Limited-access road
A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, and partial controlled-access highway, is a
History
The first implementation of limited-access roadways in the United States was the
Regional implementations
In the
Oceania
Australia
While Australia's larger capital cities feature controlled-access highway networks, the smaller metropolitan areas mostly rely on limited-access highways for high-speed local traffic.
In South Australia the terms "expressway" and "freeway" can be synonymous. The Southern and Northern Expressways are both controlled-access highways. However, perhaps confusingly, the Port River Expressway is a limited-access highway.
New Zealand: Expressway, Motorway
The terms Motorway and Expressway in New Zealand both encompass multi-lane divided
Asia
China
The Expressway Network of the People's Republic of China is the longest highway system in the world. The network is also known as National Trunk Highway System (NTHS). By the end of 2016, the total length of China's expressway network reached 131,000 kilometers (82,000 mi).
Expressways in China are a fairly recent addition to a complex network of roads. China's first expressway was built in 1988. Until 1993, very few expressways existed. The network is expanding rapidly after 2000. In 2011, 11,000 kilometres (6,800 mi) of expressways were added to the network.
Pakistan
The
India
Expressways in
Iran
Expressways in Iran are one class lower than freeways and are used in large urban areas such as Isfahan, Mashhad, or Tehran and between other important cities (Usually two province capitals) in rural and desert areas. The speed limit in Urban areas is between 50–70 km/h (31–43 mph) and in rural and desert areas between 90–110 km/h (56–68 mph).
Japan
The term Expressway as used in English in Japan refers to both
Malaysia
Limited-access roads in Malaysia usually, but not always, take the name highway (Malay: lebuhraya – this is also the name for expressways). Highways normally have a lower speed limit than expressways (but still higher than the rest of the local road network), and permit at-grade intersections and junctions to residential roads and shopfronts, although grade separation is still typical. Highways are normally toll-free and are owned and operated by the federal government. Notable examples of limited-access roads are the Federal Highway, Skudai Highway, Gelugor Highway, Kuantan Bypass and Kuching Bypass.
Singapore
Limited-access roads in Singapore are formally known as semi-expressways (in contrast to
South Korea
Motorways in South Korea (자동차 전용 도로, jadongcha jeonyong doro, literally 'motor vehicle-only road') include various grades of highways other than expressways. Contrary to the expressway in South Korea, the status of motorway is a measure of traffic control rather than a class of road. For example, Jayu-ro is a segment of national route 77 as well as a motorway. As of June 2011, 1,610 km of highways in total were designated as motorways. (1,052 km national highways, 351 km metropolitan highways, 185 km regional highways and 20 km municipal highways)
Like on expressways, motorcycles are not permitted.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has ensured to classify the expressways in reference to the connotation of E grades. As of 2014[update], three expressways namely the E01 Southern Expressway, E02 Outer Circular Expressway and the E03 Colombo – Katunayake Expressway have been created. A tax levying structure is proposed for travelling via the expressways. Speed limits in the range of 80–100 km/h is attested for travelling through the expressways. Up to now two expressways namely the Northern Expressway and the Ruwanpura Expressway are in process to satisfy the needs of public transport.
Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Expressways in Taiwan may be controlled-access highways similar to National Freeways or limited-access roads. Most have Provincial (as opposed to National) Highway status, although some are built and maintained by cities. All provincial expressways run east–west except for Provincial Highway No. 61, which runs north–south along the west coast. Some provincial expressway routes are still under construction.
Europe
Austria: Schnellstraße
In Austria the speed limit on a Schnellstraße is 100–130 km/h (62–81 mph). Schnellstraßen are very similar to Austrian Autobahnen (freeways/motorways); the chief difference is that they are more cheaply built with smaller curve radius, often undivided and have fewer bridges and tunnels.[11]
Belgium: Autoweg
In Belgium an autoweg is a public road, the beginning of which is indicated by the first signboard (F9) and the end by the second sign (F11).
An important difference with an autosnelweg is that crossroads as well as traffic lights can be on an autoweg.
In Belgium there is no specific speed regulation for an autoweg.
Only motor vehicles and their trailers (with the exception of mopeds), agricultural vehicles and the towing of fairground vehicles, as well as four-wheelers (without passenger compartment), are allowed to drive on an autoweg.
An autoweg can consist of two or more lanes. The driving directions can be separated by a roadmarking, or by a central reservation. If a public road (autosnelweg, autoweg, weg) consists of two or more lanes that are clearly separated from each other by a roadside or a space that is not accessible to vehicles, the drivers may not drive on the lane opposite to them.
