freeway
Open expressway system
A freeway is a high-speed highway with controlled access—no traffic lights, no intersections, entry and exit only through ramps.
The term is most common in the western United States; elsewhere the same roads are called expressways, motorways, or interstates.
Traffic on the freeway was backed up for miles.
Reciprocal transfer between parties
- overpassBridge spanning a road
- underpassRoad passing below another
- flyoverElevated road crossing
- viaductArched span crossing valleys
bridge · tunnel · on-ramp · off-ramp · cloverleaf · guardrail · median · shoulder
Daily commute congestion period
- suburbOutlying residential district
- exurbSemirural fringe settlement
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
- vanpoolShared commuter vehicle arrangement
traffic · daily · work · congestion · park-and-ride · gridlock · morning · evening
Between political regions
- turnpikeFee-charging highway
- autobahnGerman expressway system
- autorouteFrench limited-access highway
- carriagewayVehicle portion of road
beltway · bypass · arterial · thoroughfare · corridor · route · causeway · superhighway
Movement along routes
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- bumper-to-bumperVehicles packed without gaps
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
jam · snarl-up · tailback · standstill · crawling · slow-moving · stalled · rush-hour
Leisurely ocean voyage
- mergeCombine into unity
- exitWay to leave
- accelerateIncrease in velocity
- navigateGuide through terrain
pass · signal · tailgate · weave · overtake · carpool · toll · roadside
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- fastSpeedy, or skip eating
- limitMaximum allowed extent
- mphVelocity unit abbreviation
kph · speeding · radar · patrol · ticket · exceed · swift · rapid
Absence of constraint
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- escapeFlight from captivity
- wanderlustCraving for distant places
vista · scenery · expansive · countryside · journey · exploration · solitude · cruising
Travel from place to place
- travelMovement between locations
- destinationIntended arrival point
- cross-countryTraversing wide natural terrain
- scenicOffering beautiful views
navigation · GPS · itinerary · sightseeing · roadside · diner · motel · caravan
interchange
Reciprocal transfer between parties
viaduct · bridge · tunnel · on-ramp · off-ramp · cloverleaf · guardrail · median · shoulder · lane
rush-hour
Daily commute congestion period
- suburbOutlying residential district
- exurbSemirural fringe settlement
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
vanpool · traffic · daily · work · congestion · park-and-ride · gridlock · morning · evening · reverse-commute
interstate
Between political regions
carriageway · beltway · bypass · arterial · thoroughfare · corridor · route · causeway · superhighway · thruway
traffic
Movement along routes
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- bumper-to-bumperVehicles packed without gaps
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
backup · jam · snarl-up · tailback · standstill · crawling · slow-moving · stalled · rush-hour · delay
cruise
Leisurely ocean voyage
- mergeCombine into unity
- exitWay to leave
- accelerateIncrease in velocity
navigate · pass · signal · tailgate · weave · overtake · carpool · toll · roadside · fuel
velocity
Directed rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- fastSpeedy, or skip eating
- limitMaximum allowed extent
mph · kph · speeding · radar · patrol · ticket · exceed · swift · rapid · pace
freedom
Absence of constraint
wanderlust · vista · scenery · expansive · countryside · journey · exploration · solitude · cruising · wind
journey
Travel from place to place
- travelMovement between locations
- destinationIntended arrival point
- cross-countryTraversing wide natural terrain
scenic · navigation · GPS · itinerary · sightseeing · roadside · diner · motel · caravan · RV
- infrastructurehighways, road construction, railway expansion, power grid, roads
- Americanismsaluminum, fixin' to, apartment, howdy, candy
- Driving TermsGPS, maps, highways, toll roads, backroads
- expresswaysinterstate, superhighway, thruway, turnpike, autobahn
- highwayshighways, interstate, interstates, turnpike, motorways
- Loud Placesconstruction site, factory, nightclub, concert, stadium
freewaycity street
surface street · footpath · pedestrian walkway · side street · back road
freewaydirt road
Unpaved rural thoroughfare
unpaved road · gravel road · trail · path · cart track
- freeway interchangeConvergence of multiple highways