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6/3/2016 Hierarchy of roads - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hierarchy of roads
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The hierarchy of roads categorizes roads according to their functions and capacities. While
sources differ on the exact nomenclature, the basic hierarchy comprises freeways, arterials,
collectors, and local roads.

The related concept of access management aims to provide access to land development, while
ensuring traffic flows freely and safely on surrounding roads.

Contents The hierarchy of roads.

1 United States and Canada


1.1 Freeways
1.2 Arterials
1.3 Collectors
1.4 Local roads
2 Europe
2.1 United Kingdom
2.1.1 Motorway
2.1.2 Primary A-road
2.1.3 Non-primary A-road
2.1.4 B road
2.1.5 C road
2.1.6 Unclassified
2.2 France
2.2.1 Autoroutes
2.2.2 Route Nationale
2.2.3 Routes Dpartementales
2.2.4 Routes Communales
2.3 Hungary
2.4 Romania

3 See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchy_of_roads#Local_roads 1/6
6/3/2016 Hierarchy of roads - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3 See also
4 External links

United States and Canada


Freeways

At the top of the hierarchy are limited access roads freeways or motorways, including most toll roads. These roads provide largely uninterrupted travel,
often using partial or full access control, and are designed for high speeds. Some freeways have collector/distributor lanes (also known as local lanes)
which further reduce the number of access ramps that directly interface with the freeway; rather, the freeway periodically interfaces with these parallel
roadways, which themselves have multiple on and off-ramps. These allow the freeway to operate with less friction at an even higher speed and with
higher flow. Often freeways are included in the next category, arterials.

Arterials

Arterials are major through roads that are expected to carry large volumes of traffic. Arterials are often divided into major and minor arterials, and rural
and urban arterials.

In some places there are large divided roads with few or no driveways that cannot be called freeways because they have occasional at-grade
intersections with traffic lights that stop traffic (expressways in California, dual carriageways in Britain) or they are just too short (superarterials in
Nevada). Such roads are usually classified as arterials.

Frontage roads are often used to reduce the conflict between the high-speed nature of an arterial and property access concerns.

Collectors

Collectors (not to be confused with collector/distributor roads, which reduce weaving on freeways), collect traffic from local roads, and distribute it to
arterials. Traffic using a collector is usually going to or coming from somewhere nearby.

Local roads

At the bottom of the hierarchy are local streets and roads. These roads have the lowest speed limit, and carry low volumes of traffic. In some areas,
these roads may be unpaved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchy_of_roads#Local_roads 2/6
6/3/2016 Hierarchy of roads - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Europe
Most of Europe has adopted Motorways (Autoroutes/Autobahns/Autopistas/Autostrada), usually similar to those in France and the UK. The idea was
originally developed in Germany, where all motorways are toll-free, and has spread widely. All major through routes in the EU and neighbouring
countries have a European E-Road number in addition, or in the case of some countries' motorways, instead of a national number. In the UK these
numbers are not displayed.

Otherwise, most other European countries have some form of differentiating between national routes, regional and inter-regional roads and other local
routes.

United Kingdom

Motorway

Similar to freeways, these high-speed roads are designated with an M prefix or (M) suffix. e.g. M1, A1(M). The speed limit is generally 70 miles per
hour (110 km/h) and there is a hard shoulder, an often slightly narrower lane next to lane 1, which is usually only to be used in cases of an emergency.
Emergency telephones are located every mile along the route so motorists with broken-down vehicles can contact the authorities, although this is
increasingly being done using mobile phones. Signs are blue with white text for both destinations and motorway numbers. In general, junctions are given
numbers which are displayed prominently, sometimes with a letter suffix, in a small black box on all the signs for any given junction. Junctions are
generally signed one mile before they exit, with three or four further signs as the junction is reached, although on busy urban stretches this first warning
can reduce to about mile. Cyclists, pedestrians, mopeds, very slow vehicles and certain other traffic is banned.

