There are many different types of roadways used throughout the world. Roadways are important for tourism as they help to transport workers, tourists and goods. The types of roadways and how well they are built can have a big impact on how efficient operations are in a destination. This article explains the main types of roadways and what they are used for.
What is a road?
Before delving into the types of roadways, it’s important to know what a road actually is.
A road is a thoroughfare on land; a space between two places that allows people to travel between A and B.
Generally, roads have been surfaced or improved in some way that allows for easier travel. Roads have evolved throughout history. This is in order to keep up with new and improved transport types, and ensure road safety at all times.
Different roads have different purposes. They are used by differing types of transport, and therefore are made from different materials with varying characteristics. Below are the types of roadways.
Types of roadways
The main types of roadways around the world are outlined below.
Lower capacity roads
There are different types of roadways that come under the title of lower capacity roads. For example, an alley, boulevard or lane would all be classed as a lower capacity road.
As the name suggests, these are roads that don’t see as much traffic as major roads. B-roads are classed as lower capacity roads, as are cul-de-sacs and crescents.
The question ‘what are lower capacity roads?’ can be a hard one to answer. As many different types of roadways fall under this classification, it is clear that there is no hard and fast rule as to what is a lower capacity road.
Many lower capacity roads are residential roads, and some run through the middle of cities. It is clear that they don’t see as much traffic as major roads, and this seems to be what sets them apart from what we might term ‘higher capacity roads’. But often, this is where the similarity ends.
Avenues, streets and more
Many lower capacity roads are residential roads. These different types of roadways include:
- Avenue
- Close
- Crescent
- Court
- Cul-de-sac
- Drive
- Lane
- Place
- Terrace
Residential streets are lined with houses, and occasionally will have schools or small shops too. These streets are designed to maximise living space and ensure resident safety. They don’t get as much traffic as A-roads or motorways.
Boulevards
Popular in European cities particularly, boulevards are large roads that often run through a city.
Boulevards tend to be more scenic than other roads, with better landscaping.
There are plenty of famous boulevards. For example, the Vienna Ring Road is one of the city’s main sights – it was constructed in the mid-19th century after the dismantling of the city fortification walls. The architecture is typical of an eclectic, historicist style called Ringstraßenstil (Ring Road Style) of the 1860s to 1890s. Other famous European boulevards include:
- The Champs-Élysées in Paris (running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe) and the Boulevard de Clichy in Montmartre (home of the Moulin Rouge)
- Unter den Linden in Berlin (where visitors will find the Berlin Cathedral, Berlin State Opera, the Brandenburg Gate and much more)
- O’Connell Street in Dublin (one of Europe’s widest streets, resembling a typical Victorian boulevard)
- Wały Chrobrego in Szczecin (which has hosted the finale of The Tall Ships Races several times, and is home to various tourist attractions)
- Gran Via de les Corts Catalans in Barcelona (the longest street in Catalonia, and the 2nd-longest in Spain)
Stravenue
When it comes to types of roadways, this one is almost unknown. A stravenue only exists in Tucson, Arizona.
The name is a portmanteau (blend) of the words ‘street’ and ‘avenue’ – a stravenue runs “diagonally between and intersects a Street and an Avenue”.
Usually in Tucson, streets run east-west while avenues run north-south. However, in a few areas around the central part of the city, builders created small subdivisions of roads and houses that also are laid out on a diagonal basis rather than the normal east-west or north-south.
It is a very niche, but interesting, example of how roads are named.
Corniche
Another type of roadway that isn’t particularly common, a corniche is a road found on the side of a cliff or mountain where the ground rises on one side and falls away on the other.
The name comes from the French term route à corniche, meaning ‘road on a ledge’. These roads often form part of very scenic drives. Some examples of corniches include:
- The Amalfi Drive along the Amalfi Coast just south of Naples, running between Sorrento and Amalfi. The road was built in the 19th century and clings to the cliffs above the sea, making it one of the world’s most famous scenic drives.
- The Grande Corniche in the French Riviera, built on the orders of Napoleon in the early 19th century. This featured prominently in the film To Catch a Thief, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
- Victoria Road around the Cape Peninsula, which runs through the suburbs of Clifton and Bantry Bay.
- The Corniche, which is the name for the promenade in Muttrah, Muscat.
- The Corniche El Nil, which runs along the River Nile in Cairo, and the riverside promenade in Giza in Egypt. This is the promenade which runs from Giza Zoo to the balloon theatre in Agouza.
These are just some examples of lower capacity roads. There are so many different types of roadways, each providing something different.
Primitive roads
These are types of roadways which are generally not maintained. They are minor road systems, and don’t see even as much traffic as the aforementioned lower capacity roads. They are classified by the following criteria:
- not classified as part of the area’s primary road system
- has an average annual daily traffic of one hundred or fewer vehicles
- is typically made as a non-paved gravel road or dirt road driveway
There are, of course, different types of roadways within the classification of primitive roads.
