Local–express lanes

The local–express lane system is an arrangement of carriageways within a major highway where long distance traffic can use inner express lanes with fewer interchanges compared to local traffic which use outer local lanes that have access to all interchanges. This can also be called a collector/distributor lane system within a single interchange. One of the longest examples is Highway 401 in Toronto, where highway ramps between express and local lanes cross over one another; these are commonly known as braided ramps.State Route 180 Braided Ramps Project
. Dot.ca.gov. Retrieved on 2013-07-16.

Some places may have only three carriageways on the highway instead of four, utilizing one directional express lanes. They may be permanent, or they can be reversible express lanes such as in Seattle where they alternate direction.

While a local–express system and a collector/distributor system are used interchangeably, some transportation departments make a distinction between the two. In a ''local–express system'', the inner lanes are called express lanes whereas the outer lanes are called local lanes. In a ''collector/distributor system'', the inner lanes are called mainlines while the outer lanes are called collector/distributor lanes. Generally speaking, a local–express system will have the extra outer lanes present for a long duration of the highway, as opposed to a collector/distributor system where the extra outer lanes are only present at an interchange.

Examples

The following examples include both local–express and collector/distributor lane systems.

Canada

United States

Other countries

Gallery

File:Acceso Norte y calle Melo hacia el noroeste.jpg, North Access freeway over National Route 9 (Argentina). The express lanes (left, all vehicles) and local lanes (right, cars and buses only) seen in the view towards the north.
File:Ruta Panamericana Buenos Aires Florida.jpg, A view of North Access's Freeway at Buenos Aires, Argentina, from the bridge on Pres H.Yrigoyen Street at Florida, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
File:The Basketweave.svg, Local and express lanes can be connected using a basketweave.
File:Highway 401 The Basketweave Aerial.jpg, Basketweave on Highway 401 in Toronto
File:Highway 401.png, 'The Transfer' on Highway 401 near Toronto Pearson Airport (top of image).
File:Highway 401 transfer.jpg, Express to collector transfer on Highway 401
File:401atMcCowan.JPG, Collector–express roadway configuration on Highway 401
File:M20westCobtree.jpg, M20 motorway near Maidstone, England, showing separated local and express lanes
File:Leningradsky Prospekt at night 2.jpg, Express and local lanes of Leningradsky Prospekt in Moscow
File:M-30 (Madrid, Spain) 03.jpg, Express and local lanes, M-30 circular highway in Madrid, Spain, east section
File:Interstate 270.jpg, Local–express lanes on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland
File:A1motorwayNoviSadCenter.jpg, A1 motorway through Novi Sad, Serbia
File:2020-07-16 11 01 28 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 124 (Main Street) in Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg, Garden State Parkway split into local and express lanes in Sayreville, New Jersey
File:Zhongshan Freeway at Taishan District, New Taipei 20180418a.jpg, Freeway 1 in Taishan District, New Taipei showing the Ground Level and Elevated lanes

Example of cloverleaf interchanges

A cloverleaf interchange may have collector/distributor lane system on a freeway or expressway to handle entering and exiting traffic. Usually, this lane will begin as an entrance-only ramp initially, but it will sometimes become a main lane or possibly an exit-only lane. The purpose of this lane is to facilitate traffic to the freeway exits and from the freeway entrances.

File:I-10 at Garfield Avenue.jpg
File:US 131, M-6, 68th St interchange.jpg
File:Cloverleaf interchange.png
File:Cloverleaf.jpg

See also

* Frontage road

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Local-express lanes
Road traffic management
Types of roads