So , which one is it? I found it funny that every time I call it freeway, people here give me a stare, or tell me to say it correctly, "highway or interstate." My family on the west coast says "freeway", and many in Chicago call it the "Expressway." I personally enjoy the concept of regional dialect and word use. Fun stuff...
I'm not entirely clear on the differences. I've always just called them highways.
I would only use freeway in a place where some are free and some are tollways. So here freeway doesn't make that much sense. I use "highway" but i guess that might mean high speed - which at rush hour can be a joke (same with expressway) - or it could also high as in elevated, which except portions of 40 - is not right either.
I say "expressway" because they were named "Mark Twain Expressway" (I-70) and "Daniel Boone Expressway" (hwy 40). I think they must have quit naming them before 55 and 44 were built because I've never seen a name attributed to them...except for "Rossa Parks Highway" and then theres "Mark McGuire Highway", but I think these are just sections, and not the whole expressway leading into downtown, or am I wrong about that?
Friends in Kansas City say "Freeway", friends and family in Chicago refer to the name, "Dan Ryan", "Edens".
Oh, well..."a rose by any other name is still a rose".
Friends in Kansas City say "Freeway", friends and family in Chicago refer to the name, "Dan Ryan", "Edens".
Oh, well..."a rose by any other name is still a rose".
tbspqr wrote:I would only use freeway in a place where some are free and some are tollways. So here freeway doesn't make that much sense. I use "highway" but i guess that might mean high speed - which at rush hour can be a joke (same with expressway) - or it could also high as in elevated, which except portions of 40 - is not right either.
That's what people keep telling me, but free was used in L.A., before they had tollways. The term was used to say it was free of stops or lights, not tolls.
The funny thing is that, from my experience, people on the Missouri side almost always use the word "highway," while people in Illinois are split from calling it highway, or interstate. Which explains the whole I-64 vs. Highway "Farty" issue.
I might say, 'then you get on the highway', but if I'm referring to a specific highway, I'll usually just use the number. 44, or 70.
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in texas they call outer roads frontage roads... I always thought that was funny...but they also call all soda's coke. And of course say ya'll
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St. Louisans call them highways. I HATE when people call them interstates. it sounds so rural.
I call them freeways...
that is probably because I am from Florida - where "Freeway" and "Interstate" have two different meanings. FREE or NOT
that is probably because I am from Florida - where "Freeway" and "Interstate" have two different meanings. FREE or NOT
JivecitySTL wrote:St. Louisans call them highways. I HATE when people call them interstates. it sounds so rural.
It's true that most people here call them highways, but I prefer "freeway" or "interstate" -- or even "expressway." Highway is not as specific -- it does not necessarily have controlled-access. For example, Lindbergh is US highway 67, etc.
I've always called them highways growing up. (Freeways were in LA; Expressways back East.)
Then, inexplicably about five years ago I started calling them freeways and never went back.
Can't explain it but I think I wanted to differentiate between 2-lane, rural highways (Highway MM, Highway 21) and metro area, multi-lane interstates.
Then, inexplicably about five years ago I started calling them freeways and never went back.
Can't explain it but I think I wanted to differentiate between 2-lane, rural highways (Highway MM, Highway 21) and metro area, multi-lane interstates.
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I usually refer to roads as highways, but sometimes I use expressways since some local interstates have alternate names using that designator(Daniel Boone Expressway- Interstate 64/US Highway 40) comes to mind). I use the term Interstate only when there is a specific discussion about that type of road, like one I posted to over on the transportation forum.