Primary A-road

Green on maps and signs. A main recommended route these can be either single carriageway or dual carriageway. The primary road network is fully
connected, meaning you can reach any part from any other without leaving the network. Some of the major dual carriageway primary routes have
numbered junctions or hard shoulders in the style of the Continental semi-motorways. Many Primary Routes are largely or wholly subject to clearway
restrictions, and in major cities they may be classed as red routes. Emergency telephones, if present at all, are usually infrequent - there may be some
additional telephones operated by the UK's two main motoring organisations, the RAC and the AA, but these are becoming rarer.

Non-primary A-road

Often exists where the route is important but there is a nearby primary route (A or motorway) which duplicates this road's function. Shown as red on
maps, and has white signage with black lettering. Some non-Primary A-class roads are partially subject to clearway restrictions.

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B road

Regional in nature and used to connect areas of lesser importance. Usually shown as brown or yellow on maps and have the same white signs as non-
Primary A-Class routes. If the route is primary, like the B6261, then it will be shown the same as a Primary A-Class route.

C road

C roads are used as local authority designations for routes within their area for administrative purposes. These routes are not shown on road maps, but
have occasionally been known to appear on road signs.

Unclassified

Unclassified roads are local roads with no defined destination. Local destinations may, however, be signed along them.

France

Autoroutes

Along with the rest of Europe, France has Motorways or Autoroutes similar to the British network. Unlike in the UK, the network is mostly accessible
on payment of a toll, which is usually distance-dependent; there are generally more Toll (page) Motorways in the South of France. However, sections
passing through or close to major towns and cities are usually free. As in the UK, destinations reached via a motorway are shown with white text on a
blue background. Junctions are usually numbered, the numbers being shown on signs in a small oval in the corner of the sign.

Route Nationale

Before the construction of Autoroutes, the Routes Nationales were the highest classification of road. They are denoted by a route number beginning N,
or occasionally, RN. Going back to a Napoleonic road classification system, these are main roads comparable with British Primary Routes. They are
maintained directly by the state and are usually the shortest route between major centres. Many N-Class roads are dual carriageway for some or all of
their length, with a few also being given the designation of semi-motorway, where junctions are grade-separated and there is a central reservation with
crash barrier. The hard shoulder, or bande d'arrt d'urgence, is often narrower than on full motorways and there are fewer emergency telephones.

Routes Dpartementales

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France (including overseas territory) is split into 100 departments, the second-highest tier of local government, similar to a UK county or US state. The
departments have responsibility for all roads beginning with a letter D, or occasionally RD. These roads vary in quality, from newly built local dual
carriageways and downgraded Routes Nationales to winding roads that are barely wide enough for traffic to pass. Generally, they are quieter than the
Routes Nationales, and of a reasonable standard.

Routes Communales

In general, each settlement in France is a Commune - akin to a British Civil Parish. This most local level of government is responsible for maintaining all
the local roads, which are numbered with a letter C prefix. Except in major towns and cities, where their numbers are usually not marked on signs, they
are usually single-track and may be in a state of poor repair due to the large number of roads covered by populations as small as 10.

Hungary

Hungarian road categories are as follows:

Gyorsforgalmi t (controlled-access highway):


Autplya (motorway): 2+2 travel lanes and 1+1 emergecy lane, central reservation, no at-grade intersections, speed limit: 130km/h
Gyorst (high-speed highway): 2+2 travel lanes, central reservation, few at-grade intersections, speed limit: 110km/h
Autt (expressway): 2+2, 2+1 or 1+1 travel lanes, central reservation, some at-grade intersections, speed limit: 110km/h
Ft (arterial road or main road) (with one digit in their name, e.g.: 6-os t)
Megyei t (County road) (with two digits, e.g.: 16-os t)
Helyi t (local road) (with three or more digits)

etc.

Romania

In Romania the roads are classified as:

Autostrzi (A) - Motorways


Dumuri naionale i europene (DN, E) - National and European roads
Dumuri naionale (DN) - National roads
Dumuri judeene (DJ) - County roads
Dumuri comunale (DC) - Communal roads

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See also
Street hierarchy

External links
FHWA - Functional Classification (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/flex/ch03.htm)

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Categories: Road transport Types of roads

This page was last modified on 13 May 2016, at 23:01.


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