List of road-related terminology
Encyclopedia
This is a list of road-related terminology. Both professionals working for departments of transportation
and roadgeek
s have popularized jargon related to roads, highways, highway systems, streets, and signs.
: An older style of road sign using button-shaped reflectors to increase nighttime visibility of the sign.
bump: Where two routes both turn in opposite directions at an intersection. For example, Route 1 makes a turn from north to east, while Route 2 makes a turn from east to north. Thus, traffic approaching the intersection on northbound Route 1 will end up on Route 2 unless they make a right turn.
: A type of interchange consisting of eight ramps, four loop ramps and four straight ramps. Each direction of a highway has two exits to the other highway, one for each direction.
concurrency
: An overlap of two or more highways. Also referred to as multiplex, with duplex, triplex, etc. referring to the number of highways involved in the concurrency.
cross-pledging: Using toll revenue obtained from one turnpike to finance another owned by the same agency. Cross-pledging is used by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to maintain turnpikes that could not sustain themselves.
cut-out: A shield blank whose external edge is cut to match the shape of the actual shield printed on it. Most highway shields are printed on a square blank, with a black background taking up the border space. Cut-out shields were most often used in the early days of the numbered highway systems in the United States. The standard Interstate shields are still cut-out. California
is the only state that still specifies cut-out shields for U.S. and state highways.
: To remove a highway, in whole or in part, from the state highway system. The physical roadbed typically remains usable. The highway may then receive a "lower" designation, such as a U.S. route becoming a state or county route. A decommissioned highway may not receive a new highway designation, but may become a city street or a county- or township-maintained road.
demountable copy
:A style of road sign where each character of the sign's legend is a separate, cut out piece of metal, attached to the sign face using rivets, screws, or some other fastener. This allows for easy modification of the sign's text when needed. Used in only a few states in the U.S., notably Kansas
.
diamond interchange
: A common type of interchange involving four ramps, one in each quadrant. Diamond interchanges are simple to build, requiring a relatively small number of ramps, only one bridge, and allow all possible movements. However, the intersection of the ramps with the non-freeway road require some form of traffic control, like a traffic light or stop signs, making them less suited to interchanges with heavy traffic.
dumbbell interchange: A variation of the diamond interchange with roundabouts where the ramps intersect the non-freeway road. Most often found in the U.K. Named as such because the two roundabouts and the bridge connecting them resemble a dumbbell when seen from an aerial view.
duplex: See concurrency.
: A ramp used to facilitate turns, especially left turns. Most often used in New Jersey
, with a few in the surrounding states.
: A maneuver required when a left turn is prohibited, as in much of the U.S. state of Michigan
, which involves turning right at the desired street and making a U-turn.
multiplex: See concurrency.
) or would be executed rarely enough that it would not justify the cost of building the ramp. Some toll roads also use partial interchanges in order to force traffic through toll plazas, either located on the ramps themselves or further down the road.
: A hobbyist who enjoys traveling and/or studying roads and or road systems. Also road enthusiast or roadfan.
SPUI
: Abbreviation for single point urban interchange. A variant of the diamond interchange most often used in urban areas that only requires one traffic signal.
Texas U-turn
: A lane allowing cars traveling on one side of a one-way frontage road to U-turn into the opposite frontage road (typically crossing over or under a freeway or expressway) without being stopped by traffic lights or crossing the highway traffic at-grade. Also referred to as a Texas Turnaround.
TOTSO:"Turn off to stay on"—a term used when one has to turn off the main carriageway to stay on the route being followed (such as junction 5 of the M25
). This term was developed by the Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts and has been adopted by similar groups in Germany and in the Netherlands and warrants a mention in Wikipedia in those countries.NL, DE The term has also made an appearance in the British National Press.
trumpet interchange: A type of interchange used for a "T"-junction where a road or highway ends at a freeway.
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
and roadgeek
Roadgeek
A roadgeek is an individual involved in "roadgeeking" or "road enthusiasm"—an interest in roads, and especially going on road trips, as a hobby...
s have popularized jargon related to roads, highways, highway systems, streets, and signs.
B
button copyButton copy
Button copy is a term describing the method of manufacture of older road signs in the United States. Button copy signs contain rows of embedded reflectors outlining the legend of the sign, for better visibility at night...
: An older style of road sign using button-shaped reflectors to increase nighttime visibility of the sign.
bump: Where two routes both turn in opposite directions at an intersection. For example, Route 1 makes a turn from north to east, while Route 2 makes a turn from east to north. Thus, traffic approaching the intersection on northbound Route 1 will end up on Route 2 unless they make a right turn.
