Highway
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[[Image:Indiana-rural-road.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A rural highway in the [[United States of America]].]]
[[Image:Pan-American Highway-Mancora, Peru.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Pan-American Highway]], in the [[Peru]]vian town of [[Máncora]], where it serves as the [[main street]].]]
[[Image:PL A2 Poznan Komorniki.JPG|thumb|right|200px| The A2 in [[Poland]].]]
[[Image:Sun Yat-sen Freeway (0201).JPG|thumb|right|200px| The Yat-sen Freeway in [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]].]]
[[Image:Tokyo EXP way.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Metropolitan Expressway in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]].]]
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Linha_amarela.jpg|thumb|right|Linha Amerela is a highway of [[Rio de Janeiro]].]] -->
'''Highway''' is a term commonly used to designate major roads intended for travel by the [[public]] between important destinations, such as [[city|cities]]. The term highway can also be varied country-to-country, and can be referred to as a '''[[road]]''', '''[[freeway]]''', '''superhighway''', '''[[autoroute]]''', '''[[autobahn]]''', '''[[parkway]]''', '''[[expressway]]''', '''[[autostrasse]]''', '''[[autostrada]]''', '''[[Byway (road)|byway]]''', '''[[auto-estrada]]''', '''[[Expressways of Japan|kōsokudōro]]''', or '''[[motorway]]'''.
The first road of this type was opened on [[September 21]], [[1924]], in [[Italy]], and connected [[Milan]] with [[Como]] and [[Lake Como]]; it was 42.6 km long. Now it is officially designed as [[A9 Motorway|Autostrada A9 Milano-Laghi]].
Highway designs vary widely. They can include some characteristics of grade separations, multiple [[lane]]s of [[traffic]], a median between lanes of opposing traffic, and access control ([[Highway ramp|ramp]]s and [[grade separation]]). Highways can also be as simple as a two-lane, shoulderless road.
The [[United States]] has the largest network of highways, including [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate highways]] and [[United States Numbered Highways]]. This network is present in every state and connects all major cities. The [[Expressways of China|Expressway Network of the People's Republic of China]], also known as National Trunk Highway System (NTHS) has a total length of about 53,600 km at the end of 2007, which is the world's second longest only after the [[Interstate Highway|United States]].
According to world views, the characteristics of a highway can differ. For example, in the [[United States of America]]'s state of [[California]], civil code 360(590) defines that a highway refers to "any way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel." Streets, avenues and even one lane dirt roads are therefore considered highways within the state of California, so long as they are maintained by the state. Multi-lane, high-speed roadways with restricted access are called [[freeway]]s according to California's civil code, whereby all freeways are highways but not all highways are freeways. In other jurisdictions, such as the [[Canadian]] province of [[Ontario]], '''all''' public roadways are legally defined as a highway, regardless of its ownership.
Some highways, like the [[Pan-American Highway]] or the [[European route]]s, bridge multiple countries. [[Australia]]'s [[Highway 1 (Australia)|Highway 1]] is the longest national highway in the world at over {{convert|20000|km|mi|sigfig=2|sp=on|abbr=on}} and runs almost the entire way around the country.
Highways are not always continuous stretches of pavement. For example, some highways are interrupted by bodies of water, and [[ferry]] routes may serve as sections of the highway.
==Quick facts==
[[Image:Autoroute F.svg|thumb|right|150px|An International freeway sign, found mainly in Europe denoting the start of special motorway restrictions to a section of highway.]]
*'''Longest international highway:''' the [[Pan-American Highway]], which connects many countries in the [[Americas]], is nearly {{Convert|48000|km|mi|0}} long [[as of 2005]].
*'''Longest national highway:''' [[Australia]]'s [[Highway 1 (Australia)|Highway 1]] at over 20,000 km (12,427 mi). It runs almost the entire way around the country’s coastline. With the exception of Canberra (which is inland) it links all the capital cities, although Brisbane and Darwin are not directly connected. Also the route links all the major towns and cities of the island state of Tasmania, Burnie, Devonport, Launceston and Hobart (the state’s capital).
*'''Longest national highway (Point to point):''' The [[Trans-Canada Highway]] (Known as TCH 1 in western [[Canada]]) is 7,821 km (4,857 mi) long [[as of 2006]]. It runs across southern Canada and connects with several major urban centres along its longitudinal route.<ref name=Canada>{{cite web | url=http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-678/politics_economy/trans_canada/ | title=Trans-Canada Highway: Bridging the Distance | accessdate=2006-12-20 | date=[[6 August]] [[2002]] | author=CBC Archives }}</ref>
*'''Largest national highway system:''' The [[United States of America]] has approximately {{Convert|6430366|km|mi|0}} of highway within its borders [[as of 2005]].
*'''Busiest highway:''' [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]] in [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], has volumes surpassing an average of 500,000 vehicles per day in some sections of [[Toronto]] [[as of 2006]].<ref name=Ontario>{{cite web | title=Ontario government investing $401 million to upgrade Highway 401 | url=http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2002/08/06/c0057.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html | accessdate=2006-12-20 | date=[[6 August]] [[2002]] | author=Ministry of Transportation (Ontario) }}</ref><ref name=Highway>{{cite web
| url = http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3459
| title = GTA Economy Dinged by Every Crash on the 401 - North America's Busiest Freeway
| author = Brian Gray
| publisher = ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', transcribed at Urban Planet
| date = [[2004-04-10]]
| accessdate = 2007-03-18
| quote = The "phenomenal" number of vehicles on Hwy. 401 as it cuts through Toronto makes it the busiest freeway in North America...
