways can be dual or, rarely,single carriageways. The start of an expressway in Poland is marked with a sign of white car on blue background, while number sign for an expressway is of red background and white letters, with the letter S preceding a number. Speed limits in Poland are 140 km/h (87 mph) on motorways and 120 km/h (75 mph) on dual-carriageway expressways.
The Regulation of theCouncil of Ministers defines the network of motorways and expressways in Poland totalling about 7,980 km (4,960 mi) (including about 2,100 km (1,300 mi) of motorways).[142]
As of July 2022, there are 4,688 km (2,913 mi) of motorways and expressways in operation (58% of the intended network), while contracts for construction of further 1,170 km (727 mi) of motorways and expressways (15% of the intended network) are ongoing.[143]
Additional motorway sections were built in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. However, the large-scale building of motorways started only in the late 1980s. Currently, Portugal has a very well-developed network of motorways, with about a 3,000-kilometre (1,900 mi) extension, that connects all the highly populated coastal regions of the country and the main cities of the less populous interior. This means that 87% of the Portuguese population lives at less than 15 minutes' driving time from a motorway access.[145]
Unlike the neighbouring Spanish network, most of Portuguese motorways are tolled, although there are also some non-tolled highways, mostly in urban areas, like those ofGreater Lisbon andGreater Oporto. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, theGovernment of Portugal created sevenshadow toll concessions, the SCUT toll (Sem custos para o utilizador, no costs for the user). In those concessions it were included more than 900 km (560 mi) of motorways and highways, some of them already built, others which were built in the following years. However, due to economical and political reasons, the shadow toll concept was abolished between 2010 and 2011, with electronic toll equipment being installed in these motorways, to charge their users. Having only electronic tolls, former SCUT motorways can now only be used by vehicles equipped with electronic payment devices or vehicles registered in the system.
Portuguese motorways form an independent network (Rede Nacional de Autoestradas, National Motorway Network), that overlaps with the Fundamental and Complementary subnetworks of the National Highway Network (Rede Rodoviária Nacional). Each motorway section overlapping with the Fundamental subnetwork is part of an IP (Itinerário principal, Principal route) and each motorway section overlapping with the Complementary subnetwork is part of an IC (Itinerário complementar, Complementary route). Thus, a motorway can overlap with sections of different IP or IC routes and - on the other hand - an IP or IC route can overlap with sections of different motorways. An example isA22 motorway, which overlaps with sections of IP1 and of IC4 routes; another example is IP1 route, which overlaps with sections of the A22,A2, A12,A1 andA3 motorways.
The National Motorway Network has a proper numbering system in which each motorway has a number prefixed by the letter "A". In most cases, a motorway signage indicates only its A number. The number of the IP or IC of which a motorway section is a part is not signed except in some short motorways which lack a proper A number.
A5 (Lisbon-Cascais) motorway, inaugurated in 1944 as the first motorway in Portugal
A1 (Lisbon-Oporto) motorway, the main road link between the two largest cities of the country
Corgo viaduct, part of the A4 (Oporto-Bragança) motorway
Tunnel at the A27 (Ponte de Lima-Viana do Castelo) motorway
As of 23 December 2024, Romania has 1,275.47 km (792.54 mi) of highways in use, with more under construction.[146]
The first motorway in Romania was completed in 1972, linkingBucharest andPitești.[147] TheRomanian Government has adopted a General Master Plan for Transport that was approved by the European Union in July 2015, containing the strategy for expanding the road (including motorway) network until 2040, using EU funding.[148]
By October 2024,Russia will have a nationwide motorway network with a length of 1,701 km (1,057 mi) and expressway network of 1,874 km (1,164 mi).
The motorways and expressways have the numbering of theRussian federal highway network or their own name, as there is no separate numbering system for motorways and expressways and their sections are mostly part of the Russian federal highway network. The legalspeed limit on motorways and expressways is 110 km/h, and 130 km/h[149] on some newly upgraded sections of motorway. Sections of Russian federal highway that have been upgraded to motorway status are marked with green signs. Federal highway roads that have been upgraded to expressways ordual and single carriageway withroad junction are marked with blue signs.
In the classification of Russian federal highway roads, motorways are assigned to technical category IA and expressways to technical category IB.[150]
Transportation interchange at the intersection ofM2 andA107
Motorways (Serbian:Аутопут,romanized: Autoput) and expressways (Serbian:Брзи пут,romanized: Brzi put) are the backbone of the road system inSerbia. There are around 906 km (563 mi) of motorways in total. Plan is 1,200 km (750 mi) by the end of 2018.
Motorways in Serbia have three lanes (including emergency lane) in each direction, signs are white-on-green, as in the rest of former Yugoslavia and the normal speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph).
Expressways, unlike motorways, do not have emergency lanes, signs are white-on-blue and the normal speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph).
