Trunk roads are major roads that connect two or more cities, ports, airports or other important locations, and are the recommended route for long-distance travel and freight transportation. In Europe, some trunk roads have independent carriageways for each direction of traffic, and may meet the standards for highways.[1] In other countries, however, the technical properties of the road itself are not distinguished or defined, as long as it meets a criterion of importance in the interconnection it provides.
Europe
Germany
According to German law, both motorways (better known as Autobahnen) and federal roads (or Bundesstraßen) are categorized as trunk roads and are called Fernstraßen or Fernverkehrsstraßen (literally "long-distance roads").
Since the beginning of numbering in the Weimar Republic, regional interconnecting roads were called Fernverkehrsstraßen (sometimes abbreviated as "FVS" in official documents). In 1934 its name was changed to Reichsstraßen, referring to the Third Reich. At the time of the German Democratic Republic, the name Fernverkehrsstraße with the abbreviation "F" was also used for this type of road,[2] maintaining for the most part the numbering given in Nazi Germany.
As of June 18, 2013, the new guidelines for this type of roads prescribe that they must have three lanes in a 2:1 configuration and separated by a double continuous line, the space between which must be green for better delimitation.[3].
Austria
Austrian law does not define these types of roads specifically. Colloquially, however, the term Fernstraße is used to refer to the Autobahnen and federal roads (Bundesstraßen).
United Kingdom
Trunk roads were formally defined in the United Kingdom in 1936 in the Trunk Roads Act. Thirty highways spanning 4,500 miles (7,242 km) were classified as such and the country's Ministry of Transportation assumed direct control over them and the bridges that crossed them. The decree came into force in England and Wales on April 1, 1937, and in Scotland on May 16, 1937. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, has always maintained its own system of roads and traffic laws.
Interurban roads
Introduction
Trunk roads are major roads that connect two or more cities, ports, airports or other important locations, and are the recommended route for long-distance travel and freight transportation. In Europe, some trunk roads have independent carriageways for each direction of traffic, and may meet the standards for highways.[1] In other countries, however, the technical properties of the road itself are not distinguished or defined, as long as it meets a criterion of importance in the interconnection it provides.
Europe
Germany
According to German law, both motorways (better known as Autobahnen) and federal roads (or Bundesstraßen) are categorized as trunk roads and are called Fernstraßen or Fernverkehrsstraßen (literally "long-distance roads").
Since the beginning of numbering in the Weimar Republic, regional interconnecting roads were called Fernverkehrsstraßen (sometimes abbreviated as "FVS" in official documents). In 1934 its name was changed to Reichsstraßen, referring to the Third Reich. At the time of the German Democratic Republic, the name Fernverkehrsstraße with the abbreviation "F" was also used for this type of road,[2] maintaining for the most part the numbering given in Nazi Germany.
As of June 18, 2013, the new guidelines for this type of roads prescribe that they must have three lanes in a 2:1 configuration and separated by a double continuous line, the space between which must be green for better delimitation.[3].
Austria
Austrian law does not define these types of roads specifically. Colloquially, however, the term Fernstraße is used to refer to the Autobahnen and federal roads (Bundesstraßen).
Later, the Trunk Road Act of 1946 added additional roads to the trunk network. Others, like almost the majority of British motorways, have entered the system as a result of construction work. As of 2004, the United Kingdom had 7,845 miles (12,625 km) of trunk roads, of which 2,161 miles (3,478 km) were motorways.[4].
In England, trunk roads have been managed by the Highway Agency since 1994. Scotland, for its part, has had administrative control of its trunk roads since 1998 by the Transport Scotland agency created in 2006. The Welsh government has managed its trunk roads since its creation in 1998.
Including motorways, England has a trunk road network of 4,814 miles (7,747 km), Scotland with 1,982 miles (3,190 km) and Wales with 1,048 miles (1,687 km). The Highway Agency publishes a complete map Archived August 17, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. of trunk roads and highways in England.