Croatia: Brza cesta
In Croatia, the term brza cesta (lit. "fast road") is used to describe a motor vehicle-only road, usually grade-separated, without an emergency lane, with a speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph), although it can be lowered, usually to 70 or 90 km/h (43 or 56 mph). They range from 2+2 lane dual carriageways with grade-separated intersections and 110 km/h (68 mph) speed limit (D2 in Osijek), four or six-lane urban streets with at-grade intersections with traffic lights (D1 in Karlovac) or two-lane single carriageways with grade-separated intersections (D33 in Šibenik). They are either a standalone state road (D10) or a part of one (Southern Osijek bypass, D2). Some portions of motorways are expressways since they are either in construction (A8 between Pazin and Matulji) or designed as such (A7 in Rijeka). As a rule, the expressways are not tolled, however major tunnels on expressways are tolled.
Czech Republic: Rychlostní silnice
Expressways in the Czech Republic (Czech: Silnice pro motorová vozidla, are defined as dual carriageways with smaller emergency lane. The speed limit is 110 km/h (70 mph). Expressway road signs are white on blue.
Denmark: Motortrafikvej
In Denmark, a 'motortrafikvej' (Danish for "motor traffic road") is a high-speed highway with a speed limit between 80–90 km/h (50–56 mph). The most common 'motortrafikvej' has two lanes (1+1) or 2+1. There is no grade intersections. The signs for 'motortrafikvej' have white text on blue background.
Finland: Moottoriliikennetie
In Finland, highways are separated into three categories: all-access valtatie ("main road"), limited-access moottoriliikennetie ("motor traffic road") and finally moottoritie ("motorway"); the latter two are marked with green signage, while valtatie signage is blue. While most of the network is all-access road, 779 km (484 mi) of it is motorway, and 124 km (77 mi) is limited-access road. The access is limited to motor vehicles faster than 50 km/h, thus excluding pedestrian, bicycle, moped or tractor traffic; furthermore, towing is not allowed. Limited-access roads are generally similar to motorways, but do not fulfill all the technical requirements, such as several lanes in one direction or separation of opposite directions. Limited-access roads are usually built because the local population density is too low to justify a motorway. Often space has been left during construction for an eventual upgrade to a motorway. Limited-access roads also function as feeder routes for motorways. The general speed limit on main roads and limited-access roads is 100 km/h (summertime) and 80 km/h (wintertime). On motorways the speed limits are 120 and 100 km/h respectively. Especially during winter the speed limits can be changed due to weather conditions.
Germany: Kraftfahrstraße
A Kraftfahrstrasse (German for "motor-power road", also colloquially called Schnellstraße, literally "fast road") in Germany is any road with access limited to motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of more than 60 km/h (37 mph), excluding pedestrian, bicycle, moped or tractor traffic. Oversized vehicles are banned.[12]
The construction of transregional Kraftfahrstraßen highways (Autostraßen) rank below the standard of
Hungary: Autóút
Expressways in Hungary are called Autóút (Auto/car road). They are mostly dual carriageways. The main difference between Hungarian motorways and expressways is, that they are more cheaply built with narrower width and often undivided. Maximum speed limit is reduced to 110 km/h for vehicles under 3.5 tons, and 70 km/h for vehicles over 3.5 tons.
In Hungary there are multiple types of dual carriageways. One part is almost identical with motorways, but the driving lanes are narrower.
Parameters of a 2+2 lane dual carriageway off-habitat area:
- Total width of road: 25.60 m
- Driving lane width: 3.50 m
- Pavement width: 2x10.25 m
- Parking lane: 3.00 m
- Middle separation area width: 3.60 m
Parameters of a 2+2 lane dual carriageway in habitat (town/city) area:
- Total width of road: 24.10 m
- Driving lane width: 3.50 m
- Pavement width: 2x10.75 m
- Parking lane: 3.00 m
- Middle separation area width: 3.60 m
There are also semi-motorways with only one side of the motorway built. After the missing lanes are built, they will become standard motorways.
Ireland: HQDC
A High-quality dual carriageway (HQDC) in Ireland is normally completed to a motorway standard, including no right-turns, but with no motorway restrictions. These are common on the final stretches of motorways nearing a major city, generally in order to enable use of bus stops and city bus services on the particular stretch of road.
Speed limits are normally 100 km/h compared to 120 km/h on motorways
Italy: Superstrada
In Italy there are: Type B highway (or strada extraurbana principale), commonly but unofficially known as superstrada, is a divided highway with at least two lanes for each direction, paved shoulder on the right, no cross-traffic and no at-grade intersections. Access restrictions on such highways are exactly the same of Italian motorways (autostrade), as well as signage at the beginning and the end of the highway (with the only difference being the background color, blue instead of green). Speed limit on type-B road is 110 km/h.
Type C highway (or strada extraurbana secondaria), a
The sign shown here on the left allows access only to motorized vehicles. Speed limit on type-C roads is 90 km/h.
Netherlands: Autoweg
The Netherlands has much more kilometres of motorways (snelwegen), than expressways (autowegen). The latter only form a complementary part of the country's main highway network. They are typically shorter than motorways, offering connections of a more regional significance. The general speed limit is 100 km/h. Only faster motor vehicles, both capable and legally allowed to go at least 50 km/h, may use the road. Autowegen are always numbered and mostly signposted with an N (for Non motorway highway) and up to three digits, like N 34. For the most part they fall under national or provincial management.
