Is your state a "freeway" state or a "4 lane expressway" state? Or a mix?

[Roadgeekteen]

Apologies if this has been done. But as a roadgeek I've noticed that Massachusetts doesn't really build high quality 4 lane expressways. There are 4 lane roads like parts of MA 9 and US 1 but for the most part we don't have 4 lane expressways like in other parts of the country- but we built tons of non insterstate freeways instead. While some states seem devoid of long non interstate freeways but have hundreds of miles of 4 lane expressways with occasional at-grade intersections, like Missouri and Mississippi. I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania (and Maryland/Delaware if that counts as Northeast.

[interstatefan990]

I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania (and Maryland/Delaware if that counts as Northeast.

New York State parkways would like a word.

[TheCatalyst31]

Illinois is a fourteen-lane expressway state.

[wriddle082]

South Carolina overall does not have enough four lane non-interstate corridors, but the vast majority of what they do have are four-lane expressways with at-grades.  Most of the non-interstate freeways are in the Myrtle Beach area, at least one of which might become an interstate in my lifetime (though I'm not holding my breath).

North Carolina seems to have a lot of non-interstate (for now) freeways, but they do still actively build expressways with at-grades.

Virginia has a pretty comprehensive network of expressways with at-grades and freeway bypasses, which were mostly built on the cheap from the 60's to the 80's by twinning the existing two-lane corridors and doing very little in upgrades to the original carriageways.  They are now having to go back and upgrade the more treacherous original carriageways.

Tennessee has a good bit of expressways mileage with at-grades, most of which was built in the past 30 some odd years, but they do have a few notable non-interstate freeways.

Kentucky has had a major non-interstate freeway network in the Parkway system since the 60's, but has built very few freeways since then.  They do have many four-lane expressways with at-grades throughout the state built mainly from the 80's to the 00's, but many are needing upgrades.

Ohio has been building expressways with at-grades since the 50's, but I believe since the 90's they have shifted to freeways and have tried to upgrade some of the more treacherous expressways to freeways whenever possible.

[freebrickproductions]

Alabama's definitely leaning towards the 4-lane expressway state, though even most of their 4-lane highways are still primarily at-grade.

[Max Rockatansky]

Caltrans defines freeway as anything that is fully limited access.  An expressway has partially limited access features like not having driveways lining up with to the highway.  The number of lanes really doesn't matter.  There are examples of Super Two freeways and Two-Lane expressways in California. 

[Roadgeekteen]

I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania (and Maryland/Delaware if that counts as Northeast.

New York State parkways would like a word.

I honestly consider the New York parkways to be a completely different category from either. They are just weird roads.

[PNWRoadgeek]

Washington definitely leans more towards the 4-lane expressway route from what I've seen, though in the Seattle area things look a little bit different. Kind of a mix of both(even around the Vancouver area, heck, even SR 500 still has some RIROs) I'm not really sure, admittedly I'm not as knowledgeable about Washington.

Oregon is weird, because of their aversion to building freeways they often have a lot of roads that in some areas are way overbuilt(Barbur Blvd from the Ross Island Bridge to around Terwilliger I'd say, it's really just a frontage road of I-5 during that section, 99W farther south in Sherwood as well where it is far more expressway-like despite Sherwood having less traffic than Tigard)

Don't even get me started on the whole Rogue Valley Expressway situation, same with the Salem/MLK Pkwy down in Salem which was PLANNED to be I-305. The Portland area also loves their overbuilt stroads(Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Powell which you could argue until "39th" is a 4-lane expressway and it's actually kind of underbuilt in Gresham, TV Hwy/Canyon Rd)

There are some strange oddities, such as US 26 from Gresham to Sandy where it pretty comfortably is a 4-lane expressway, and in a pretty high traffic section with Mt. Hood and all, but you could argue it's more needed in the Portland area. Airport Way as well which is a 4-lane expressway, but other than those two Portland really goes more in a freeway direction and the freeways do what they need to do(US 26 and OR 217 serve a high-traffic route to the West Metro and North Coast, I-205 serves the east metro and bypasses Downtown, I-84 comes in to serve the East Metro, well, from the east, and I-5 and I-405 do their job forming a loop around the river and Downtown)

But does Oregon really go the 4-lane expressway route? I personally don't think so.

Because Eugene is like all freeways.

