Limited-access road

A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, limited access freeway, and partial controlled access highway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway (also known as a ''freeway'' or ''motorway''), including limited or no access to adjacent property, some degree of separation of opposing traffic flow, use of grade separated interchanges to some extent, prohibition of slow modes of transport, such as bicycles, (draught) horses, or self-propelled agricultural machines; and very few or no intersecting cross-streets or level crossings. The degree of isolation from local traffic allowed varies between countries and regions. The precise definition of these terms varies by jurisdiction.'' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices''
Section 1A.13 Definitions of Words and Phrases in This Manual
"Expressway—a divided highway with partial control of access." and "Freeway—a divided highway with full control of access."

History

The first implementation of limited-access roadways in the United States was the Bronx River Parkway in New York, in 1907. The New York State Parkway System was constructed as a network of high-speed roads in and around New York City. The first limited access highway built is thought to be the privately built Long Island Motor Parkway in Long Island, New York. The Southern State Parkway opened in 1927, while the Long Island Motor Parkway was closed in 1937 and replaced by the Northern State Parkway (opened in 1931) and the contiguous Grand Central Parkway (opened in 1936).

Regional implementations

In the United States, the national '' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices'' (MUTCD) uses "full control of access" only for freeways. Expressways are defined as having "partial control of access" (or ''semi-controlled access''). This means that major roads typically use interchanges and commercial development is accessed via cross roads or frontage roads, while minor roads can cross at grade and farms can have direct access. This definition is also used by some states, some of which also restrict freeways only to motor vehicles capable of maintaining a certain speed. Some other states use "controlled access" to mean a higher standard than "limited access", while others reverse the two terms.

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.

Dual carriageways that connect capital cities and regional centres, such as the M31 Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne, are almost all limited-access highways. In spite of this, 'freeway' terminology is used on signage for most regional limited access highways in the state of Victoria.

New Zealand: ''Expressway, Motorway''

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The terms ''Motorway'' and ''Expressway'' in New Zealand both encompass multi-lane divided freeways as well as narrower 2-4-lane undivided expressways with varying degrees of grade separation; the difference being that in New Zealand a ''Motorway'' has certain additional legal traffic restrictions.''Manual of Traffic Signs and Markings (MOTSAM) Part 3: Motorways and Expressways'', NZ Transport Agency, June 2009

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 Expressways of Pakistan are a network of multiple-lane, high-speed highways in Pakistan, which are owned, maintained and operated federally by Pakistan's National Highway Authority. They are one class lower than the country's motorways and are usually upgraded versions of the national highways. The total length of Pakistan's expressways is as of November, 2016. Around of expressways are currently under construction in different parts of country. Most of these expressways will be complete between 2017 and 2020.

India

Expressways in India make up more than of the Indian National Highway System on which they are the highest class of road. The National Highways Development Project is underway to add an additional of expressways to the network by the year 2022.

Iran

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''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 and in rural and desert areas between .

Japan

The term ''Expressway'' as used in English in Japan refers to both freeway-style highways and narrower, more winding, often undivided ''Regional High-Standard Highways'' . Both types of expressways have a combined length of as of April 2012.

Malaysia

Limited-access roads in Malaysia usually, but not always, take the name ( ms, lebuhraya, region=MY – 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 (in contrast to controlled-access highways which are known as ''expressways''). While still functioning as high-speed roads, semi-expressways may still have at-grade intersections with traffic lights, and speed limits are not uniform. Grade separation is, however, still typical at major junctions. Five roads have been designated as semi-expressways: Bukit Timah Road, Jurong Island Highway, Nicoll Highway, Outer Ring Road System and West Coast Highway.

South Korea

Motorways in South Korea (자동차전용도로 ''Jadongcha jeonyong doro'', literally 'motor-car-only road') includes various grades of highways other than expressways. Contrary to the expressway in South Korea, motorway is a measure of traffic control, rather than a class of the road. For example, ''Jayu-ro'' is a segment of the 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 expressways, motorcycles are not permitted.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has ensured to classify the expressways in reference to the connotation of E grades. , three expressways namely the Southern Expressway, Outer Circular Expressway and the 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.)

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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 . ''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.Austrian State Route Law
/ref>

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 , although it can be lowered, usually to . They range from 2+2 lane dual carriageways with grade-separated intersections and 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 ( cz, 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 . 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, of it is motorway, and 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 , excluding pedestrian, bicycle, moped or tractor traffic. Oversized vehicles are banned.

The construction of transregional ''Kraftfahrstraßen'' highways (''Autostraßen'') rank below the standard of German autobahns. With regard to the general German speed limits, on roads with lanes separated by a median or with a minimum of two marked lanes per direction, an advisory speed limit (''Richtgeschwindigkeit'') of applies. At-grade intersections are admissible, regulation at junctions is usually provided by traffic lights or roundabouts. U-turns and any deliberate stopping are prohibited. ''Kraftfahrstraßen'' are out of bounds to pedestrians, except for special crosswalks.

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.

There are not yet any specific signs for this type of road, but the National Roads Authority have hinted that they are looking at implementing the German-style Autostrasse sign in Ireland.

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 single carriageway with at least one lane for each direction and shoulders. It may have at-grade, at-level crossings with railways, roundabouts and traffic lights. This category contains also dual carriageways that can not be classified as type-B highways because of the lack of one or more required features. In absence of specific regulation signs, a type-C road is accessible by all vehicles and pedestrians, even if it has separate carriageways and no cross-traffic.

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''

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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 . For the most part they fall under national or provincial management.

