Types of road

 TYPES OF ROAD

ROAD- a hard surface for cars, buses etc to drive on

They’re planning to build a new road.

My address is 42, Station Road.

STREET- a road in a town, with houses or shops on each side

She lives on our street.

We walked along the streets of the old town.

Oxford Street is one of Europe’s busiest shopping areas.

He was stopped by the police, driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

Turn left on Main Street (=the street in the middle of a town, where most of the shops are – used in American English).

These days the same shops are on every high street (=the street in the middle of a town, where most of the shops are – used in British English).

AVENUE- a road in a town, often with trees on each side

the busy avenue in front of the cathedral

He lived on Park Avenue.

BOULEVARD- a wide road in a city or town – used especially in street names in the US, France etc. In the UK, streets are usually called avenue rather than boulevard

the world-famous Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

lane a narrow road in the country

a winding country lane

CUL- DE- SAC a short street which is closed at one end

The house is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac in North Oxford.

TRACK- especially British English, dirt road American English a narrow road in the country, usually without a hard surface

The farm was down a bumpy track.

RING- ROAD- British English a road that goes around a town

The airport is on the ring road.

BYPASS- British English a road that goes past a town, allowing traffic to avoid the centre

The bypass would take heavy traffic out of the old city centre.

DUAL CARRIAGEWAY- British English, divided highway American English a road with a barrier or strip of land in the middle that has lines of traffic travelling in each direction

I waited until we were on the dual carriageway before I overtook him.

FREEWAY/ EXPRESSWAY- American English a very wide road in a city or between cities, on which cars can travel very fast without stopping

Take the Hollywood Freeway (101) south, exit at Vine Street and drive east on Franklin Avenue.

Over on the side of the expressway, he saw an enormous sedan, up against a stone wall.

MOTORWAY- British English, highway American English a very wide road for travelling fast over long distances

The speed limit on the motorway is 70 miles an hour.

the Pacific Coast Highway

INTERSTATE- American English a road for fast traffic that goes between states

The accident happened on Interstate 84, about 10 miles east of Hartford.

TOLL ROAD- a road that you pay to use

The government is planning to introduce toll roads, in an effort to cut traffic congestion.

TURNPIKE- American English a large road for fast traffic that you pay to use

He dropped her off at an entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike.