A Freeway is a multiple lane highway with fully controlled access – on-off ramps or cloverleafs, a highway without toll charges. While Expressways are divided highways with partial control of access. Freeways have full control of access. So, all freeways are expressways, but all expressways are not freeways. Access to freeways is completely controlled via ramps, with no other interruptions to the flow of traffic.
Here in Arizona, it’s nice to know what “freeway” you’re traveling on and the terms that they go by. It was one of the things that was a little confusing when I first got here. So here we go:
Stack – A four-level interchange connecting I-10 and I-17; located west of downtown Phoenix near 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.
Mini-Stack – A four-level interchange linking I-10 to State Route 51 and Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway; located south of McDowell Road and east of 16th Street.
North Stack – Another four-level interchange, this one is located at the I-17 and Loop 101, north of Bell Road.
Split – The interchange where I-10 splits or merges – depending on your direction of travel – with I-17 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Westbound I-10 splits into lanes that allow drivers to head north on I-17 or continue west on I-10.
Super Red Tan – A multi-tiered interchange in east Mesa where US 60 Superstition Freeway, Loop 202 Red Mountain and Loop 202 San Tan meet. Super Red Tan is formed by taking part of each freeway’s name – Superstition, Red Mountain and San Tan.
Broadway Curve – Southeast of the Split, this rush-hour-challenged section I-10 is near Broadway Road, and SR 143, by the Phoenix-Tempe border.
Durango Curve – The curved section of I-17 near Durango Street is located southwest of downtown Phoenix.
State Route 303 – Bob Stack Memorial Highway. Bob Stack was an Arizona Congressman
Loop 202 – has three officially designated sections along its route; the Red Mountain Freeway, the San Tan Freeway, and the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway, previously named the South Mountain Freeway (which it is still colloquially known as).
Arizona State Route 101 (SR 101) or Loop 101 is a semi-beltway looping around the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in central Arizona. It connects several suburbs of Phoenix, including Tolleson, Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler. Construction began in the late-1980s and was completed in 2002.[2]
Loop 101 has three officially designated sections along its route:
- Agua Fria Freeway in the west valley from I-10 to I-17
- Pima Freeway in the east valley from I-17 to Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway)
- Price Freeway in the east valley from Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to Loop 202 (San Tan Freeway)
Google maps is your friend too! At least now you’ll know the names of the highways!
#Transplanted