}}</ref>
*'''Widest highway (maximum number of lanes):''' The [[Katy Freeway]] (part of [[Interstate 10]]) in [[Houston]], [[Texas]], [[United States of America]], has a total of 26 lanes in some sections [[as of 2007]]. However, they are divided up into general use/[[frontage road]]s/[[HOV lane]]s, restricting traffic flow.
*'''Widest highway (number of maximum through lanes):''' [[Highway 401]] through [[Mississauga, Ontario]] has the most unrestricted free-flow lanes, at 18 (22 including restricted) [[as of 2006]].
==Nomenclature ==
The terms used for various types of highways (such as [[autobahn]], [[autoroute]], [[expressway]], [[freeway]] and [[motorway]]) vary between countries or even regions within a country. In some places a ''highway'' is a specific type of major road that is distinct from ''freeway'' or ''expressway''; in other places the terms may overlap. In law, ''highway'' may mean any public road or canal. However, in some countries, the term ''highway'' is not generally used at all.
==List of countries with freeways==
{{incomplete-list}}
===Australia===
[[Image:City-link-tulla-toll-gantries.jpg|thumb|right|300px||The [[Tullamarine Freeway]]/Tollway in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] showing toll gantries.]]
{{main|Highways in Australia}}
In [[Australia]], a ''highway'' is a distinct type of road from [[freeway]]s, [[expressway]]s and [[motorways]]. The word ''highway'' is generally used to mean major roads connecting large cities, towns and different parts of [[metropolitan area]]s. Metropolitan highways often have traffic lights at intersections, and rural highways usually have only one lane in each direction. The words ''freeway'', ''expressway'' or ''motorway'' are generally reserved for the most arterial routes, usually with grade-separated intersections and usually significantly straightened and widened to a minimum of four lanes. The term ''[[motorway]]'' is used in some Australian cities to refer to [[freeways]] that have been allocated a metropolitan route number, and in [[Sydney]], a ''motorway'' has a toll, whereas a ''[[freeway]]'' is free of charge. On the [[Hume Highway]] when traveling from [[Melbourne]] to [[Sydney]] there is only one set of traffic signals, found in [[Holbrook, New South Wales|Holbrook]]. Roads may be part-highway and part-freeway until they are fully upgraded. The Cahill expressway is the only "named" expressway in [[New South Wales]], which opened in 1954 the first in [[New South Wales]] .
=== Bosnia and Herzegovina ===
{{see also|Corridor Vc}}
As for [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], the Pan-European [[Corridor Vc]] Motorway, [[Budapest]] - [[Osijek]] - [[Sarajevo]] - [[Ploce]], is one of the most significant and project of the highest priority. The construction works on the road have already begun, but intensified beginning of the construction will be a key starter of economic and social activities, and will enable [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] to be connected to main European traffic network, as well as to global European economic and social structure.
Construction of the [[motorway]], whose total length is ''340 km'', will provide: rational connecting to neighboring countries and regions; stabilizing and developing effects will be reached; transport conditions and quality of life improvement; economy competitiveness enhancement; new projects launched and national and international private investments enhancement.
=== Brazil ===
{{see also|List of Brazilian Highways}}
[[Image:Vistadarodoviaimigrantes2.JPG|thumb|right|350px||<center>The [[SP-160]], known as Rodovia dos Imigrantes, in southeastern [[Brazil]].]]
In [[Brazil]], highways (or [[expressway]]/[[freeway]]) are named "[[rodovia]]", and Brazilian highways are divided in two types: regional highways (generally of less importance and entirely inside of one state) and national highways (of major importance to the country). In Brazil, rodovia is the name given exclusively to roads connecting two or more cities with a sizable distance separating the extremes of the highway. Urban highways for commuting are uncommon in Brazil, and when they are present, they receive different names, depending of the region (Avenida, Marginal, Linha, Via, Eixo, etc). Very rarely names other than "rodovia" are used.
Regional highways are named YY-XXX, where YY is the abbreviation of the state where the highway is running in and XXX is a number (e.g. SP-280; where SP means that the highway is running entirely in the state of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]).
National highways are named BR-XXX. National highways connects multiples states altogether, are of major importance to the national [[Economic system|economy]] and/or connects Brazil to another country. The meaning of the numbers are:
*001-100 - it means that the highway runs radially from [[Brasília]]. It is an exception to the cases below.
*101-200 - it means that the highway runs in a south-north way.
*201-300 - it means that the highway runs in a west-east way
*301-400 - it means that the highway runs in a diagonal way (northwest-southeast, for example)
*400-499 - another exception, they are less important highways and its function is to connect a city to an arterial highway nearby
Often, Brazilian highways receive names (famous people, etc) their YY/BR-XXX designation (example: SP-280 is also known as Rodovia Castelo Branco).
===Canada===
[[Image:401atDVP.jpg|thumb|350px|right|[[Highway 401]]: One of the world's busiest highways,<ref name=Ontario/><ref name=Highway/> showing its 14-lane [[collector-express]] system through [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].]]
*In [[Canada]], there is no national standard for nomenclature, although in non-technical contexts ''highway'' appears to be most popular in most areas. The general speed limits on most Canadian highways range between {{convert|80|and|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on two-lane highways, and between {{convert|90|and|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on multi-lane, divided highways.