As the Serbian word for motorway isautoput, the "A1", "A2" or "A3"road designations are used since November 2013.[151] All state roads categorized as class I, that are motorways currently of in the future, are marked with one-digit numbers and known as class Ia. All other roads, which belong to class I, are marked with two-digit numbers and known as class Ib. Expressways belong to class Ib, too.E-numeration is also widely used on motorways.
The core of the motorways is what was once called during Yugoslav period, theBrotherhood and Unity Highway, which was opened in 1950 and goes from the border with Croatia, throughBelgrade, Central Serbia,Niš, and to border with North Macedonia. It was one of the first modern highways in Central-Eastern Europe. It is the most direct link between Central and Western Europe with Greece and Turkey, and subsequently the Middle-East.
Slovakia has currently (2022) 854 km (531 mi) of motorways (Slovak:diaľnica,D) andexpressways (rýchlostná cesta,R) whose speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph). They are split into expressways and motorways like Poland with expressways starting with a R, short for "rýchlostná cesta", but from April 2020 all the expressways in Slovakia were known as motorways due to that the expressways are very similar to the motorways in Slovakia. An e-vignette is paid to use the motorways in Slovakia, while before you used to pay a sticker vignette but from 2016 you pay electronically through the website.
The highways in Slovenia are the central state roads in Slovenia and are divided intomotorways (Slovene:avtocesta,AC) andexpressways (hitra cesta,HC). Motorways aredual carriageways with a speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph). They have white-on-green road signs as in Italy, Croatia and other countries nearby. Expressways are secondary roads, also dual carriageways, but without anemergency lane. They have a speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) and have white-on-blue road signs.
Map of Spanishautopistas (motorways) andautovías (expressways)
The Spanish network ofautopistas andautovias has a length of 17,228 km (10,705 mi), making it the largest in Europe and the third in the world.[152]Autopistas are specifically reserved for automobile travel, so all vehicles not able to sustain at least 60 km/h (37 mph) are banned from them. General speed limits are mandated by the Spanish Traffic Law as 60–120 km/h (37–75 mph). Specific limits may be imposed based on road, meteorological or traffic conditions. Spanish legislation requires an alternate route to be provided for slower vehicles. Many, but not all, autopistas are toll roads, which also mandates an alternate toll-free route under the Spanish laws.
TheM-40 autopista (motorway) is one of the beltways serving Madrid. It is one of the few non-toll autopistas of significant length.
TheA-5 autovía (expressway) near Navalcarnero,Madrid. Note the mostly nonexistent acceleration lane in the road joining from the bottom right.
Modern autovías (expressway) such as the A-66 near Guillena,Seville, offer most, if not all, features that are required by an autopista (motorway).
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2023)
Map of Swedish motorways
Sweden has the largest motorway network inScandinavia (2,050 kilometres, 1,274 mi).[153] It is, however, unevenly allocated. Most motorways are located in the south of the country, where thepopulation density is the highest.
The first motorway in Sweden opened in 1953, betweenLund andMalmö. Four-lane expressways had been built before, an early example isE20 betweenGothenburg andAlingsås, built in the early 1940s. Most of the current network was built in the 1970s and 1990s.
E6 starts iTrelleborg in southern Sweden, it then continues along the Swedish western coast, up to theSvinesund bridge which is where Sweden borders to Norway. Its length is close to 600 km (370 mi) on Swedish territory alone, and it connects four ofScandinavia's six largest cities,Copenhagen,Malmö,Gothenburg andOslo together,[154][155][156] as well as around 20 other more or less notable towns and cities.
A Swedish (partly motorway) route (rather than road) that also has a significant portion of the Swedish motorway network, isEuropean route E4, which runs from the border city ofTornio in northern Finland toHelsingborg in southern Sweden. E4 is the main route that connects the capital Stockholm withScania. All of E4 south of the cityGävle is of motorway standard. The part of E4 that runs through westernStockholm is calledEssingeleden and is the busiest road in Sweden.
Other highways that have a significant portion of motorway standard are E20,E18 andE22. Motorways in Sweden are however not restricted to European routes; so calledRiksvägar and other regional road types can also be of motorway standard. An example of this is Riksväg 40. Riksväg 40 is the main link between the largest cities in the country, Stockholm andGothenburg. Notably, not even the majority of theEuropean route- network in Sweden is motorway or even have expressway standard. All of this is because road numbering and road standard is separate in Sweden, as in the rest of Scandinavia.
Switzerland has a two-class highway system: motorways with separated roads for oncoming traffic and a standard maximal speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph), and expressways often with oncoming traffic and a standard maximal speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph).
