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Road
This article is about a route, thoroughfare or way that supports travel by a means of conveyance. For a place outside a port where a ship can lie at anchor, see Roadstead. For public roads, see Highway. For other routes, see thoroughfare. For other uses, see Road (disambiguation).
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways (British English: carriageways) each with one or more lanes and also any associated sidewalks (British English: pavement) and road verges. Roads that are available for use by the public may be referred to as public roads or highways.
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Definitions[edit]
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines a road as "a line of communication (travelled way) using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles running on their own wheels," which includes "bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings, interchanges, and toll roads, but not cycle paths."[1]
In urban areas roads may diverge through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space easement and route.[2]Modern roads are normally smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel.[3] Historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance.[4]