Kepler's Problem

Freeway

The definition of the term freeway from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Chapter 2A states:

Freeway—a divided highway with full control of access

This definition has never been about a lack of tolls. Control of access means restricting entry to specific points and not allowing adjacent properties driveway access. It's about grade separation to segregate conflicting traffic flows. It's about free-flowing traffic unencumbered by cross traffic and stoplights.

In English, there are two meanings to the word "free", whereas Romance languages like French have separate words. Gratis versus libre describes this, and the free in freeway is of the libre case, not the gratis one. So think free as in freedom or free-flowing, not free of charge. Imzadi 1979 → 16:20, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

It appears to do so, but this is not the actual history of the words. Freeway in direct contrast to tolled roads see the famous bureau of public roads study commissioned by congress on this. There is however a good reason that the Wikipedia page title is not “freeway” and is instead controlled access highway. “Tolled freeway” comes from people who come from places like Michigan and California where the very concept of a tolled road is so alien no word in the language ever developed to distinguish the two. However in places like Chicago (tollway v. expressway), or the northeastern preference of distinguishing a turnpike from a freeway. Tollway has the advantage of being simpler too. I do agree with you that if we has a “libre” v “gratis” distinction we wouldn’t be having this discussion as they would be “gratis”-roads.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Toll_Roads_and_Free_Roads Kepler's Problem (talk) 22:09, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm quite familiar with that report as I'm the one that transcribed it for Wikisource. That being said though, Michigan did not use the term "tollway", relying on the less precise "turnpike", but in any case, that proposal was for a tolled freeway, which is the correct terminology to use. Imzadi 1979 → 23:37, 26 April 2026 (UTC)