Road hierarchy: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:04, 2 May 2025

Revision as of 13:44, 3 May 2025

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==== Controlled-access highway ====

At the top of the mobility-access continuum in terms of traffic flow and speed are [[Expresswaycontrolled-access (road) (disambiguation)|Expresswayshighway]];s. theirTheir defining characteristic is the ''control of access'' to and from the road, meaning that the road cannot be directly accessed from properties or other roads, but only from specific connector roads. This indirection, in conjunction with high speed limits and multiple lanes, allows these roads to support fast traffic flow with high volume, in both urban and rural areas. They are at the bottom of the mobility-access continuum in terms of access to property, allowing access to almost nothing besides other roads and [[rest areas]].

They are also known as ''freeways'' in the U.S., South Africa, and parts of Australia; as ''motorways'' in the U.K., New Zealand, and parts of Australia; and as ''expressways'' in numerous countries (though this term sometimes includes [[limited-access road]]s depending on the region).

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==== Limited-access road ====

[[File:Route nationale 137 à La Rochelle · Périgny (17, France).JPG|thumb|Dual carriageway near [[La Rochelle]], France]]

A [[limited-access road]], also known as ''limited-access highway'' in the U.S. and as ''expressway'' in numerous countries (including parts of the U.S.), is similar to a controlled-access highway in that it conforms to many or most of the standards that controlled-access highways follow, but does allow some uncontrolled access to local roads. They can be viewed as a middle ground between controlled-access highways and minor arterial roads. The degree of isolation from local traffic varies between countries and regions, as does a precise definition of the term itself.

Controlled-access highways can also be viewed as a subset of limited-access highways that has stricter requirements.