Dutch expressways are built to significantly varying standards. Designs range from fully controlled-access dual carriageways with grade separation, center dividers and full hard shoulders, to single carriageways with just one lane per direction and only intermittent shoulder patches called ''Vluchthavens'' (small Lay-bys). Intersections are frequently at grade with traffic lights, or they are roundabouts. There can be moveable bridges in these roads. In either case, the speed limit is frequently reduced to 70 km/h before reaching the junction or the bridge.

Since 1997 a national traffic safety program called ''Sustainable Safety'' has introduced a new road categorisation and new design standards. Although ''autowegen'' don't have to conform completely to the new Dutch design standard for regional flow roads (''stroomwegen''), many of these roads require at least some upgrades. The ideal is to make expressways divided and grade-separated, as much as possible. Otherwise these roads are downgraded to the safety category of distributor roads, thereby losing their expressway status.

Norway: ''Motortrafikkvei''

In Norway, a ''motortrafikkvei'' ( Norwegian for "motor traffic road"), formerly called ''motorvei klasse B'' ("class-B motorway") is a high-speed highway with a speed limit of up to 90 km/h. There are no at grade intersections. Direction signs for ''motortrafikkvei'' have black text on yellow background, while same signs on ''motorvei'' have white text on blue background. As of October 2017 the Norwegian Road DataBase show approximately 455 km of ''motortrafikkvei'' in Norway.

Poland: ''droga ekspresowa''

''Droga ekspresowa'' (plural: ''drogi ekspresowe'') in Poland refers to a network of roads fulfilling the role of bringing traffic to the motorways, and serving major international and inter-regional purposes. They are often built as ring roads since they take less space than motorway and allow more entrances and exits. All expressways start with the letter S, followed by a number. They can be dual or single carriageways and have reduced number of one level intersections. As of May 2004 the Polish government documents indicated that the country had plans of an expressway and motorway network totalling (including about of motorways).Dz.U. 2004 nr 128 poz. 1334
/ref> The speed limit is 120 km/h (dual carriageway) and 100 km/h (single carriageway).

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 Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra and Braga. In Madeira, the main regional highways, that connect the cities and other important places of the island, are mainly of these type, there are two vias rápidas classified as motorways in the region, VR1 and VR2.

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 Romania, such roads are called ''drumuri expres'' (or ''drum expres'' in singular form). Whilst there are no expressways in Romania so far, their main difference from regular motorways are the lack of hard shoulders and a slightly lower speed limit of 120 km/h, otherwise, being similar to a motorway regarding grade separation and featuring at least 2 lanes per direction.

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 the first expressways will likely be completed.

Planned expressways according to CNADNR (Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads), based on the 2014 roads masterplan:

Russia

Russia has a large federal highway network that totals approximately . Federal highways in the country are classified into two categories: "motorways" (russian: магистральная автомобильная дорога, автомагистраль, not the same as the English term motorway) and "other".
In the Road Rules, there are 2 designations for a limited-access road, one being "motorway" and the other being "road for cars"(russian: дорога для автомобилей), on both of which special motorway rules apply.
"Roads for cars" are different from motorways by the fact that they don't have to be dual-carriageway, at-grade traffic light intersections are permitted, and the speed limit is still 90 km/h.

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: Rychlostna cesta

The "Rychlostna cesta" in Slovakia is different to the "dialnica" in Slovakia with speed limits restricted to 100kph (62 mph) according to new road rules in Slovakia and in a settlement its 80kph (49 mph).Its now currently sometimes referred as a "cesta pre motorove vozidla".They used to have a R at the beginning but due to new road rules all the expressways that started with a R are known as a motorway. They have two lanes on each side and they can sometimes be single carriage way like in Poland.

Sweden

left, 50pxThe Swedish road type ''motortrafikled'' is a road with limited access (all grade-separated, no slow traffic) and two or three lanes. According to the EU's multilingual term base, ''motortrafikled'' should be translated to ''expressway'', ''rapid road'' or ''road with limited access''. The same rules apply to a ''motortrafikled'' as to a motorway - it is basically a half motorway. The speed limit is usually 90 – 100 km/h. Many ''motortrafikleder'' are built as 2+1 roads, alternating two lanes in one direction and one in the other, with a narrow fence in between.

Switzerland

In Switzerland ''Autostrasse'' (German, "auto road"), ''semi-autoroute'', or ''semiautostrade'' (French and Italian for "semi-freeway") is a highway that is only allowed to high-speed traffic with no crossings, but it is not the highest class road, the motorways (''Autobahn''/''autoroute''/''autostrada''). The speed limit on these roads in Switzerland is . Most of the ''Autostrasse / semi-autoroutes / semiautostrade'' have no central barrier separating the lanes in different directions.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the second tier of high speed roads below motorways are typically dual carriageways (although the term "dual carriageway" can refer to roads that are not limited-access, so long as traffic in opposite directions is physically separated). Many roads such as the A1, the A14, the A19 and the A42 are built to a high quality, in many places they are only intersected by grade-separated junctions, have full barriers at both the road side and the central reservations and in some cases three or more lanes of traffic, however they are not subjected to motorway restrictions as they are typically built to a lower standard, or have existing rights of way for non motorised vehicles. They may lack some features that a motorway would have, such as hard shoulders, and may have tighter bends and steeper gradients than would be allowed on a motorway or have established, rights of way that cannot be removed. The standard motorway speed limit for cars of also applies to many dual carriageways.

In March 2015, it was announced that a new standard would be developed to formally designate certain high-quality routes in England as ''Expressways''. This new standard would have the same motorway regulations as traditional motorways, however would lack a hard shoulder and use traffic management systems like those on smart motorways. An "expressway" is limited to 3 through lanes, they are to be built largely to the same standards as a smart motorway, although some non-standard existing alignments are allowed to remain if they are just short of being standard.

Some roads have "expressway" in their name, this has no reflection on the purpose or standard of the road. For example, the Aston Expressway

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