A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places that has been surfaced or otherwise improved to allow travel by foot or some form of conveyance, including a motor vehicle, cart, bicycle, or horse. Roads have been adapted to a large range of structures and types in order to achieve a common goal of transportation under a large and wide range of conditions. The specific purpose, mode of transport, material and location of a road determine the characteristics it must have in order to maximize its usefulness. Following is one classification scheme.
Taxonomy of Road Marohn distinguishes between roads that are designed for mobility which he terms "roads" and those that function to "build a place", build community wealth and provide access to land. He argues the value of a road in terms of both community wealth and mobility is maximised when the road speed is either low or high, but not at midpoints such as 45mph. He refers to this low-value midpoint of speed and land access as a stroad.
Types of roads
Lower capacity roads
Street
Primitive roads
Agricultural road Backroad Dirt road Forest road Gravel road Green lane Historic roads and trails Ice road Roman roads Sunken lane
Large roads
Higher capacity roads Sometimes with medians.
Expressways
The term expressway includes limited-access roads and grade-separated highways.
Private roads
Driveway Gated community Military road Private highway Private road
Intersecting roads
Connector Interchange Intersection Level junction Level crossing Road diet Roundabout
Material type Roads also may be classified based on their pavement material types. For instance, the Long-Term Pavement Performance database includes more than 30 types of pavement types for roads in the US and Canada. However, a more generic classification of roads based on material type is as follows.
Concrete roads Asphalt roads Gravel roads Earthen roads Murrum roads Kankar roads Bituminous roads
Other thoroughfares
Road types by features In this list, roads names are used in different areas and the features of the roads varies. So this table address the differences in that usage when needed. NameCountrysubdivisionAccess typeSpeedCross trafficDividedNotes2+1 roadIrelandHighNoYes2+1 roadNorth AmericaHighNoOptional2+1 roadSwedenJunction (roundabout)HighNoYes2+2 roadHighNoYesType of dual carriagewayAlleyUncontrolledLowYesNoArterial roadHighNoOptionalAutobahn GermanyInterchangeHighNoYesAutocestaInterchangeHighNoYesAutopistaInterchangeHighNoYesAutorouteInterchangeHighNoYesAutorouteCanadaInterchangeHighNoYesexpressway is synonymous with freeway or autoroute depending on the provinceAutostrada ItalyInterchangeHighNoYesAutostrasseInterchangeHighNoYesAutoestradaPortugalInterchangeHighNoYesAvtomagistral (variously translated)RussiaHighYes Designated so according to the communication importance; features varyBoulevardUncontrolledLowYesNoBusiness routeUncontrolledLowYesNoCollector/distributor roadHighNoOptionalCul-de-sacUncontrolledLowYesNoDistributor roadHighNoOptionalDivided highwayHighNoOptionalDrivewayUncontrolledLowYesOptionalDual carriagewayIrelandintersectionHighYesYesDual carriagewaySingaporeintersectionHighYesYesDual carriagewayUKUncontrolledAnyYesYesExpress-collectorHighNoOptionalExpresswayPartialVariesLimitedVariesGeneral definitionExpresswayUSPartialVariesLimitedYesGeneral US definitionSection 1A.13, Paragraph 27, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2003 ed., rev. 1. ExpresswayCanadaInterchangeHighNoYesexpressway is synonymous with freeway or autoroute depending on the provinceFarm-to-market roadUSTexasHighNousually a state highway or county highwayFreewayUSInterchangeHighNoYesFreewayCanadaInterchangeHighNoYesexpressway is synonymous with freeway or autoroute depending on the provinceFrontage roadArgentinaPartialLowYesNoFrontage roadChinaPartialLowYesNoknow locally as service roads or auxiliary roadsFrontage roadUSUncontrolled or PartialLowYesNoCan be one way roads with opposing directions on either side of the adjoining freewayHigh-quality dual carriagewayInterchangeHighNoYesHighwayHighNoOptionalLaneUncontrolledLowYesNoLink roadHighNoOptionalMotorwayInterchangeHighNoYesParkwayHighNoOptionalProvincial roadItalyUncontrolledLowYesNoProvincial roadNetherlandsUncontrolledLowYesNoProvincial roadSouth AfricaUncontrolledLowYesNoProvincial roadTurkeyUncontrolledLowYesNoRegional roadIrelandUncontrolledLowYesNoRegional roadItalyUncontrolledLowYesNoRoadUncontrolledLowYesNoSemi-highwayInterchangeHighNoYesSingle carriagewayUncontrolledLowYesNoStreetUncontrolledLowYesNoSuperhighwayInterchangeHighNoYesSuper twoHighNoOptionalThruwayInterchangeHighNoYesTwo-lane expresswayHighYesNo
Notes Access type Interchange - access limited to grade-separated interchanges Junction (roundabout) - access limited to major roads via a roundabout Partial - Limited access Uncontrolled - no control of access Speed Any - Used in all types of applications Low - Low-speed High - High-Speed Cross traffic Yes- cross traffic allowed at-grade without a traffic light Intersections - at-grade with a traffic signal No - no cross traffic Divided Yes No Some - some sections may be divided
References
External links