InSwitzerland as of April 2011, there were 1,763.6 kilometres (1,095.9 mi) of a planned 1,893.5 kilometres (1,176.6 mi) of motorway completed. The country is mountainous with a high proportion of tunnels: there are 220 totalling 200 kilometres (120 mi), which is over 12% of the total motorway length.[157]
Motorways (Turkish:Otoyol) ofTurkey are a network in constant development. All motorways (O coded), except beltways, are toll roads (using onlyRFID methods for the roads that operated byKGM; cash and credit card payment is also possible for the roads that operated by private companies), mostly six lanes wide, illuminated and with 130 or 140 km/h (81 or 87 mph) speed limit. As of 2024, total length of the motorways is 3,726 km (2,315 mi) long in total.[158]
A mapShowing Future Pattern of Principal National Routes was issued by theMinistry of War Transport in 1946[159] shortly before the law that allowed roads to be restricted to specified classes of vehicle (theSpecial Roads Act 1949) was passed.[160] The first section of motorway, theM6 Preston Bypass, opened in 1958[161] followed by the first major section of motorway (theM1 betweenCrick and Berrygrove inWatford), which opened in 1959.[161] From then until the 1980s, motorways opened at frequent intervals;[162] by 1972 the first 1,600 km (1,000 mi) of motorway had been built.[163]
While roads outside of urban areas continued to be built throughout the 1970s, opposition to urban routes became more pronounced. Most notably, plans by theGreater London Council for a series ofringways were cancelled following extensiveroad protests and a rise in costs.[citation needed] In 1986 the single-ring,M25 motorway was completed as a compromise.[164] In 1996 the total length of motorways reached 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi).[165]
Motorways in Great Britain, as in numerous European countries, will nearly always have the following characteristics:
No traffic lights (except occasionally on slip roads before reaching the main carriageway).
Exit is nearly always via a numbered junction and slip road, with rare minor exceptions.
Pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles below a specified engine size are banned.
There is a central reservation separating traffic flowing in opposing directions (the only exception to this is the A38(M) inBirmingham where the central reservation is replaced by another lane in which the direction of traffic changes depending on the time of day. There was another small spur motorway nearManchester with no solid central reservation, but this was declassified as a motorway in the 2000s.)
No roundabouts on the main carriageway. (This is only the case on motorways beginning with M (so called M class)). In the case of upgraded A roads with numbers ending with M (i.e. Ax(M)), roundabouts may exist on the main carriageway where they intersect 'M' class motorways. In all M class motorways bar two, there are no roundabouts except at the point at which the motorway ends or the motorway designation ends. The only exceptions to this in Great Britain are:
theM271 inSouthampton which has a roundabout on the main carriageway where it meets the M27, but then continues as the M271 after the junction.
on theM60. This came about as a result of renumbering sections of theM62 andM66 motorways near Manchester as the M60, to form a ring around the city. What was formerly the junction between the M62 and M66 now involves the clockwise M60 negotiating a roundabout, while traffic for the eastbound M62 and northbound M66 carries straight on from the M60. This junction, known asSimister Island, has also been criticized for the presence of a roundabout and the numbered route turning off.[citation needed]
the A1(M) between the M62 in North Yorkshire and Washington in Tyne and Wear is built to full 'M' class standards without any roundabouts.
the A74(M) between Gretna and Abingdon in Scotland is similarly built to full 'M' class standards with no roundabouts.
On motorways in Great Britain there were 99 fatalities in 2017 for 69 billion vehicle miles travelled, a reduction from 183 fatalities in 2007.[166] which is equivalent to 1.43 fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled.
Legal authority existed in theSpecial Roads Act (Northern Ireland) 1963 similar to that in the 1949 Act.[167] The first motorway to open was theM1 motorway, though it did so under temporary powers until the Special Roads Act had been passed.[168] Work on the motorways continued until the 1970s when theoil crisis andThe Troubles both intervened causing the abandonment of many schemes.[169]
The M31Hume Highway/Freeway/Motorway connectingSydney andMelbourne, the M23Federal Highway spur route that connectsCanberra withSydney and the A1/M1Pacific Highway/Motorway connectingSydney andBrisbane are the only major interstate highways that are completed to a continuous dual carriageway standard. There are also plans to upgrade the A25Barton Highway, another spur off the M31 that connectsCanberra withMelbourne, to a dual carriageway highway. Although these inter-city highways are dual carriageway they are not all controlled access highways. Some of these inter-city highways have driveways to adjacent property and at-grade junctions with smaller roads.
Unlike many other countries, some of Australia's freeways are being opened to cyclists. As the respective state governments upgrade their state's freeways, bicycle lanes are being added and/orshoulders widened alongside the freeways. The state of Queensland is an exception however, as cyclists are banned from all freeways, including the breakdown lane.
Motorways referred to as an expressway in Australia include theHunter Expressway, which connects theHunter Valley withNewcastle, and theSouthern Expressway, which connects Adelaide's outer southern suburbs to the southwestern suburbs.
