Basic Road Terminology

A traffic signal backplate surrounds a light to help it stand out against the sky or background. An option in the MUTCD allows departments of transportation to add a yellow retroreflective borders. A 1998 study conducted by the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia and the Canadian National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control, investigated the effectiveness of applying retroreflective tape around the borders of traffic signal backplates. The investigation concluded that [...]

An under crossing takes a road, multi use path or railroad under a freeway or other highway.

A road name generally used in the Northeast dating back to original toll roads used for horse and carts and later for mid-20th century superhighways. The name originates from the barrier used at toll booths during the early automobile era. Turnpikes today represent high speed toll highways.

A tunnel carries a roadway through a mountain or under a river instead of around or over those obstacles. Tunnels are very expensive to construct and maintain due to drilling, ventilation and maintenance requirements. Generally, most tunnels are located in mountainous or hilly regions, and examples include the Fort Pitt Tunnel (Interstate 279) in Pittsburgh and the Waldo [Robin Williams] Tunnel (U.S. 101) north of San Francisco.

A transcontinental route is a highway that crosses the entire United States from coast to coast. Examples include U.S. 20, U.S. 30, Interstate 10, Interstate 80, and Interstate 90.

A trailblazer shield indicates the direction a motorist should take to reach a particular route. Trailblazers are often associated with toll roads and Interstate highways.

A traffic circle is a traffic control system that allows traffic to move through a multi-street intersection continuously around a circular center island median. Traffic circles are very common in Tijuana, Baja California, and were found throughout New England and the state of New Jersey. These differ from roundabouts in that they are larger radius and usually multi lane in width. Somerville Circle in New Jersey, where U.S. 202, U.S. [...]

A toll road is a highway that requires motorists to pay a toll. Examples include the Alligator Alley (Interstate 75), Indiana Toll Road (Interstates 80 and 90), the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90), and the New York Thruway (Interstates 87 and 90).

A toll bridge is a bridge that requires motorists to pay a toll. Examples include the San Francisco Bay Bridge (Interstate 80), George Washington Bridge (Interstate 95), and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (U.S. 13).