Dutch expressways are built to significantly varying standards. Designs range from fully
Since 1997 a national
Norway: Motortrafikkvei
In
Poland: droga ekspresowa
Droga ekspresowa (plural: drogi ekspresowe) in Poland refers to a network of roads fulfilling the role of bringing traffic to the
Portugal: via rápida
In Portugal, a non-motorway limited access road is commonly referred as a via rápida (rapid way, plural: vias rápidas), although there is not a specific official technical designation for it.
The legal term via reservada a automóveis e motociclos (reserved way for automobiles and motorcycles) is used to designate a non-motorway road where motorway rules apply (except the speed limit which is lower). However, this term refers only to the road rules and not to the road technical characteristics.
There are two main types of roads commonly referred as vias rápidas in Portugal. The first type is a limited access road, with dual carriageway and with interchanges grade separation. Many of these roads have all or almost all the technical characteristics of full motorways. Examples are the several urban highways in cities like
The second Portuguese type of via rápida is a highway with all the same characteristics of the above first type, except the number of carriageways that is only one. Examples of this type of roads are the ancient IP4 and IP5 (before being transformed in full motorways), the Portalegre-Beja section of the IP2, the Coimbra-Viseu section of the IP3 and several complementary routes (IC).
The dual carriageway vias rápidas can be classified and signalized as reserved ways for automobiles and motorcycles, cases in which general motorway rules apply, except speed limited which is never above 100 km/h. In dual carriageway vias rápidas not signalized as reserved ways, normal road rules apply, including speed limit which is never above 90 km/h. Single carriageway vias rápidas cannot be classified and signalized as reserved ways and so normal road rules always apply there.
Romania
In
Expressways were introduced for the first time on the 2014 roads masterplan. This masterplan envisaged building most planned motorways up to expressway standards, provided that in the future they would be converted to actual motorways. However, by mid-2019, no expressway has been built, nevermind starting works on one, although contracts were signed to allow for their construction, meaning that in the 2020s more expressways will likely be completed.
Planned expressways according to CNADNR (Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads), based on the 2014 roads masterplan:[14][15]
Expressway | Name | Route | Length (km) / in use (km) | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
DEx1 | Valahia Express | Găești – Târgoviște – Ploiești | 74 / 0 | will connect A1 to A3 |
DEx2 | Danubius Express | Lugoj – Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Craiova – Caracal – Alexandria – Bucharest | 246 / 0 | will connect A0
|
DEx3 | Brașovia Express | Brașov – Pitești | 65 / 0 | will connect A3 to A1 |
DEx4 | Someș Express | Turda – Cluj-Napoca – Gherla – Dej – Baia Mare – Halmeu border-crossing to Ukraine | 320 / 0 | will connect A3 to Ukraine |
DEx4A | Someș Express | Dej – Bistrița | 56 / 0 | will connect DEx4 to Bistrița |
DEx4B | Someș Express | Ardusat (DX4 exit) – Baia Mare | 10 / 0 | will connect DEx4 to Baia Mare |
DEx4C | Someș Express | Livada (DX4 exit) – Satu Mare – Petea border-crossing to Hungary | 140 / 0 | will connect DEx4 to Hungary |
DEx5A | Moldavia Express | Bacău – Piatra Neamț | 53 / 0 | will connect A7 to Piatra Neamț |
DEx6 | Milcovia Express | Brăila – Focșani | 108 / 0 | will connect DEx5 to DEx7, then to DEx8, then to Republic of Moldova
|
DEx7 | Muntenia Express | Buzău – Brăila | 98 / 0 | will connect DEx5 to DEx6 |
DEx8 | Dobrogea Express | Constanța – Tulcea – Brăila | 186 / 0 | will connect A4 to DEx6 |
DEx12 | Oltenia Express | Craiova – Slatina – Pitești | 121 / 37 | will connect A1 to DEx2 |
Russia
Russia has a large federal highway network that totals approximately 30,000 km (18,640 mi).
Spain: Autovía
Unlike Spain's Autopistas, specifically reserved for vehicles able to sustain at least 60 km/h (37 mph), and usually tolled, Autovías are usually upgrades from older roads, and never toll roads. In general, slow vehicles like bicycles and agricultural machinery are allowed under certain restrictions.
Slovakia: Rýchlostná cesta
A rýchlostná cesta in Slovakia, sometimes referred to as cesta pre motorove vozidla, is different from a diaľnica, with speed limits restricted to 100 km/h (62 mph) for cars and 80 km/h (50 mph) for trucks. Rýchlostné cesty ("cesty" is the plural form of "cesta") used to be designated by the letter 'R' preceding the road number, however, new road rules introduced in 2020 established that all expressways noted by the letter 'R' were to be considered motorways. A rýchlostná cesta has two lanes on each side and, occasionally, may take the form of a single carriageway, like in Poland.
Sweden