surface streets
Ground-level city roads
Surface streets are ordinary roads at ground level, as opposed to highways, freeways, or elevated expressways.
The term appears most often in traffic reports and navigation contexts: Take surface streets to avoid the freeway backup.
The distinction matters in cities where drivers choose between fast but congested highways and slower but sometimes quicker local roads.
Path from A to B
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- directionsGuidance for reaching somewhere
- shortcutsQuicker methods or paths
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
GPS · backroads · arterials · turn-by-turn · landmarks · map
Intersection signal devices
- traffic-lightsIntersection signal system
- red-lightTraffic control commanding halt
- green-lightAuthorize to proceed
- intersectionPoint where paths meet
Broad, tree-lined streets
- avenuesWide urban streets
- intersectionsPoints where things cross
- downtownCentral business district
- sidewalksPaved pedestrian pathways
crosswalks · one-ways · parking · pedestrians · signage · roundabouts · zoning · curbs
Complete mutual obstruction
- bumper-to-bumperVehicles packed without gaps
- rush-hourDaily commute congestion period
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- crawlingMoving on hands, knees
standstill · slow-moving · delays · commute · tailback · chokepoint · snarl-up · stalled
Residential districts of towns
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- cul-de-sacsStreets closed at one end
- dead-endsPassages with no exit
- alleywaysNarrow urban passages
driveways · tree-lined · mailboxes · joggers
route
Path from A to B
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- directionsGuidance for reaching somewhere
- shortcutsQuicker methods or paths
wayfinding · GPS · backroads · arterials · turn-by-turn · landmarks · map
stoplights
Intersection signal devices
- traffic-lightsIntersection signal system
- red-lightTraffic control commanding halt
- green-lightAuthorize to proceed
boulevards
Broad, tree-lined streets
- avenuesWide urban streets
- intersectionsPoints where things cross
- downtownCentral business district
sidewalks · crosswalks · one-ways · parking · pedestrians · signage · roundabouts · zoning · curbs · medians
gridlock
Complete mutual obstruction
- bumper-to-bumperVehicles packed without gaps
- rush-hourDaily commute congestion period
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
crawling · standstill · slow-moving · delays · commute · tailback · chokepoint · snarl-up · stalled · idling
neighborhoods
Residential districts of towns
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- cul-de-sacsStreets closed at one end
- dead-endsPassages with no exit
alleyways · driveways · tree-lined · mailboxes · joggers
- Driving TermsGPS, maps, highways, toll roads, backroads
surface streetsfreeways
Toll-absent highways
highways · expressways · interstates · motorways · tunnels
surface, street, surfaces, surfaced, surfacing, resurface, resurfaced, resurfacing, streets