**For a country of its size, it has relatively few extensive highway networks, with the majority of freeways and freeway networks being in [[eastern Canada]], linking [[southern Ontario]] and Quebec with [[Nova Scotia]] and [[New Brunswick]]. This makes the existing networks extremely well traveled, especially in the country's south, requiring these routes to be well maintained and wide enough to accommodate the volume they carry to prevent the economical problems resulting from [[traffic congestion]] and safe enough to minimize vehicle accidents.
*In [[Ontario]], all public roads are legally defined as ''highways'', though [[List of Ontario provincial highways|provincially managed roads]] are known legally as the ''King's Highways''. In day-to-day usage, the term ''highway'' is used for provincial routes. It is also common for surface routes to be referred to by the phrase ''number'' (e.g. "Take ''[[Highway 10 (Ontario)| Number 10]]'' from [[Mississauga, Ontario|Mississauga]] to [[Owen Sound, Ontario|Owen Sound]]"), especially by older generations. The words ''freeway'' or ''expressway'' are sometimes used to refer to [[controlled-access]], high-speed, grade-separated highways such as the [[400-series highways]], the [[Conestoga Parkway]], the [[Don Valley Parkway]], or the [[E.C. Row Expressway]]. The only highway officially labeled as a freeway is the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway, usually known as [[Highway 401 (Ontario)|Highway 401]], or simply "the 401", which is North America's busiest highway.<ref name=Ontario/><ref name=Highway/> Nearly all highways in [[Ontario]] use [[parclo interchange]]s, which were developed by the province. Parclos are able to avoid weaving, but maximize efficiency and safety.
* In [[Quebec]], major highways are called ''[[autoroute]]s'' in French, and ''[[expressway]]s'' or ''[[autoroute]]s'' in English.
* [[Nova Scotia]] numbers its highways by the routes they parallel, for example, [[Nova Scotia Highway 107|Highway 107]] parallels Trunk 7. This, to a lesser extent, also applies in Ontario (e.g. [[Highway 410 (Ontario)|Highway 410]] and [[Highway 420 (Ontario)|Highway 420]] parallel [[Highway 10 (Ontario)|Highway 10]] and [[Highway 20 (Ontario)|Highway 20]].) Nova Scotia also numbers their highways according to usage: main arterial highways are in the 100s, secondary or old arterial highways are numbered in the double digits from 1 to 28, and [[collector road]]s are numbered in the triple digits starting at 200.
*The [[Trans-Canada Highway]], the highway that crosses the entire country and enters all ten provinces. It ranges from a wilderness two-lane highway to a multi-lane urban superhighway. There are three ferry routes along the Trans-Canada Highway, allowing the route to connect to [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], [[Prince Edward Island]] and [[Vancouver Island]], although the [[Confederation Bridge]] allows ferry-less passage to Prince Edward Island. Since the Trans-Canada Highway is not a divided route for the majority of its length, it is considered more of an equivalent to the [[U.S. route]] network in the neighbouring [[United States]], with Ontario's 400-series, Quebec's autoroutes, New Brunswick's portion of the Trans-Canada Highway, and Nova Scotia's 100-series highways being inter-connected provincial equivalents to the United States' [[Interstate Highway System]].
===Chile===
{{see also|Highways of Chile}}
Chile has a large Highway coverage which connects the whole country but with the exception of the Magallanes Region.
===China, People's Republic===
{{see also|Expressways of China}}
[[Image:Central Jingshi Expressway9.jpg|thumb|right|250px|National Highway G030 northbound in [[PRC|mainland China]].]]
"Highways" in [[People's Republic of China|China]], more often than not, refer to [[China National Highway]]s. The fully [[controlled-access]], multi-lane, central-separation routes are instead called [[Expressways of China|expressways]]. [[As of 2005]], there were 1.55 million km of highways and 42,000 km of expressways in China; both total lengths are second only to the United States.
In [[Mainland China]], private companies reimbursed through [[Toll road|toll]]s are the primary means of creating and financing the [[National Trunk Highway System]] (NTHS).
Expressways are lumped with first-grade G-prefixed ''guodaos'' (国道, or "national highway") or A-prefixed first-grade expressways in major municipal cities. All roads in the NTHS and most A-prefixed roads are expressways.
* M-prefix: National (Trunk) Expressways (planned)
* G-prefix: National highways (typically expressways)
* A-prefix: Municipal highways (typically expressways)
* S-prefix: Provincial highways
* X-prefix: County highways
* Y-prefix: Rural roads
* Z-prefix: Special use roads (e.g., airport expressways)
Some highways are numbered with a leading zero (e.g. G030).
The term ''Freeway'' during the 1990s was used on a few expressways (such as the [[Jingshi Expressway|Jingshi Freeway]]). The term ''freeway'' has since been replaced with ''expressway'' on all signs in China. The Chinese name for expressways is uniform; in pinyin, it is ''gaosu gonglu'', which literally means "high speed [[public road]]".
Signs on the National Highways (G-prefix) are green, while on the lower-grade highways and urban expressways (A-prefix) are blue.
====Hong Kong====
In [[Hong Kong]], the type of high speed roads is referred to as ''expressway'', but some are named as ''highways'' or ''roads'' ('Yuen Long Highway', 'Tolo Highway', 'Tsuen Wan Road', 'Tuen Mun Road', etc.). Some others are named ''corridors'' and ''bypasses''.
=== Croatia ===
{{main|Highways in Croatia}}
Croatia has 9 highways and 3 expressways. The earliest highway in Croatia was built in 1971.