Most intercity trunks are classified as primary routes ("A" roads), the recommended road classification for long-distance travel and freight transportation. However, not all primary roads are trunk roads; The difference is that the maintenance of the trunk roads is carried out by the British national government, while that of the main roads is assumed by the local councils of the areas it passes through. Primary routes are marked with signs with a green background, white text (if applicable) and the route number in yellow. Trunk roads, like other "A" roads, may or may not have separate carriageways for each direction of travel.
Historically, trunk roads were represented on maps with the number followed by a "T" in parentheses to distinguish them from sections of the same road that were not categorized as trunk. However, this suffix nomenclature is no longer used on current Ordnance Survey maps, which only distinguish between primary and non-primary "A" roads. Those trunk roads that were later converted into highways may retain their "A" road nomenclature, adding an "M" in parentheses to denote that the highway regulations apply within them. Some examples of this phenomenon are the A1(M) highways in England, and the A74(M) and A74(M) in Spain.[1].
Ireland
Most major roads in Ireland were classified in an old system as trunk roads and had numerals prefixed with "T". The connecting roads (in English link roads) used the prefix "L". Many of these roads emerged from historic toll routes (or turnpikes).
Ireland has adopted a new classification scheme for primary roads and secondary national routes ("N" roads), regional roads ("R" roads) and local roads ("L" prefix roads), even though some signs still use the old nomenclature. Local roads were not signposted before, but currently they still have their number signposted in several regions of the country.
The current "L" road classification is not related to the previous classification for link roads.
Sweden
The most important roads in Sweden are called national trunk roads. The parliament of that country decided in 1992 which roads would become trunk roads. These are the recommended roads for long distances.
Unlike other highways and roads, whose planning is carried out at the local level, national trunks are planned at the national level. They also have a slightly larger budget. However, they are not particularly signposted, so there is no difference in signage, numbering, technical characteristics or demarcations on maps that differentiate them from other national highways. Some national roads are only trunk roads in some segments, but not in their entirety. National Highways 73 and 75 meet highway standards and have a high traffic volume, but are not classified as trunk roads. European roads are always trunk roads in Sweden and have special numbering.
Swiss
In Switzerland there is no legal definition for this type of road. The national road network (Nationalstrassen) is intended for long-distance traffic.
America
Colombia
Resolution No. 339 of February 26, 1999 of the Ministry of Transportation defines trunks as roads belonging to the primary road network that begin their journey at international borders and end at ports in the Caribbean Sea or at international borders, that is, whose route is in a north-south direction; They are assigned an odd numerical identifier. The transverse ones, on the other hand, have an east-west route and are identified with even numbers.
Ecuador
A primary road is considered trunk if it has a north-south direction. The trunk number is two digits (except the Insular Trunk) and odd. They are numbered incrementally from west to east.
USA
Although the term is not commonly used in American English, the Federal Highway Network and the Interstate Highway System could be considered trunk lines. The states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin designate their state highways as "state trunklines" (state trunklines or state trunk highways). Although the system as such and many of the roads belonging to it can be conceived as trunk roads, not all federal or state roads are trunk roads nor do they necessarily meet the standards prescribed for this type of road in other countries in Europe. Some, especially in rural areas, are simple two-lane roads.
Asia
China
China has begun development of its National Trunk Highway System, which will create several north-south, east-west, and radial highways to the capital, Beijing.
Trunk roads were formally defined in the United Kingdom in 1936 in the Trunk Roads Act. Thirty highways spanning 4,500 miles (7,242 km) were classified as such and the country's Ministry of Transportation assumed direct control over them and the bridges that crossed them. The decree came into force in England and Wales on April 1, 1937, and in Scotland on May 16, 1937. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, has always maintained its own system of roads and traffic laws.
Later, the Trunk Road Act of 1946 added additional roads to the trunk network. Others, like almost the majority of British motorways, have entered the system as a result of construction work. As of 2004, the United Kingdom had 7,845 miles (12,625 km) of trunk roads, of which 2,161 miles (3,478 km) were motorways.[4].
