Richard Holton wrote:
On 7/24/06, SPUI drspui@gmail.com wrote:
Guy Chapman aka JzG wrote:
On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 19:53:09 -0400, SPUI drspui@gmail.com wrote:
I've already explained that limited-access highway is ambiguous.
No, you've named a single place which uses an unusual definition of limited-access road, which has no obvious parallels outside the US. Once again, The US <> The World.
Who is to say which definition is unusual?
I'd say that definition is unusual, even in the US. In common usage, a limited-access highway is a divided highway, with no cross roads--instead using on & off ramps.
Limited access highway would probably be understood generically in most of the US, but the term would not normally be used in the context, "Take the limited access highway to get there." Instead people would say, "Take the freeway (or expressway, or Interstate, or turnpike according to local custom)."
The USGS offers this common-sense definition: Limited Access Highway: A route that is part of the United States Interstate Highway System or other similar expressway. (http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/metadata/roadtrl020.faq.html)
That definition would be US-centric
In fact, "expressway" seems like a good synonym (to my very US-centric ears).
I don't think that its usage is uniform throughout the USA.