=== Costa Rica ===
{{main|Freeways in Costa Rica}}
[[Costa Rica]] have more than 5 main highway. The most important is the [[Pan-American Highway]] (Route 1 and Route 2), known locally as "Interamericana", that communicate Nicaragua and Panama. San José is on the middle of the [[Pan-American Highway]], and such cities as San Pedro and Curridabat have it as the main street. Other important highway in Costa Rica is the [[Paseo de la Segunda República]], that link Guadalupe with La Uruca, crossing Sabanilla, San Pedro, Zapote, Desamparados, San Sebastian, Alajuelita, Hatillos, Santa Ana and Escazú; without passing the downtown of San José. Now, Costa Rican government is improving this highway by the construction of tunnels or bridges.
=== France ===
[[Image:French Autoroute.jpg|thumb|left|A French [[Autoroute]], a highway built to high standards.]]
France has a national highway system dating back to [[Louis XV]] (see [[Corps of Bridges and Roads (France)|Corps of ''Ponts et Chaussées'']]). The ''chaussées'' constructed at this time, radiating out from Paris, form the basis for the "routes nationales" (RN), whose red numbers differ from the yellow numbering used for secondary "routes departementales". The RNs numbered from 1 to 20 radiate from Paris to major ports or border crossings. More recently (after the Second World War), France has constructed [[Autoroute]]s, superhighways (usually [[Toll road|toll]]) with a speed limit of 130 km/h (110 in rainy conditions or urban areas).
===Germany===
[[Image:German Autobahn 1936 1939.jpg|thumb|<center>|A German [[Autobahn]], built in the 1930s, inspired how modern highways are designed to this day all around the world]]
{{main|Autobahns of Germany}}
Aside from highways bearing the [[Autobahn]] designation, Germany has many two- and four-lane roads. Federal highways not known as autobahns are called ''Bundesstraßen'' (''Bundesstrassen'') and, while usually two-lane roads, they may also be four-lane, [[limited-access]] expressways of local or regional importance. Unlike the Autobahns, though, ''Bundesstraßen'' (marked by black numbers on a yellow background) mostly have speed limits (usually 100 km/h, but occasionally higher on limited-access segments, and lower in urban areas or near intersections).
=== India ===
[[Image:Near Kamshet 2 tunnel on Mumbai Pune Expressway.JPG|thumb|200px|The [[Mumbai-Pune Expressway]] in [[India]]]]
{{main|Indian highways}}
In [[India]], 'Highway' refers to one of the many ''National Highways'' that run up to a total length of about 67,000 km consisting mostly of 2 lane paved roads, changing into higher lanes mostly within cities. An [[expressway]] refers to any elevated road with grade-separated intersections. [[As of 2005]], there were about 200 km of expressways in India. The NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) has put all the highway and expressway projects on the fast track and by 2010 plans to cover every corner of India through the highway system. Highways in India are designated as NH followed by the number.
The four major cities in India- [[Mumbai]], [[Chennai]], [[Kolkota]], and [[Delhi]]- are now connected by the [[Golden Quadrilateral]]. A system roughly shaped in a diamond form that consists of 4 to 6 laned roads.
=== Ireland ===
The [[Republic of Ireland]] has a similar system to the [[#United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] except that its major roads are classed as [[Roads in Ireland#National Primary Routes|'N' road]] or [[Roads in Ireland#Other roads|'R' road]] rather than [[British road numbering scheme|'A' road/'B' road]] as in the UK.
=== Italy ===
[[Image:Reggio calabria innesto raccordo ra04 su autostrada a3.jpg|thumb|250px|The A3 in [[Italy]].]]
In Italy the term ''highway'' can be applied to ''superstrada'' (can be translated as [[expressway]]) and [[autostrada]] (Italian term for [[motorway]]): this country was the first one in the world to build such roads.
=== Japan ===
[[Image:Hokkaido Expwy near Eniwa.jpg|thumb|The [[Hokkaidō Expressway]] in Japan.]]
{{main|Expressways of Japan}}
The expressways, or ''kōsokudōro'' (high speed roads), of Japan are made of a huge network of freeway-standard toll roads. Once government-owned, they have been a turned over to private companies. Most expressways are four lanes with a [[central reservation]], or median. The speed limits, with certain regulations and great flexibility, usually include a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and a minimum speed of 50 km/h. There are also expresways not able to classified as national or urban expressways.
=== Malaysia ===
{{main|Malaysian expressway system}}
[[Image:NorthSouth-Expressway.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Southern route|South section]] of [[North-South Expressway, Malaysia|North-South Expressway]] in [[Malaysia]], facing towards [[Kuala Lumpur]].]]
The highest level of major roads in [[Malaysia]], ''[[Malaysian expressway system|expressway (lebuhraya)]]'', has full access control, grade separated junctions, and mostly tolled. The expressways link the major state capitals in [[Peninsular Malaysia]] and major cities in [[Klang Valley]].
''Highway'' is lower level with limited access control, some at-grade junctions or [[roundabouts]], and generally with 2 lanes in each separated direction. These are generally untolled and funded by the federal government, hence the first one is called [[Federal Highway, Malaysia|Federal Highway]] linking [[Klang]] and [[Kuala Lumpur]].
The trunk roads linking major cities and towns in the country are called ''federal trunk roads'', and are generally 2 lanes single carriageway roads, in places with a third climbing lane for slow lorries.
=== New Zealand ===
[[Image:Auckland State Highway One.jpg|thumb|200px|left|State Highway 1 in South Auckland.]]
