Richard Holton wrote:
On 7/25/06, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Richard Holton wrote:
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)."
<chuckle> I talk that way all the time, don't you? You're correct, or course, (virtually) no one talks that way, but as you say, most would understand the term.
Having nobody talk that way is one of the strongest arguments for using the term. :-) I suspect that it's mostly used among those who work at planning, designing, and engineering road systems.
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.
Given the other responses, you seem to be correct.
Perhaps we need to stay away from any of the regional/national/continental terms for the category name. We don't need to create a neologism--we could use a short descriptive phrase that gives a hint as to the meaning, and rely on text on the category page to clarify.
Something like "Ramped roads", though I'm sure others will have better ideas.
"Ramped roads" give me visions of Evel Knievel.
Ec