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A limited-access road or controlled-access road is a road to which access from adjacent properties is limited in some way. It can mean anything from a city street to which the maintaining authority limits driveway access to a freeway (or other equivalent terms). The precise definition of these terms varies by jurisdiction.

Usage of terms

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Road maps generally use either term to indicate to indicate freeway standards.

In the United States, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) only uses "full control of access" or "partial control of access" (for freeways and "expressways" - roads with some intersections - respectively). Some states use "controlled access" to mean a higher standard than "limited access", while others reverse the two terms.

History

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The concept of limited-access roadways started with the parkway system in the state of New York, circa 1907. The New York State Parkway System was a series of high speed (30 Mph) four-lane roads that were created to provide a scenic way in to, out from, and around New York City. These highways allowed no driveway cuts, but did have intersections for most of the streets they crossed. They also provided rest areas along the way that offered fuel and restrooms. The road ways were typically divided by a wide landscaped median.

The concept evolved into uninterrupted arterial roads that are commonly known as expressways, motorways, or parkways, among other names both in the US and other countries.

Variants

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A controlled-access highway is usually a step up from a limited-access highway. These usually feature grade-separated interchanges and frontage roads with ramp access.

When toll booths are placed along the road, they are called toll roads, tollways, or turnpikes, among other names both in the US and other countries.

Dual carriageways (or divided highways) with long intervals between at-grade intersections and no private access may also meet the criteria of being "controlled-access." Such roads may also be called expressways.

One such example is the "Marquette Bypass" on U.S. Route 41 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The bypass is a expressway in terms of signage, although it has traffic lights at the junctions.

See also

• Autobahn
• Autoroute
• Freeway
• Expressway
• Highway
• Motorway
• RIRO Expressway
• Super two

References

1. Environment Waikato Regional Council, Definition of Terms: "Limited access road for the purposes of this Strategy (section 5.6.3) is a local road occupied by a district/city council, where the number of accesses onto that road from properties is limited, due to road safety and visibility reasons."
2. Elko Traffic Code: "'Controlled access highway' means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway."
3. Jacksonville Transportation Authority - Rapid Transit Studies - Glossary: "Limited Access - Roadways with access limited to specific points (interchanges) with arterial or other limited access roadways."
4. ^ Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Section 1A.13 Definitions of Words and Phrases in This Manual: "Expressway—a divided highway with partial control of access." and "Freeway—a divided highway with full control of access."
5. Gousha 1996 U.S. - Canada - Mexico defines "controlled access highways": "These divided super-highways have no cross traffic, and entrance or exit is permitted only at interchanges."
6. American Automobile Association 1993 U.S. - Canada - Mexico uses "controlled access", split into "multi-lane divided" and "2 & 3 lane undivided"
7. Rand McNally 1991 U.S. - Canada - Mexico uses "limited-access highways"
8. National Geographic (GeoSystems Global Corporation) 1999 U.S. - Canada - Mexico uses "controlled access highways"
9. 1994 DeLorme North America uses "limited access"
10. Florida Department of Transportation, Florida's Planning Level of Service StandardsTemplate:PDFlink: "Limited access highways (freeways) are multilane divided highways having a minimum of two lanes for exclusive use of traffic in each direction and full control of ingress and egress; this includes freeways and all fully controlled access roadways."; "Controlled access highways are non-limited access arterial facilities where access connections, median openings and traffic signals are highly regulated."
11. http://www.nycroads.com/roads/bronx-river/
12. Jacksonville Transportation Authority - Rapid Transit Studies - Glossary: "Limited Access - Roadways with access limited to specific points (interchanges) with arterial or other limited access roadways."
13. Elko Traffic Code: "'Controlled access highway' means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway."
14. Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act; R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER P.50
15. A8 Dual Carriageway
16. Upgrading the Pacific Highway, Route Options Development Report Class A projects, which are also designed to 110 km/h standard, but generally signposted at 100 km/h. These are designed as controlled access roads, with direct access from local roads at limited locations, and interchanges with major roads where traffic demand justifies the cost.
17. Michigan Highways 40 through 49 The route is a partially-limited access expressway, with access only at select crossroads.

• Limited-access roads