{{main|New Zealand State Highway network}}
In [[New Zealand]], both ''[[motorway]]'' and an ''[[expressway]]'' have at least two-lanes of traffic in either direction separated by a median, with no access to adjacent properties. The distinction depends on the type of traffic allowed to use the route. Non-vehicular traffic and farm-equipment are prohibited from motorways, while pedestrians, cyclists, tractors, and farm animals are legally entited to use expressways such as the Waikato Expressway south of the Bombay Hills and the Tauranga expressway system, although this is rare. New Zealand's main routes are designated ''state highways'' as they are funded by the National Government. [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|State Highway 1]] is the only route to run through both the North and South Islands, and runs (in order north-south) from [[Cape Reinga]] to [[Wellington]] in the [[North Island]], and from [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] to [[Bluff, New Zealand|Bluff]] in the [[South Island]]. State Highways 2-5 are main routes in the North Island, State Highways 6-9 in the South Island, and state highways numbered from 10 onwards are generally found in numerical order from north to south. State highways usually incorporate different standards of roads, for example, State Highway 1 from [[Auckland]] to [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]] incorporates the Northern and Southern Motorways in the Auckland area, the Waikato Expressway, and a rural road before passing through the streets of Hamilton. The term ''freeway'' is rarely used relating to New Zealand roads, and can only be considered an [[Americanism]].
===The Netherlands===
The [[List of highways in the Netherlands|Autosnelweg]] system is in constant development. Most of its parts are owned and funded by the government but in recent times [[Public-private partnership]] come more and more into fashion, like a part of the A59 between [[Oss]] and [['s-Hertogenbosch]]. The Netherlands has the highest density highway network of [[Europe]] at 56.5 [[Kilometre|km]] per 1000 km², followed by [[Belgium]]. The 'Autosnelwegen', the main corridors, are designated with and A while the minor connecting roads have an N number. Sections of the A network are also part of the [[International E-road network]] in connecting with neighboring [[Belgium]], [[Germany]] and [[England]], the latter by [[ferry]]. The speed limit is 120 km/h unless noted otherwise so mostly 100 km/h in urban areas and 80 km/h in inner cities. This is done to protect the environment and limit noise to surrounding residential areas albeit to not effective. At this lower speed there is more congestion resulting in more noise instead of less.
===Pakistan===
[[Image:Faizabad Interchange.jpeg|thumb|250px|Faizabad interchange: Gateway to the capital city, [[Islamabad]] ([[Pakistan]])]]
Pakistan has its own network of highways and motorways. Motorways extending from M1 to M10 will eventually connect whole length of the country from Peshawar to Karachi. The first motorway, the M2 was built in 1997 with the contract being awarded to the [[Korea]]n firm [[Daewoo]]. It linked the federal capital [[Islamabad]] with [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]'s provincial capital [[Lahore]]. The network was then extended to [[Sargodha]] and then to [[Faisalabad]] with the M3. M1 highway to the [[North-West Frontier Province]]'s capital [[Peshawar]] had been completed in October 2007. M4, M5, M6 and M7 have been planned and also being built by local and foreign firms. This will connect Faisalababd, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rotadero (Larkana) to Karachi. N5 links [[Karachi]] to other cities.
Entry on all Pakistan highways is restricted to fast moving wheelers only. Slow-moving traffic and two wheelers (such as motorcycles and bicycles) are not allowed and construction and agricultural machinery is also restricted. Highway Police personnel use heavy motor bikes and fast moving Range Rovers for patrolling and are quite good at maintaining the traffic system. M9 and M10 are also functional now that connect Karachi to Hayderabad. The LSM (Lahore Sialkot Motorway) which is 103 km is under construction and will be completed by 2010.
===Philippines===
[[Image:DSC06311.jpg|thumb|right|250px|North Luzon Expressway in [[Philippines]].]]
Many Philippine [[expressways]] are privately owned and maintained. All are located in the largest island, [[Luzon]]. They follow the [[US Interstate Highway]] Standards and speed limits are strictly enforced. The most modern and the longest expressway, the [[North Luzon Expressway]] links the capital, Manila to other provinces in Northern Luzon while the [[South Luzon Expressway]] links Manila with provinces on the Southern Luzon.
Presently, all Philippine expressways are under rehabilitation to decrease the occurrence of traffic jams and to improve their quality. They are widened and improved of standards.
[[Image:Cityland.jpg|thumb|left|250px|South Luzon Expressway (Skyway segment) in the [[Philippines]].]]
There are only six tollways in Luzon island, the North Luzon Expressway (connecting Manila to North Luzon), the South Luzon Expressway (connecting Manila to the rest of the Philippines), the Roman Expressway (in Bataan peninsula), Tipo Expressway (connecting Subic Freeport to Dinalupihan), the Southern Tagalog Access Road (STAR Tollway) (connecting Sto. Tomas to Lipa), and the Manila-Cavite Expressway, connecting Metro Manila with the Province of Cavite.
Despite that many highways in Metro Manila, there are still two lane and one way roads like national and provincial roads around the country.
===Portugal===
SCUTs (Sem Custo para o UTilizador, meaning in English no cost for drivers)are the freeways in the continental Portugal.
The VR1-1a and the VR3-1a are the two major freeways of the Azores located on the island of São Miguel. The VR1-1a starts at the John Paul II International Airport and drives east to the Ponta Delgada Roundabout where it diverts into two separate freeways (VR1-1a and VR3-1a) connecting the city to the north and central regions of the island. Maximum speed of 110. 120 in some regions further from Ponta Delgada and 90 from the Ponta Delgada Roundabout until the airport (the oldest strip of the freeway)
The oldest part of the freeway (constructed mid 90s) lacks in many common safety features such as shoulders and exits / entrances that have a yield sign rather than a separate lane to allow traffic to speed up or calm down.