[The_Ginger]

West Virginia is nearly 100% expressway. The only full freeway in-state is the U.S. 22 corridor in the Northern Panhandle. There are freeway segments in certain areas, but our general four-lane highways are non-limited access. This includes non-ADHS corridors, like US 35, US 121, and what little part of US 52 that has been done.

[vdeane]

I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania (and Maryland/Delaware if that counts as Northeast.

New York State parkways would like a word.

I'm not sure I'd call them four lane expressways, at least not in the style of thing thread where I'd think more of things like Corridor L.  Most of them are freeways or relatively short distance (the portion of the LOSP with at-grades is only ten miles long, for instance, and the Niagara Scenic Parkway is local and also downgraded from what it used to be).  The Taconic might be the exception that proves the rule.

[webny99]

Besides the aforementioned Taconic, part of the LOSP, and some of the other NYC-area parkways, New York has an extreme dearth of four-lane divided non-freeways. Even Massachusetts has plenty of roads like this and this - it might be a stretch to call them "expressways", but they do seem closer to an expressway than a traditional arterial.

I can probably count on one hand the number of road segments in NY north of I-84 that fit that description, excluding any that are a few miles or less: NY 12/28 north of Utica, NY 365 from the Thruway to Rome, most of NY 481 from Oswego to Fulton, NY 104 from Webster to Williamson, and NY 17 (future I-86) through Hale Eddy.

[I-55]

Indiana is definitely an "expressway" state, as all of the major non-interstate corridors are non-freeway. The exception is that US-31 is gradually receiving freeway upgrades.

Major "Expressway" Corridors:

• US 24 / SR 25 (Lafayette to Ohio Line)
• US 30
• US 31 (N of Indianapolis)
• US 40
• US 41
• US 52 (NW of Indianapolis)
• US 231 (S of I-64)
• SR 37 (S of Bloomington)

Smaller Portions of:

• US 20
• US 50
• SR 2
• SR 3
• SR 37
• SR 67

[bing101]

California state routes are a mix given when it's constructed.

Some of the state routes are full freeways like CA-24, CA-210, CA-110, CA-51. Others are a mix of expressways and major streets.

[Mr_Northside]

I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania

Not totally sure what your definition of "Expressway" is - but I will say that in PA (at least the western half), for the most part, if a 4-lane divided highway has at-grade intersections/junctions, odds are massive it won't be limited access.  Conversely, if a 4-lane divided highway *is* limited access, odds are it won't have any at-grades and will just be a freeway (quite possibly old & substandard, but a freeway nonetheless)

Two exceptions that easily comes to mind is:
1) a few-mile stretch of US-119 in Westmoreland & Fayette County in between the PA-31 exit (US-119 is full-on freeway north of there) to the Everson exit (US-119 south of there is 4-lane divided, but very much NOT limited access)
2) PA-50 from *near* I-79 for a few miles to where it becomes just a 2-lane road.

I'm sure there are some others (and probably places that aren't technically limited access, but there's just nothing there), but I believe they are a slim minority.

[kphoger]

4 lane expressways with occasional at-grade intersections

Not totally sure what your definition of "Expressway" is

It's in the portion of the OP that you snipped out.

Specific regional nomenclature aside, the general definitions are:

freeway — full access control, no at-grade intersections

expressway — high-speed corridor with limited access and at least some at-grade intersections

[gonealookin]

In Nevada, with the Interstate 11 designation having taken over all of the freeway portions of US 95, I think we're down to only two freeways that don't carry the Interstate shield:  the Clark County portion of the 215 semi-loop, and Summerlin Parkway which is now SR 613.

We have some lengthy 4-lane expressways.  Notable examples include:
US 95 from I-11 to SR 163, and then SR 163 over to Laughlin.  Those two combined are about 76 miles in length.
US 95 from the north end of I-11 up to Mercury.
SR 160 from I-15 to Pahrump.
US 50 from Carson City to Silver Springs.
Alternate US 50/US 50 from Fernley to Fallon.
SR 439 ("USA Parkway") from TRIC at I-80 to Silver Springs.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota is the 4-lane expressway variety.

[interstatefan990]

I've noticed the northeast seems devoid of long 4 lane expressways, either, besides Pennsylvania (and Maryland/Delaware if that counts as Northeast.

New York State parkways would like a word.

I'm not sure I'd call them four lane expressways, at least not in the style of thing thread where I'd think more of things like Corridor L.  Most of them are freeways or relatively short distance (the portion of the LOSP with at-grades is only ten miles long, for instance, and the Niagara Scenic Parkway is local and also downgraded from what it used to be).  The Taconic might be the exception that proves the rule.

