Every so often my wife and I will still notice that we have different names for things, likely based on where we are from. Her being from Illinois and me being from Ohio has presented several differences of opinions regarding terms and definitions.
One thing we differ on is whether or not a roadway is a highway or an expressway. But is it just a difference in names? Or is there a technical definition difference in these terms. Let’s dig in and find out!
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Expressway vs Highway
An expressway is a controlled-access highway for high volume traffic at higher speeds with access ramps, lane markings, etc. While a highway simply refers to any main road. They can technically be the same thing, but using the term expressway is more accurate if that’s what you’re referring to.
Below are the definitons courtesy of Meriam Webster:
Wikipedia has a similar definition of an expressway. They say an expressway is a controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane markings, etc., for high-speed traffic.
What are the differences between an expressway and a highway?
It’s important to understand that highway is a very broad term, and an expressway is a type of highway. The term highway gets thrown around a lot and even can have different meanings depending on what country you’re in. Here in the US the term highway generally refers to higher trafficked main roadways that may even have traffic lights.
Expressway
- Limited access points (on ramps)
- Does not contain cross streets
- Has higher speed limits
- Never intersects railroad crossings
- Has lane dividers to separate from oncoming traffic
Highway
- Frequent access points
- Can contain cross streets
- Can intersect railroad crossings
- Can have lower speed limits
- May not have lane dividers separating from oncoming traffic
Picture the roadway you use where you need to travel around the country. You enter through an on-ramp and quickly accelerate to 60-75mph–THAT is technically an expressway.
Expressway can also be used interchangeably with freeway, motorway, throughway and parkway.
All expressways are highways, but not all highways are expressways.
I’ve noticed that a lot of these terms are regional and some regions are using more accurate names than others. At this point in my life I don’t think I’m going to be able to start calling it an expressway, so I’ll continue to use the (technically wrong) name, highway.