===Singapore===
[[Image:Bukit Timah Expressway.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Bukit Timah Expressway in [[Singapore]].]]
{{see also|Expressways of Singapore}}
The expressways of Singapore are all dual carriageways with grade-separated access. They usually have three lanes in each direction, although there are two- or four-lane carriageways in some places. There are nine expressways, with another one, the [[Marina Coastal Expressway]], currently under construction.
Construction on the first expressway, the [[Pan Island Expressway]], started in 1966. The other expressways were completed in stages, with the first phase of the [[Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway]] being the most recently completed, in 2007. Today, there are 92.5 [[mile]]s (148[[km]]) of expressways in Singapore.
===South Africa===
Colloquially, the terms "freeway", "highway", and "motorway" are used synonymously. There are very few references to the term "expressway" in South Africa. A freeway, highway or motorway refers to a divided [[dual carriageway]] with [[limited access]], and at least two lanes in either direction. A central island, usually either with drainage, foliage or high-impact barriers, provides a visible separation between carriageways in opposite directions. As with the UK,Ireland & Australia, South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road and all steering wheels are on the right-hand side of vehicles.
Freeways are designated with one of three labels: N (in reference to national roads), R (short for "route", in reference to provincial roads), and M (in reference to metropolitan roads). This has more to do with the location of a road and its function than anything else. In addition, "N" roads usually run the length of the country over long distances, "R" roads usually inter-connect cities and towns within a province, and "M" roads carry heavy traffic in metropolitan areas. Route markings also determine who paid for the road: "N" was paid for by national government, "R" by provincial government and "M" by local government. In recent years, some "R" roads have been re-designated as "N" roads, so that control and funding comes from the South African National Roads Agency.
=== Spain ===
[[Image:A7 algeciras.jpg|thumb|250px|An older [[Spain|Spanish]] highway.]]
[[Spain]]'s national highway system dates back to the era of [[King Carlos III]]. The roads built at this time, radiating from [[Madrid]], form the basis for the ''carreteras nacionales radiales'', numbered clockwise from I to VI, which radiate from [[Madrid]] to major ports or border crossings. In the 1960s [[Spain]] constructed ''autopistas'' (toll highways) and ''autovias'', and nowadays (2005) has 15,000 km of highways.
===Switzerland===
{{see also|Autobahns of Switzerland}}
The term ''[[Autobahn]]'' ([[German Language|German]]) / ''[[Autoroute]]'' ([[French Language|French]]) / ''[[Autostrada]]'' ([[Italian Language|Italian]]) is used for normal expressways where there is a central physical structure separating two different directional carriageways. This is often translated into English as ''motorway''.
In express routes where there is no central physical structure separating two different directional carriageways, but crossings are still motorway-like otherwise, and traffic lights are not present, the road is instead called an ''Autostrasse'' / ''Semi-autoroute'' / ''Semi-autostrada'', translated into English as a ''motorroad''. Those often have a lower speed limit than motorways.
===Turkey===
{{see also|List of highways in Turkey}}
Turkey's main highway is E80 (former E5) runs from [[Edirne]] to the capital [[Ankara]].
===United Kingdom ===
[[Image:203101 e981ef80.jpg|right|thumb|260px|The [[A2 road|A2, United Kingdom]], an example of a non-motorway 'A Road' main road.]]
[[Image:M1 motorway (England).jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[M1 motorway|M1]], a [[motorway]] in the [[United Kingdom]].]]
{{See also|Rights of way in the United Kingdom}}
In the [[United Kingdom]], unless a route is classified as a [[motorway]], the term used may be ''[[main road]]'', ''[[trunk road]]'', ''[[British road numbering scheme|'A' road/'B' road]]'', or, where appropriate, ''[[dual carriageway]]''. In the law of [[England and Wales]] the term ''highway'' covers rights of way open to all traffic (as opposed to a [[Rights of way in England and Wales|footpath]] for [[pedestrians]] or a bridleway for those users plus [[equestrians]]), to a byway open for all traffic (for all the aforementioned users, plus any motorised user), to unclassified county roads, classified roads, trunk roads, motorways and special roads. In British law, there is no definition of "road", and generally the most common usage refers to:
*"[[Carriageway]]",
*"Footpath",
*"Bridleway" or
*"[[Byway (road)|Byway]]"
In England and Wales the public are said to have a "right of way" over a Highway. This means that, subject to statutory restrictions, the route must be kept clear to allow travel by anyone who wishes to it. At common law, it is forbidden to obstruct a highway or interfere with passage. However, many statutory provisions provide powers to do so (for instance to carry out road works). Rights of way exist both over roads maintained at the public expense (the majority of roads) and over some roads on private property. In this case, the owner must allow passage over the highway. A right of way may be created by custom (i.e. the road has been used for a long period of time) or under the relevant positions of the Highways Act 1980. A right of way may by only be extinguished or diverted by or under an Act of Parliament. For instance, under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 authority is given for the builder of the rail link to stop up certain highways mentioned in Schedule 3 of the act.
The contrast to a Highway is a private road over which no right of way exists. Travel on a private road is subject to the consent of the owner of the land.
===United States===
[[Image:Atlanta 75.85.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Interstate 75/85]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], is a typical urban [[freeway]] in [[The United States of America]].]]
In the United States, "highway" is a general term for denoting a public way, including the entire area within the right-of-way, and includes many forms:
#a high-speed, [[limited-access road]] like [[expressway]]s and [[freeway]]s.
#an important road that connects cities.