The termmotorway inNew Zealand encompasses multilane divided freeways as well as narrower two- to four-lane undividedexpressways with varying degrees ofgrade separation; the termmotorway describes the legal traffic restrictions rather than the type of road.[170]
New Zealand's motorway network is small due to the nation's low population density and low traffic volumes making it uneconomical to build controlled-access highways outside the major urban centres.
New Zealand's first motorway opened in December 1950 nearWellington, running fromJohnsonville toTawa. This five-kilometre (3.1 mi) motorway now forms the southern part of theJohnsonville-Porirua Motorway and part ofState Highway 1.[171] Auckland's first stretch of motorway was opened in 1953 between Ellerslie and Mount Wellington (between present-day exit 435 and exit 438), and now forms part of theSouthern Motorway.[172]
^Used in the western part of the United States, parts of Australia, parts of Canada, and South Africa.
^Used in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, and parts of Australia.
^Used in parts of the United States, parts of Canada, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and an official term in the UK and Hong Kong. In some parts of the United States, this also designates a type of limited-access road of lower class than a freeway. In the UK it officially refers to main roads of a lower class than a motorway.[1]
^Columbia Guide to Standard American English: "Thruway is the Standard spelling of the word meaning a 'high-speed, limited access, multiple-lane highway. [...]Throughway is a variant."
^abJost, Graziella & Pogorelov, Evgueni (19 February 2008)."Fate of EU Motorway Safety in Hands of MEPs"(PDF) (Press release). European Transport Safety Council.Archived(PDF) from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved7 April 2014.
^Shragge, John & Bagnato, Sharon (1984).From Footpaths to Freeways. Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Historical Committee. p. 55.ISBN978-0-7743-9388-1.
^abcdBassett, Edward M. (February 1930). "The Freeway: A New Kind of Thoroughfare".American City.42: 95.
^Roig-Franzia, Manuel (22 November 2001). "The Town That Stops Traffic: Travelers Encounter Way Station as Way of Life in Breezewood".The Washington Post. p. B1.
^abcdefg"Motorways 2018"(PDF). European Road Safety Observatory.Archived(PDF) from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved1 September 2021.
^"Using the Highway".Your Rights: The Liberty Guide to Human Rights. Liberty. 18 August 2008. Archived fromthe original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved31 January 2013.
^"Roadway Design Manual". Texas Department of Transportation. March 2010. 6: Freeways.Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved28 March 2013.
^"Unfallentwicklung auf deutschen Straßen 2012" [Crashes on German Roads 2012](PDF). Statistisches Bundesamt (Federal Statistics Office). 10 July 2013.Archived(PDF) from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved23 September 2013.
^Recker, Wilfred W.; Golob, Thomas F. (December 2001)."MOU 3007 report.PDF"(PDF).Path.berkeley.edu.Archived(PDF) from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved18 July 2017.
^Martin, Hugo (20 April 2003). "Sounding Off on Noise: Freeways' Neighbors Struggle to Drown Out Road Racket, Experts Say the Din Creates Mental and Physical Hazards".Los Angeles Times. p. B1.
^McCreery, Sandy (23 July 2001). "Don't just sit there, enjoy it!".New Statesman. p. 23.
^Smilgis, Martha (20 July 1987). "Trapped Behind the Wheel: Clever Commuters Learn to Live in the Slow Lane".Time. pp. 64–65.
^Coulombe, Gerard (6 July 1986). "Doing the Turnpike Crawl".The New York Times. p. CN16.
^Spivak, Jeffrey (27 July 1999). "Today's Road Opening Represents Progress, Pain".Kansas City Star. p. A1.
^Noise Pollution and Abatement Act of 1972. S. Rep. No. 1160, 92nd Cong. 2nd session.
^Hogan, C. Michael & Latshaw, Gary L. (21–23 May 1973).The Relationship between Highway Planning and Urban Noise.Proceedings of the ASCE, Urban Transportation Division Specialty Conference. Chicago: American Society of Civil Engineers, Urban Transportation Division.Archived from the original on 18 May 2007.
^This part of the word's meaning was codified in 1939 at Section 23.5 of the California Streets and Highways Code."California Code".Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved30 May 2011. See alsoPeople v. Scheinman, 248 Cal. App. 2d 180, 182, 56 Cal. Rptr. 168, 168–169 (1967) (interpreting Section 23.5 to find that a property owner had deeded to the State just the access from the side of his property directly abutting a future freeway but not the access through a connecting road that the state wished to close in order to upgrade an expressway to a freeway).
^"Section 1A.13".Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Rev. 1, 2003 ed.). para. 27.Archived from the original on 13 May 2006.
^AASHO Highway Definitions. Washington DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. 1962. pp. 1–3.
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