freeways
Roads without tolls
Freeways are high-speed roads designed for uninterrupted traffic flow, with no intersections, traffic lights, or tolls.
The term is primarily American, synonymous with highways or expressways in other regions.
Access is limited to on-ramps and off-ramps: Traffic on the freeway was backed up for miles.
The "free" refers to free movement, not cost—though unlike turnpikes, freeways charge no tolls.
Major intercity roads
- overpassesElevated road crossings
- interchangesReciprocal substitutions or swaps
- rampsInclined connecting surfaces
- lanesParallel traffic divisions
asphalt · concrete · median · guardrails · shoulders · exits · on-ramps · off-ramps
Extend in disorderly fashion
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- commuterOne who travels regularly
- developmentProgress toward maturity
car culture · pollution · noise · smog · expansion · zoning · planning · demolition
Excessive accumulation causing blockage
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- commuteRegular work travel
- rush hourBusiest commuting period
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
merging · tailgating · carpool · bumper-to-bumper · slowdown · backup · accidents · rubbernecking
Exceeding posted velocity limits
- cruisingMoving at relaxed pace
- acceleratingIncreasing in speed
- passingMoving by or temporary
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
navigation · GPS · road trip · miles · distance · fuel · gas stations · rest stops
highways
Major intercity roads
- overpassesElevated road crossings
- interchangesReciprocal substitutions or swaps
- rampsInclined connecting surfaces
lanes · asphalt · concrete · median · guardrails · shoulders · exits · on-ramps · off-ramps · cloverleaf
sprawl
Extend in disorderly fashion
- Los AngelesSouthern California metropolis
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- commuterOne who travels regularly
development · car culture · pollution · noise · smog · expansion · zoning · planning · demolition · neighborhoods
congestion
Excessive accumulation causing blockage
bottleneck · merging · tailgating · carpool · bumper-to-bumper · slowdown · backup · accidents · rubbernecking · peak hours
speeding
Exceeding posted velocity limits
- cruisingMoving at relaxed pace
- acceleratingIncreasing in speed
- passingMoving by or temporary
signaling · navigation · GPS · road trip · miles · distance · fuel · gas stations · rest stops · service plazas
Autobahn
German federal highway system
Pacific Coast · network · numbering · shield · federal · state · national · transcontinental · corridor · ring road
- highwayshighways, interstate, interstates, turnpike, motorways
- roadshighways, road, roads, motorways, interstate
- infrastructurehighways, road construction, railway expansion, power grid, roads
- CaliforniaLos Angeles, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Yosemite
- road tripsroad trip, highways, scenic drive, interstate, interstates
- transit systemshighways, railways, subways, roads, streets
freewayscountry lanes
Narrow rural thoroughfares
back roads · dirt roads · alleyways · side streets · residential streets
freewayssurface streets
Ground-level urban roadways
local roads · city streets · arterial roads · boulevards · avenues
- freeway interchangeConvergence of multiple highways