Agricultural roads
These are farm tracks or service roads which have significance only in the local area.
They serve agricultural and forestry purposes for the most part, and generally are completely unpaved dirt roads. They may be covered with gravel, however.
Often, it is just tractors and other farm or heavy-duty vehicles that travel on agricultural roads.
Gravel roads
These are again unpaved, but they are always surfaced with gravel. This has usually been brought from a nearby quarry or stream bed.
Gravel roads are most common in rural areas, as well as less-developed nations.
Gravel roads do, however, tend to be well made and maintained. This ensures that they can be used as all-weather roads. Gravel roads can be found around the world – from Namibia or Oregon to British Columbia.
Dirt roads
Sometimes, gravel roads are referred to as dirt roads. But they are, in fact, different types of roadways.
Dirt roads are actually created from the native material of that particular area, rather than from a material that has been imported in any way.
This means dirt roads each have different characteristics owing to local geology.
Ice roads
These are winter roads, or part of winter roads, running on a naturally frozen water surface. For example, roads that run through rivers, lakes or sea ice will be classed as ice roads.
Ice roads allow for temporary transportation to areas that have no permanent road access. Ice roads can reduce the cost of transporting freight that would otherwise need to be flown in, but they are only open for part of the year. Warmer winters linked to climate change are shortening the ice road season in places such as northern Canada, making them increasingly unpredictable.
They are common in Antarctica, Canada, Estonia, Finland, various parts of the USA and other countries around the globe.
Large roads
When it comes to types of roadways, large roads cannot be forgotten.
Often connecting towns and cities as well as states and even countries, these large roads are vital in terms of socio-economics and tourism. They allow for the easy movement of goods and people.
Of course, there are various types of large roads…
Controlled-access highway
Also known as a motorway or freeway, a controlled-access highway is designed for high-speed vehicular traffic. All traffic flow is regulated.
Generally you cannot walk or park on a controlled-access highway, so there is a non-stop flow of traffic except for delays caused by congestion, roadworks or road traffic accidents.
Early examples of these types of roadways appeared in the early 20th century, such as the Long Island Motor Parkway in the USA (opened in 1908), the AVUS in Berlin (1921) and Italy’s first autostrada, between Milan and Varese (1924). Germany’s autobahn network was developed from the 1930s, and the first motorway in the UK, the Preston bypass (now part of the M6), opened in 1958. Controlled-access highways are now found in almost every developed country and are essential for the movement of people and freight.
Farm-to-market roads
Specifically in Texas, farm-to-market roads (also known as ranch roads) allow for the connection between rural or agricultural areas, and the market towns nearby. One popular road is the FM 3005 that runs through Galveston, TX.
They are generally good quality, paved roads. Farm-to-market roads are part of the state’s system of secondary and connecting routes.
They are built and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation. The state established this system in 1941 in order to improve vital access to rural areas. The system consists primarily of paved two-lane roads; some segments do have more lanes, though.
Toll roads
Also known as turnpikes, toll roads are types of roadways that require a fee (toll) for passage.
They are usually controlled-access highways, too.
The fee is intended to recoup the cost of building and maintaining this important road.
Toll bridges and toll tunnels work in a similar way. Toll roads are common in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Japan and the USA. In the UK they are relatively rare – the M6 Toll is the main example – although charges apply at some crossings, such as the Dartford Crossing.
Types of roadways: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the different types of roadways.
What are the main types of roadways?
The main types of roadways can be grouped into lower capacity roads (such as residential streets, boulevards and corniches), primitive roads (such as agricultural, gravel, dirt and ice roads) and large roads (such as motorways, farm-to-market roads and toll roads).
What is the difference between a gravel road and a dirt road?
A gravel road is surfaced with gravel brought in from elsewhere, while a dirt road is made from the native soil of the area, so its characteristics depend on the local geology.
What is a corniche?
A corniche is a road built along the side of a cliff or mountain, where the ground rises on one side and falls away on the other. Famous examples include the Amalfi Drive in Italy and the Grande Corniche on the French Riviera.
What is a controlled-access highway?
A controlled-access highway, also known as a motorway or freeway, is a road designed for high-speed traffic, with access only via specific junctions and no pedestrians, parking or traffic lights.
Why are roads important for tourism?
Roads allow tourists, workers and goods to reach destinations. Good road infrastructure improves accessibility, and scenic roads such as the Amalfi Drive or Route 66 can become tourist attractions in their own right.
Types of roadways: Further reading
As this article has shown, there are many different types of roadways with different purposes and uses. From major motorways to dirt tracks, roads are built for the transportation of people and goods, including for the tourism industry. If you found this article on the different types of roadways useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- The 10 Major Types of Events
- The 8 Major Types of Cruise
- 150 types of tourism! The ultimate tourism glossary
- 20 Popular Types of Hotels Around The World
- 50 types of transport from around the world
- 15 Types of Rail Transport To Take You Away
- 21 Types of Tourists Around The World
