What is an expressway?

An expressway is characterized as a high-speed roadway designed primarily for through traffic, which means it facilitates uninterrupted movement of vehicles over longer distances. These roadways are specifically engineered with limited access points, such as on-ramps and off-ramps, which minimizes the need for frequent stops or slowdowns that you would typically find on other types of roads, like local streets or routes.

This design enhances safety and efficiency by enabling vehicles to travel at higher speeds while reducing conflicts with lower-speed traffic, pedestrians, and intersections. The limited access also helps to manage traffic flow more effectively, making expressways an essential component of a well-structured transportation system, particularly for longer commutes and transit between urban areas.

In contrast, roads that have frequent stops and signals or are labeled as scenic routes tend to be less direct and may not support high-speed travel effectively. Local roads are even smaller and often serve residential or minor traffic needs rather than the demands of long-distance highway travel.