#any road at all
Many highways are part of the official [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]].
The familiarity of the [[Interstate Highway]] system implies "highway" describes any [[freeway]], regardless of whether it is part of the Interstate Highway system.
However, the [[United States Numbered Highways]] system, which predates Interstate Highways, can vary from 2 lanes (1 lane each direction), shoulderless, paved roads with no access control to roads built to the same standards as Interstate Highways. These roads are usually distinguished by being important, but not always primary, routes that connect populated areas.
"Highway" even includes roads that serve similar purposes to United States numbered highways but which are numbered and maintained by state or local governments.
In some places, "highway" is a synonym for "road" or "street". For example, California Motor Vehicle Code § 360 states: "'Highway' is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street."
Today, many of the highways in the [[United States of America]] are made of concrete and use outdated [[freeway interchange]]s. The government is trying to improve its national roadway system by repaving highways and reconstructing various interchanges. Many [[cloverleaf interchange]]s are being converted to [[parclo interchange]]s, based on the well-received Canadian [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)]]'s models or other variations. Busy [[Diamond interchange]]s are also being converted to [[SPUI]]s (single-point-urban interchange) or [[parclo]]s to reduce congestion.
Arguably, the most famous United States highway is [[Route 66]]. It is immortalized in the song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66." Other famous highways of song include Carefree Highway in Arizona (Gordon Lightfoot, 1974), Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California (Jan & Dean, also Beach Boys, 1964), Ventura Highway in California (America, 1972), and Blues Highway in Mississippi (Fred McDowell, 1959).
===Zimbabwe===
Zimbabwe uses 2 types of highway. These are called: Autofamba and Autoruwendo. Zimbabwe has an excellent road network, but it is poorly maintained.
==Social and environmental effects of highways==
{{Refimprovesect|date=February 2008}}
[[Image:Alessandria-L'autostrada A-26-tratto appenninico.jpg|A 6-lane [[Italy|Italian]] highway entering a tunnel in the [[Appennines]].|thumb|right|250px]]
By reducing travel times relative to arterial streets, highways have a positive effect upon balance of leisure or productive time through reduced commute and other travel time. However, highways have criticisms, partially due to being an extended [[line source|linear source]] of [[pollution]]:
*'''Community cohesion''': Where highways are created through existing communities, there can be reduced community cohesion and more difficult local access. Consequently property values have decreased in many cutoff neighborhoods, leading to decreased housing quality over time.
*'''[[Roadway noise]]''': Highways generate more roadway noise than [[arterial road|arterial]] streets due to the higher operating speeds. Therefore, considerable [[noise health effects]] are expected from highway systems. [[Noise mitigation]] strategies exist to reduce sound levels at nearby [[sensitive receptors]]. The idea that highway design could be influenced by acoustical engineering considerations first arose about 1973.<ref>John Shadely, ''Acoustical analysis of the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] widening project between Raritan and East Brunswick'', Bolt Beranek and Newman, 1973</ref><ref>Michael Hogan, ''Highway Noise'', 3rd Environmental Pollution Symposium, sponsored by AIAA, [[American Chemical Society|ACS]], [[American Society of Mechanical Engineers|ASME]], [[SAE]], held at [[SRI International]], Menlo Park, Ca. April 17-18, 1973</ref>
*'''[[Air quality]] issues''': Highways may contribute fewer [[air pollutant|emissions]] than arterials carrying the same vehicle volumes. This is because high, constant-speed operation creates an emissions reduction compared to vehicular flows with stops and starts. However, concentrations of air pollutants near highways may be higher due to increased traffic volumes. Therefore, the risk of exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants from a highway may be considerable, and further magnified when highways have [[traffic congestion]].
* New roads can create new traffic, sometimes referred to as [[induced demand]]. If not accurately predicted at the planning stage, this extra traffic may lead to the new road becoming congested sooner than anticipated. More roads add on to car-dependence. This may mean that by building a new road, there is only short-term mitigation of traffic congestion. In the long-term, even more cars may take over the excess road space - which exacerbates the problem. A memorable analogy about highway building is "like an obese person loosening their belt as a cure for obesity".
*'''[[HOV]] ([[high-occupancy vehicle]]) lanes''' are being added to some newer/reconstructed highways in North America and other countries around the world to encourage [[carpooling]] and mass-transit. These lanes help reduce the number of cars on the highway and thus reduces pollution and traffic congestion by promoting the use of carpooling in order to be able to use these lanes. However, they tend to require dedicated lanes on a highway which makes them difficult to construct in dense urban areas, where they are the most effective.
To quote the [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)|Ontario Ministry of Transportation]]:
:''"HOV lanes are a critical part of the Province’s transportation strategy because of their ability to increase the efficiency of Ontario’s transportation system. HOV lanes have proven to be a successful strategy in many North American cities for moving more people and increasing the efficiency of the transportation network. '''An HOV lane has the ability to move as many people as four general-purpose lanes'''.<ref name="Miss">{{cite web
| url = http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/hov/plan2007.htm
| title = Ontario’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Network
Summary of the Plan for the 400-Series Highways in the Greater Golden Horseshoe
| publisher = [[Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)|Ministry of Transportation]]
| date = [[2007-05-24]]
| accessdate = 2007-05-24
| quote = An HOV lane has the ability to move as many people as four general-purpose lanes...
}}</ref>
New highways can also cause [[habitat fragmentation]], encourage [[urban sprawl]] and allow human intrusion into previously untouched areas. [[Public transport]] can also lose users, indirectly leading to greater pollution.
