Semi-highway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A semi-highway (also known as a semi-motorway or half-motorway) is an undivided, normally two-lane road, which is built on one roadway of the highway and functions as a temporary replacement until the second roadway is built. A semi-highway usually sports lower speed limit than a completed highway. Similar to the two-lane freeway, this road is grade-separated. Semi-highways differ from two-lane freeways in the fact that, while two-lane freeways are meant to be two-lane until a traffic deadline has been met, the semi-highways are meant to be full highways and are used an replacements until the full highway is completed. Highway tunnels are usually constructed utilizing the semi-highway method.

[edit] Semi-highways in United States

Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Semi-highways in Europe

Semi-highways are usually used in East and Southeast Europe.

Most older highways in Croatia have been initially built as semi-highways, using one roadway for both traffic directions before the other one was built. One notable and infamous example is the A6 highway, whose first roadway was completed in 2004, but which is still a tolled semi-highway for 40 km (25 mi).^[1] As of 2007, all new highways in Croatia have both of their roadways constructed at the same time, therefore reducing the number of semi-highways still not upgraded to full highways.

Newer Hungarian highways are also built first as semi-highways and later completed as highways. Examples are the M2 and M15 highways.^[2]^[3] M2 also features an unusual three-lane configuration.^[2]