The northern parts of the Saw Mill Parkway have frequent at-grade intersections, albeit it's relatively not a very long portion of road.

Besides the aforementioned Taconic, part of the LOSP, and some of the other NYC-area parkways, New York has an extreme dearth of four-lane divided non-freeways. Even Massachusetts has plenty of roads like this and this - it might be a stretch to call them "expressways", but they do seem closer to an expressway than a traditional arterial.

I can probably count on one hand the number of road segments in NY north of I-84 that fit that description, excluding any that are a few miles or less: NY 12/28 north of Utica, NY 365 from the Thruway to Rome, most of NY 481 from Oswego to Fulton, NY 104 from Webster to Williamson, and NY 17 (future I-86) through Hale Eddy.

Don't forget NY-13/34 outside of Ithaca.

[Dirt Roads]

West Virginia is nearly 100% expressway. The only full freeway in-state is the U.S. 22 corridor in the Northern Panhandle. There are freeway segments in certain areas, but our general four-lane highways are non-limited access. This includes non-ADHS corridors, like US 35, US 121, and what little part of US 52 that has been done.

Should clarify that the term "Expressway" historically had a specific definition within the State Road Commission that included freeways.  It also included urban fourlanes that were partially limited access.  Here's a list of some older West Virginia expressways that don't meet the O.P.'s definition:

• (then) Alt US-60 Kanawha Boulevard (now unposted) and US-60 Kanawha Boulevard East out to Malden
• (then) US-35 West Seventh Avenue (now WV-25) from US-60/(then) US-21 -to- WV-25 (now WV-25 intersection with WV-62)
• (then) US-119 Logan Expressway (now WV-73) from Island Creek (Ridgeview) -to- Guyan River (downtown Logan)
• US-60 Twenty-Ninth Street Expressway (then) from 2nd Avenue -to- Guyandotte River (Barboursville)
• US-60 MacCorkle Avenue/WV-61 Southside Expressway from (then) WV-17 west of St. Albans (now WV-817) -to- Kanawha City
• (then) WV-81 Camden Avenue Expressway (now WV-95)
• WV-16 South Valley Drive Expressway from north of Sophia -to- South Beckley

I should note that there is a very short segment of US-60 MacCorkle Avenue in Spring Hill near the Dunbar Toll Bridge that should not have qualified as an "expressway".  But an adjacent longer section between downtown South Charleston -and- Spring Hill did qualify simply because of a parallel frontage road on the river side.  None of this would meet my definition.

The original expressways in Clarksburg, Oak Hill and Wheeling/McMechen were constructed as freeways.  (Then WV-94) West Huntington Bridge (now US-52) was constructed as a Super Two, but was part of the Interstate construction. 

I'm pretty sure that US-340 between Harpers Ferry -and- Charles Town was constructed as an "original expressway", but it wasn't completed until 1970 and 1971.  Instead of "feeling like one of the original SRC expressways", it has the look and feel of the Appalachian Corridor expressways built in West Virginia during the early 1970s.

I also believe that WV-7 from Sabraton -to- Deckers Creek was constructed as an "expressway", but I can't find any records.  I also believe that (then US-21) Grand Central Avenue (now WV-14) between North Parkersburg -through- Vienna was constructed as an original "expressway" but none of it should have ever qualified.

It seems like I'm missing a few here.  (Edited to add US-35 Seventh Avenue in North Charleston)

[froggie]

Vermont might as well be neither...the tiny bits that exist outside Rutland and Bennington are peanuts.

[The_Ginger]

West Virginia is nearly 100% expressway. The only full freeway in-state is the U.S. 22 corridor in the Northern Panhandle. There are freeway segments in certain areas, but our general four-lane highways are non-limited access. This includes non-ADHS corridors, like US 35, US 121, and what little part of US 52 that has been done.