In England, trunk roads have been managed by the Highway Agency since 1994. Scotland, for its part, has had administrative control of its trunk roads since 1998 by the Transport Scotland agency created in 2006. The Welsh government has managed its trunk roads since its creation in 1998.
Including motorways, England has a trunk road network of 4,814 miles (7,747 km), Scotland with 1,982 miles (3,190 km) and Wales with 1,048 miles (1,687 km). The Highway Agency publishes a complete map Archived August 17, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. of trunk roads and highways in England.
Most intercity trunks are classified as primary routes ("A" roads), the recommended road classification for long-distance travel and freight transportation. However, not all primary roads are trunk roads; The difference is that the maintenance of the trunk roads is carried out by the British national government, while that of the main roads is assumed by the local councils of the areas it passes through. Primary routes are marked with signs with a green background, white text (if applicable) and the route number in yellow. Trunk roads, like other "A" roads, may or may not have separate carriageways for each direction of travel.
Historically, trunk roads were represented on maps with the number followed by a "T" in parentheses to distinguish them from sections of the same road that were not categorized as trunk. However, this suffix nomenclature is no longer used on current Ordnance Survey maps, which only distinguish between primary and non-primary "A" roads. Those trunk roads that were later converted into highways may retain their "A" road nomenclature, adding an "M" in parentheses to denote that the highway regulations apply within them. Some examples of this phenomenon are the A1(M) highways in England, and the A74(M) and A74(M) in Spain.[1].
Ireland
Most major roads in Ireland were classified in an old system as trunk roads and had numerals prefixed with "T". The connecting roads (in English link roads) used the prefix "L". Many of these roads emerged from historic toll routes (or turnpikes).
Ireland has adopted a new classification scheme for primary roads and secondary national routes ("N" roads), regional roads ("R" roads) and local roads ("L" prefix roads), even though some signs still use the old nomenclature. Local roads were not signposted before, but currently they still have their number signposted in several regions of the country.
The current "L" road classification is not related to the previous classification for link roads.
Sweden
The most important roads in Sweden are called national trunk roads. The parliament of that country decided in 1992 which roads would become trunk roads. These are the recommended roads for long distances.
Unlike other highways and roads, whose planning is carried out at the local level, national trunks are planned at the national level. They also have a slightly larger budget. However, they are not particularly signposted, so there is no difference in signage, numbering, technical characteristics or demarcations on maps that differentiate them from other national highways. Some national roads are only trunk roads in some segments, but not in their entirety. National Highways 73 and 75 meet highway standards and have a high traffic volume, but are not classified as trunk roads. European roads are always trunk roads in Sweden and have special numbering.
Swiss
In Switzerland there is no legal definition for this type of road. The national road network (Nationalstrassen) is intended for long-distance traffic.
America
Colombia
Resolution No. 339 of February 26, 1999 of the Ministry of Transportation defines trunks as roads belonging to the primary road network that begin their journey at international borders and end at ports in the Caribbean Sea or at international borders, that is, whose route is in a north-south direction; They are assigned an odd numerical identifier. The transverse ones, on the other hand, have an east-west route and are identified with even numbers.
Ecuador
A primary road is considered trunk if it has a north-south direction. The trunk number is two digits (except the Insular Trunk) and odd. They are numbered incrementally from west to east.
USA
Although the term is not commonly used in American English, the Federal Highway Network and the Interstate Highway System could be considered trunk lines. The states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin designate their state highways as "state trunklines" (state trunklines or state trunk highways). Although the system as such and many of the roads belonging to it can be conceived as trunk roads, not all federal or state roads are trunk roads nor do they necessarily meet the standards prescribed for this type of road in other countries in Europe. Some, especially in rural areas, are simple two-lane roads.
Asia
China
China has begun development of its National Trunk Highway System, which will create several north-south, east-west, and radial highways to the capital, Beijing.