Expressways on Maps

[peterj920]

On the above map, I have a Wisconsin map that shows Wis 23 as an expressway from Plymouth to Sheboygan Falls, and Wis 57 as a multilane divided roadway from just north of Wis 23 to I-43.  Wis 23 is considered an expressway by WISDOT because intersections are limited along with some interchanges, and traffic flow is constant.  Wis 57 did not get that designation because there are a couple of spots where the speed limit drops to 45, there is a traffic signal, and access isn't as restricted as Wis 23.  I haven't seen any national maps make the distinction between a standard divided highway and an expressway, so I was wondering if there are any other states that mark expressways different than a divided multilane road? 

[bzakharin]

In NJ at least, Google maps seems to color non-freeway US routes as yellow, with non-freeway state routes being either white or yellow. Sometimes the yellow coloring corresponds with an expressway, though sometimes it's pretty random. As for NJDOT maps, they just distinguish between freeways and divided highways. No special coloring for expressways.

[froggie]

Virginia technically does, but it confuses some people as they use the same color for expressways and freeways, but it is possible to distinguish a limited-access 4-lane from a non-limited access 4-lane.

Louisiana used to, though I'm not sure if they still do.

Mississippi, Alabama, and Minnesota do not.

[jeffandnicole]

I've seen on maps where they will use different colors or lines if the highway is divided or not.  A friend of mine once argued that US 322 here in NJ, between Monroe & Atlantic City, wasn't at least 4 lanes all the way because of the map's markings.  The confusion was the map showed a single thick line where there's no divider in the median, giving it the appearance of just a 2 lane road for my buddy who never had driven on the road.

[TEG24601]

In my 32 years of reading maps, R-M usually used orange/gold for expressways, and blue for freeways (green for tollways).  I'm not familiar with other paper maps, but I know Google does make a distinction, and sometimes it is a fight to convince them to change from what they have, to what is accurate.

[froggie]

In my 32 years of reading maps, R-M usually used orange/gold for 4-lane routes, and blue for freeways (green for tollways).

FTFY.  RMcN has often used that orange/gold on routes that are 4-lane but not limited-access, and even on some 4-lane routes that were undivided.

[peterj920]

In my 32 years of reading maps, R-M usually used orange/gold for expressways, and blue for freeways (green for tollways).  I'm not familiar with other paper maps, but I know Google does make a distinction, and sometimes it is a fight to convince them to change from what they have, to what is accurate.

Rand McNally uses orange for multi lane roads, but doesn't distinguish them with expressways.  I'm looking for maps that show a difference from a multi lane road and an expressway that limits access and is a higher quality road than a standard mult lane.

[cpzilliacus]

Virginia technically does, but it confuses some people as they use the same color for expressways and freeways, but it is possible to distinguish a limited-access 4-lane from a non-limited access 4-lane.

Louisiana used to, though I'm not sure if they still do.

Mississippi, Alabama, and Minnesota do not.

Years ago, the official maps of Virginia had a color for "Partial Access Control" (I think much of Va. 28 in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties was depicted that way), but I have not seen it in probably 20 or more years.

[lordsutch]

I believe Arkansas used to make this distinction in its official maps, but it may not have survived the digital transition. US 63 north of Marked Tree was indicated this way. Expressways had a dashed center line while freeways had a continuous one.

At the other extreme, Texas officials don't even distinguish between non-Interstate freeways and divided highways (expressway or otherwise).

[Thunderbyrd316]

   Official Oregon state maps used to many years ago, back in the '60's and '70's and possibly into the early '80's. Then they went and changed to the current style which I do not care for at all. (While the current style DOES differentiate between Interstate and non-Interstate, it does NOT differentiate between freeway, expressway and 4-lane highway AND is not even consistent.) The urban insets on the back also used to show interchange detail but when they revised the map style these went away as well in favor of those little "boxes" that most North American maps use to indicate interchanges. And again, in the case of non-Interstate freeways do not even show many interchange locations. Or, to sum it up bluntly, the old map was cool and the current one sucks! 

[mapman1071]

I wish Rand McNally  and other map publishers would show the Tri-State (New York, New Jersey & Connecticut) Parkway's In Green with note boxes showing No Trucks, Buses or Commercial Vehicles.

[cpzilliacus]

I wish Rand McNally  and other map publishers would show the Tri-State (New York, New Jersey & Connecticut) Parkway's In Green with note boxes showing No Trucks, Buses or Commercial Vehicles.

Add the NPS parkway system in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia to that list, please.

[Walleye2013]

Ohio uses a different colour (pink/white in-between red lines) to denote divided roads. Pennsylvania does the same thing, but differentiates between local, minor, and major divided roads.