Talk:Controlled-access highway

Add "Interstate" to the names at the beginning?

The intro lists a number of different names that English speakers commonly use to refer to this type of highway, including "freeway", "throughway", and "parkway". But one which strikes me as noticeably missing is "Interstate". And yes, I know that, strictly speaking, this name refers to the US Interstate Highway System, but as a common name, its usage is very common in many parts of the US, particularly in the South/Southeast and Midwest. This could be considered something of a genericized common name, similar to a genericized trademark. On the West Coast, it's more common for people to use the "freeway" name, and "parkway", "throughway", etc. are often used in parts of the Northeast. In broad swaths of the US though, people simply say "Interstate", so I think this name should be included as well. -2003:CA:871D:FF56:D1BE:4F4C:6DFC:B937 (talk) 20:49, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

I oppose this proposal. This sounds like a WP:COATRACK issue that could easily get out of control. We have had this issue before on many articles where everyone wants to insert their preferred term into the article lead, which violates WP:NOT (WP is not a soapbox). Most West Coast people do not refer to the "Interstates" because so many controlled-access highways in California, Arizona, and Washington are not interstates: California State Route 99, large segments of U.S. Route 101 in California, the various loop highways around Phoenix, Washington State Route 520, etc., just to name a few. In other words, many people in the West drive on controlled-access highways for hours and hours without ever driving on an Interstate Highway. --Coolcaesar (talk) 17:35, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion:

• Highway network in slovakia.pdf

You can see the reason for deletion at the file description page linked above. —Community Tech bot (talk) 09:51, 5 September 2025 (UTC)

De Lucht services image

De lucht services

This image is used in the article, with the following caption;

De Lucht Rest Area on the Dutch A2 - a typical rest area in the Netherlands with services (fuel, refreshments and toilets). The only access is via the highway that it serves.

Unfortunately it isn't 100% correct;

• The only official public access is via the highway

Look closely and you will see a small access road on the left hand side. This allows a small number of employees to arrive by car, and walk on to the site via a pedestrian access. This access appears unrestricted, so maybe local residents use it too, if they fancy a burger in the middle of the night. There is also an electronically controlled gate, that presumably allows access for vehicles making deliveries to the site. This only applies to De Lucht (west) on the left of the photo.

I know of other service areas (in other countries) that have a similar arrangement.

But the image is a good one, and the caption mostly correct, so I am happy to leave it in place.

WendlingCrusader (talk) 14:39, 19 April 2026 (UTC)