Difference between a Road and a Highway in Civil Engineering

Roads and highways are both essential components of transportation infrastructure, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics:

Road:

A road is a general term referring to a paved or unpaved path that allows vehicles and pedestrians to travel from one place to another.

Roads can vary widely in size, design, and usage, ranging from local streets in residential neighborhoods to rural country roads.

Roads may have lower speed limits, fewer lanes, and fewer amenities compared to highways.

Roads typically serve local or regional traffic, providing access to homes, businesses, and other local destinations.

Highway:

A highway is a type of road specifically designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, typically with multiple lanes, controlled access, and limited intersections.

Highways are engineered to accommodate faster travel speeds and heavier traffic volumes, making them suitable for long-distance travel and intercity transportation.

Highways often feature divided lanes, grade-separated interchanges, and safety features such as guardrails and medians.

Highways are classified into different categories based on their design, capacity, and function, such as freeways, expressways, and toll roads.

Objective Type Question:

Which of the following statements is true regarding highways?

A) Highways may have lower speed limits compared to roads. B) Highways typically have fewer lanes and intersections than roads. C) Highways are designed for high-speed vehicular traffic and long-distance travel. D) Highways serve local or regional traffic, providing access to homes and businesses.