Should clarify that the term "Expressway" historically had a specific definition within the State Road Commission that included freeways.  It also included urban fourlanes that were partially limited access.  Here's a list of some older West Virginia expressways that don't meet the O.P.'s definition:

• (then) Alt US-60 Kanawha Boulevard (now unposted) and US-60 Kanawha Boulevard East out to Malden
• (then) US-119 Logan Expressway (now WV-73) from Island Creek (Ridgeview) -to- Guyan River (downtown Logan)
• US-60 Twenty-Ninth Street Expressway (then) from 2nd Avenue -to- Guyandotte River (Barboursville)
• US-60 MacCorkle Avenue/WV-61 Southside Expressway from (then) WV-17 west of St. Albans (now WV-817) -to- Kanawha City
• (then) WV-81 Camden Avenue Expressway (now WV-95)
• WV-16 South Valley Drive Expressway from north of Sophia -to- South Beckley

I should note that there is a very short segment of US-60 MacCorkle Avenue in Spring Hill near the Dunbar Toll Bridge that should not have qualified as an "expressway".  But an adjacent longer section between downtown South Charleston -and- Spring Hill did qualify simply because of a parallel frontage road on the river side.  None of this would meet my definition.

The original expressways in Clarksburg, Oak Hill and Wheeling/McMechen were constructed as freeways.  (Then WV-94) West Huntington Bridge (now US-52) was constructed as a Super Two, but was part of the Interstate construction. 

I'm pretty sure that US-340 between Harpers Ferry -and- Charles Town was constructed as an "original expressway", but it wasn't completed until 1970 and 1971.  Instead of "feeling like one of the original SRC expressways", it has the look and feel of the Appalachian Corridor expressways built in West Virginia during the early 1970s.

I also believe that WV-7 from Sabraton -to- Deckers Creek was constructed as an "expressway", but I can't find any records.  I also believe that (then US-21) Grand Central Avenue (now WV-14) between North Parkersburg -through- Vienna was constructed as an original "expressway" but none of it should have ever qualified.

It seems like I'm missing a few here.

Very cool stuff! I did not know this, but it does seem apparent that these might exist.

One of the ones you may be missing is WV 2, now US 50 and WV 68, circa the 1970s. It was constructed as a four-lane at-grade starting at an intersection with Wood CR 2/18, what would become WV 892, and WV 2. It had several at grade intersections, and used what is now the WV 68 Juliana Street half-interchange to cross the river and end in the downtown. It was reconstructed in the late 1990s with Corridor D.

I'm not sure if US 33/WV 2 near me or WV 2 from Glenwood to Lesage would qualify, as these were constructed in the 1980s.

[vdeane]

Don't forget NY-13/34 outside of Ithaca.

I'm pretty sure most of us consider the portion betweey Dey and Warren to be a freeway, and there isn't much four lane divided highway outside of that.  It quickly becomes a two-lane road east of Warren and south of Dey there's one more light before it becomes a pair of one-way streets.

[Dirt Roads]

I'm not sure if US 33/WV 2 near me or WV 2 from Glenwood to Lesage would qualify, as these were constructed in the 1980s.

WV-2/US-33 from Ravenswood -to- Silverton definitely meets the O.P.'s definition of expressway, but the improved "twolane" from Glenwood -to- Lesage wouldn't, nor would the TOLSIA Highway.  Nor does that tiny section of "fourlane" on the US-33 Scott Miller Hill Bypass in Roane County.

By the way, my comment was specifically about older State Road Commission (pre-1970) expressways that don't technically meet the O.P.'s definition of expressway (and actually, there are a few sections that do).

The big question is whether the urban sections of US-119 Corridor G from Alum Creek -to- Fort Hill (Southside Charleston) or US-33/US-119 Corridor H just east of I-79 near Weston would still qualify as a modern expressway.  West Virginia (and Virginia, and North Carolina, and Georgia, and Florida) have been quite sloppy about maintaining the "integrity" of what WVDOH calls "Partially Limited Access Highways".  That has more to do with local government and zoning laws, but I believe that some states give their D.O.T. the power to control how much development can impact the traffic flows under "limited access regulations".  There are certainly other sections of West Virginia's newer expressways

[webny99]

Don't forget NY-13/34 outside of Ithaca.

I'm pretty sure most of us consider the portion betweey Dey and Warren to be a freeway, and there isn't much four lane divided highway outside of that.  It quickly becomes a two-lane road east of Warren and south of Dey there's one more light before it becomes a pair of one-way streets.

You beat me to it; I also consider that to be a full freeway west of Warren Rd that becomes a regular undivided arterial south of the NY 34 interchange.

I also considered portions of NY 5S, but most of that is either full freeway or two lanes undivided.

[Henry]

Illinois is a fourteen-lane expressway state.

Just found one of my favorite quotes in recent history!