==Highway-Parking Lot Theoretical Model==
Scholars have noted several functional similarities between highway systems and [[parking lots]], which has led to the creation of the highway-parking lot theoretical model. This model defines highway systems within the parameters of parking lots, aka highways are just long parking lots with a much larger dynamic coefficient. Highways are most like parking lots during [[rush hour]], when the theoretical model is in full effect. The largest highway-parking lot correlation was observed on June 26, 2008 on the [[I-395]] outside of [[Washington, D.C]]
==Further information==
[[Image:Highway 404 CA.JPG|250px|right|thumb|An [[HOV lane]] on [[Highway 404 (Ontario)|Highway 404]] in [[Toronto]]. International standards for HOV lanes differ, as HOV lanes on [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]'s [[400-series highways]] use a striped buffer zone to separate them from general lanes.]]
For information on the history and local styles of highways around the world, refer to:
* [[List of highways in Israel]]
* [[Autobahns of Austria]] ([[Austria]])
* [[Autobahns of Germany]] ([[Germany]])
* [[Autobahns of Switzerland]] ([[Switzerland]])
* [[Autocesta]] ([[Croatia]])
* [[Auto-Estrada]] ([[Portugal]], notable for the introduction of the world's first [[electronic toll collection]] system, the [[Via Verde]].)
* [[Autofamba]] ([[Zimbabwe]])
* [[Autopista]] ([[Spain]])
* [[Autoput]] ([[Serbia]])
* [[Autoput]] or [[Autocesta]] ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]])
* [[Autoroute]] ([[France]])
* [[Autoroutes of Quebec|Autoroute]] ([[Quebec]])
* [[Autostrada]] ([[Italy]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Egypt]])
* [[Avtocesta]] ([[Slovenia]])
* [[Avtomagistrala]] ([[Bulgaria]])
* [[Expressways of China|Expressway]] ([[Mainland China]])
* [[Malaysian expressway system|Expressway ''(Lebuhraya)'']] ([[Malaysia]])
* [[Freeway]], [[Expressway]], and [[Parkway]] ([[United States]])
* [[Freeway#Canada|Freeway]] ([[Canada]])
* [[Expressways of Japan|Kōsokudōro]] ([[Japan]])
* [[List of Manitoba provincial highways#Primary Routes|Manitoba's Primary Routes]] ([[Manitoba]]) ([[Canada]])
* [[Motorväg]] ([[Sweden]])
[[Image:Sim City 4 Highway.png|250px|right|thumb|A [[highway interchange]] from [[Maxis]]' [[Sim City 4]] is an example of how highways are used in popular culture.]]
* [[Motorway]] ([[United Kingdom]])
* [[Motorway (Ireland)|Motorway]] ([[Ireland]])
* [[Expressways of India|National Highways]] ([[India]])
* [[National Trunk Highway System]] ([[Mainland China]])
* [[Rodovia]] ([[Brazil]])
* [[Rijksweg]] [[Snelweg]] ([[The Netherlands]])
* [[Trans-Canada Highway]] ([[Canada]])
* [[Transportation of Israel]] Israeli Expressways, named "Kvish Mahir" (expressway in Hebrew)
* [[List of Nova Scotia provincial highways#Arterial (100-series) highways|100-series Highways]] / [[100-Series Highways]] ([[Nova Scotia]]) ([[Canada]])
* [[List of Alberta provincial highways|200-Series Highways]] ([[Alberta]]) ([[Canada]])
* [[400-Series Highways (Ontario)|400-Series Highways]] ([[Ontario]]) ([[Canada]])
== References==
<div style="font-size:90%;">
<references />
</div>
==See also==
*[[Air pollution]]
*[[American Society of Highway Engineers]] (ASHE)
*[[Bypass route]]
*[[Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000]]
*[[FHWA Series fonts]], the standard typeface for highway signs in the United States and Canada
*[[Highway advisory radio]]
*[[Highwayman]]
*[[List of roads and highways]]
*[[List of OECD countries by highway network size]]
*[[NAFTA superhighway]]
*[[Roadway noise]]
*[[Roadway air dispersion modeling]]
*[[Passing lane]]
*[[Ring road]]
*[[Road]]
*[[Road junction]]
*[[Road safety]]
*[[Toll road]]
==External links==
{{commonscat|Highways}}
*[http://www.arb.ca.gov/bluebook/bb05/veh360/veh_360.htm Legal definition in Canada]
*[http://www.kscourts.org/kscases/ctapp/1999/19991119/81647.htm Legal opinion, Kansas, U.S.A.]
*[http://www.us-highways.com/ U.S. Highways: From US 1 to (US 830)]
*[http://www.elbruz.org/eroads/AGR_2.htm Full list of Euroroutes with distances]
*[http://www.tuzcuogluevdeneve.org/ Euroroutes with distances]
*[http://www.transglobalhighway.com/ Proposed Trans-Global Highway]
{{Road types}}
[[Category:Road infrastructure]]
[[Category:Road transport]]
[[Category:Roads]]
[[de:Highway]]
[[fr:Autoroute]]
[[hr:Autocesta]]
[[id:Jalan bebas hambatan]]
[[it:Superstrada]]
[[mr:द्रुतगती मार्ग]]
[[ms:Lebuhraya]]
[[ja:道路]]
[[nrm:Câochie]]
[[pl:Autostrada]]
[[pt:Rodovia]]
[[simple:Highway]]
[[sv:Väg]]
[[th:ทางหลวง]]
[[uk:Автомобільна дорога]]
[[yi:הייוועי]]
[[zh:公路]]