C
cloverleaf interchangeCloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
: A type of interchange consisting of eight ramps, four loop ramps and four straight ramps. Each direction of a highway has two exits to the other highway, one for each direction.
concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
: An overlap of two or more highways. Also referred to as multiplex, with duplex, triplex, etc. referring to the number of highways involved in the concurrency.
cross-pledging: Using toll revenue obtained from one turnpike to finance another owned by the same agency. Cross-pledging is used by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to maintain turnpikes that could not sustain themselves.
cut-out: A shield blank whose external edge is cut to match the shape of the actual shield printed on it. Most highway shields are printed on a square blank, with a black background taking up the border space. Cut-out shields were most often used in the early days of the numbered highway systems in the United States. The standard Interstate shields are still cut-out. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
is the only state that still specifies cut-out shields for U.S. and state highways.
D
decommissionDecommissioned highway
A decommissioned highway is a highway that has been removed from service, shut down or has had its authorization as a federal or state highway removed. Decommissioning can include the complete or partial demolition or abandonment of an old highway structure because the old roadway has lost its...
: To remove a highway, in whole or in part, from the state highway system. The physical roadbed typically remains usable. The highway may then receive a "lower" designation, such as a U.S. route becoming a state or county route. A decommissioned highway may not receive a new highway designation, but may become a city street or a county- or township-maintained road.
demountable copy
Demountable copy
Demountable copy is a term describing the method of manufacture of some signs in the United States. Demountable copy signage is built by attaching mass-produced sheet-metal characters to the sign face, through means such as screws or rivets.Because of the ability to remove the preformed metal...
:A style of road sign where each character of the sign's legend is a separate, cut out piece of metal, attached to the sign face using rivets, screws, or some other fastener. This allows for easy modification of the sign's text when needed. Used in only a few states in the U.S., notably Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
: A common type of interchange involving four ramps, one in each quadrant. Diamond interchanges are simple to build, requiring a relatively small number of ramps, only one bridge, and allow all possible movements. However, the intersection of the ramps with the non-freeway road require some form of traffic control, like a traffic light or stop signs, making them less suited to interchanges with heavy traffic.
dumbbell interchange: A variation of the diamond interchange with roundabouts where the ramps intersect the non-freeway road. Most often found in the U.K. Named as such because the two roundabouts and the bridge connecting them resemble a dumbbell when seen from an aerial view.
duplex: See concurrency.
I
interchange: a series of ramps connecting a freeway or motorway to some other road. Interchanges are safer than an at-grade intersection, but cost more to construct.J
jughandleJughandle
A jughandle is a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left at at-grade intersections. Instead of a standard left turn being made from the left lane, left-turning traffic uses a ramp on the right side of the road...
: A ramp used to facilitate turns, especially left turns. Most often used in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, with a few in the surrounding states.
M
Michigan leftMichigan left
A Michigan left is an at-grade intersection design which replaces each left turn with a permutation of a U-turn and a right turn. The design was given the name due to its frequent use along Michigan roads and highways since the late 1960s. In other contexts, the intersection is called a median...
: A maneuver required when a left turn is prohibited, as in much of the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, which involves turning right at the desired street and making a U-turn.
multiplex: See concurrency.
N
neutered shield:An Interstate shield which lacks the name of the state above the route number.P
partial interchange:An interchange that is missing one or more ramps, making some movements impossible. Partial interchanges are built when consecutive interchanges are spaced too tightly to allow all ramps to be built safely, or when a movement would make no sense (such as going from eastbound I-240 to westbound I-40 in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
) or would be executed rarely enough that it would not justify the cost of building the ramp. Some toll roads also use partial interchanges in order to force traffic through toll plazas, either located on the ramps themselves or further down the road.
R
roadgeekRoadgeek
A roadgeek is an individual involved in "roadgeeking" or "road enthusiasm"—an interest in roads, and especially going on road trips, as a hobby...
: A hobbyist who enjoys traveling and/or studying roads and or road systems. Also road enthusiast or roadfan.
S
slip road: U.K. term for "exit ramp".SPUI
Single-point urban interchange
A single-point urban interchange , also called a single-point interchange or single-point diamond interchange , is a type of highway interchange...
: Abbreviation for single point urban interchange. A variant of the diamond interchange most often used in urban areas that only requires one traffic signal.
T
terminus: The end point of a highway. Signage denoting the end of the route may be present at the terminus.Texas U-turn
Texas U-turn
A Texas U-turn, or Texas Turnaround, is a lane allowing cars traveling on one side of a one-way frontage road to U-turn into the opposite frontage road . These are typically controlled by a yield sign, allow traffic to bypass the two traffic signals, and avoid crossing the highway traffic at-grade...
: A lane allowing cars traveling on one side of a one-way frontage road to U-turn into the opposite frontage road (typically crossing over or under a freeway or expressway) without being stopped by traffic lights or crossing the highway traffic at-grade. Also referred to as a Texas Turnaround.
TOTSO:"Turn off to stay on"—a term used when one has to turn off the main carriageway to stay on the route being followed (such as junction 5 of the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
). This term was developed by the Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts and has been adopted by similar groups in Germany and in the Netherlands and warrants a mention in Wikipedia in those countries.NL, DE The term has also made an appearance in the British National Press.
trumpet interchange: A type of interchange used for a "T"-junction where a road or highway ends at a freeway.