Local–express lanes

Twelve collector and express lanes setup with three lanes in each carriageway (Highway 401)

Local-express lanes or collector-express lanes are a set of two same-direction one-way multi-lane roadways, usually on a freeway. The outer set, usually called local lanes or collector lanes, provide access to most or all interchanges. The inner set (usually called express lanes) provide for non-exiting traffic, and are not to be confused with the similar concept of express lanes that have a similar function to those in the local-express system, but contain their own exits. If there are several interchanges that are close together, which is typical on urban freeways, the frequent exit and entry ramps on the freeway would have the effect of slowing down through traffic along the freeway. Separating traffic into mainline (express lane) and local (collector lane) service alleviates this problem.

Typically, as is the case with Interstate 78 in Northern New Jersey and Highway 427 in Toronto, the express lanes are intended for traffic passing through the area and exclusively have the ramps to other freeways, while the collector lanes are designed strictly to serve interchanges within that area.

Another main purpose of having a collector-express system is to "squeeze" two freeways into one corridor. Often the collector lanes serve primarily as the direct connectors or ramp extensions, and the express lanes are designed for "through traffic".

Highway ramps or transfers usually connect the local and express lanes. If one highway ramp crosses over another, the result is known as a braid or basket weave.

The disadvantage is that a significant amount of right-of-way is required to accommodate a collector-express system, especially the collector lanes and the median barriers between the collector and express lanes. Transportation departments often design new suburban freeways with interchanges spaced far enough apart to eliminate the need for a collector-express system, and the land saved can be used for a wider median and/or extra lanes.

Examples are listed with major collector-express systems (that may handle over several interchanges) at the top, although smaller sizes will serve at least 2 interchanges.

In the United States

Local-express lanes on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

• Interstate 5 at the El Toro Y in Irvine, California and at the "5/805 merge" in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California.
• Interstate 10 west of downtown Los Angeles in California from the Harbor Freeway (Interstate and State Route 110) to Arlington Avenue.
• Interstate 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada between Russell Road and Sahara Avenue (opened to traffic October 2009).
• The Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstates 90 and 94 in Chicago), between 79th Street and Interstate 55.
• The Garden State Parkway in New Jersey from the Raritan tolls to the Asbury Park tolls.
• Interstate 76 in Southern New Jersey (westbound only) from Interstate 295 to U.S. Highway 130 approaching the Walt Whitman Bridge
• Interstate 78 in Northern New Jersey (between the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 24)
• Interstate 80 in Northern New Jersey (George Washington Bridge-Garden State Parkway and Interstate 280-Interstate 287)
• U.S. Route 1/9 in Northern New Jersey from Route 81 to US 1/9 Truck)
• Route 3 in Northern New Jersey (between the New Jersey Turnpike western spur and New Jersey Route 495)
• The Jeffries Freeway (I-96) in Detroit.
• Interstate 95 from New Jersey Route 32 to The Bronx (Varies from Inner Car Lanes & Outer Truck Lanes to traditional express-local lane setup).
• Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland (between Montrose Road and Interstate 370)
• Interstate 271 in Greater Cleveland between Interstate 480 in North Randall and Interstate 90 in Willoughby Hills
• Palatine Road between U.S. Route 12 and Sanders Road through the north suburbs of Chicago has grade-level express lanes, local lanes, and interchanges with the exception of the overpasses at Elmhurst Road and Milwaukee Avenue and an underpass at Wolf Road. It is not a freeway; instead it is called a "junior expressway". Grade-level intersections require vehicles to execute left hook turns from the outer local lanes.
• Interstate 287 in Central/North Jersey from Interstate 78 to U.S. Route 202/206
• Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) in Northeast Philadelphia is similarly a surface road with express and local roadways.
• Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) in the Washington, D.C. metro area, between Telegraph Road in Alexandria, Virginia and State Route 210 in Oxon Hill, Maryland, as the freeway crosses the Potomac River via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
• Interstate 805 (northbound only) in Chula Vista, California between the H Street and E Street/Bonita Road exits
• Dodge Street (U.S. Route 6) in Omaha, Nebraska becomes a controlled-access freeway (The West Dodge Freeway) at westbound 93rd Street with elevated local-express lanes that allow you to bypass the 114th and 120th Street intersections. The express lanes are known locally as the West Dodge Expressway.

In Canada

Ontario

• Highway 401 in Peel Region, Toronto and Durham Region
  • From east of Kennedy Road (Mississauga)—serving the interchange with Highways 410 and 403—to Highway 427
  • From east of Kipling Avenue—serving the interchange with Highway 409—to west of Brock Road (Pickering) (Primary system)
• Highway 427 from Queen Elizabeth Way/Gardiner Expressway to Highway 401 in Toronto
• Gardiner Expressway (formerly QEW) from Wickman Road (west of Kipling Avenue) to Royal York Road, in Toronto
• Highway 400 in York Region, from the Highway 7 interchange to south of Langstaff Road (signed as exit 29 to Highway 7 rather than collector-express)

In other countries

• Third Ring Road, Moscow, Russia
• A2 / N2, sections around Eindhoven, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Utrecht (all Netherlands)
• A12, Utrecht, Netherlands
• M60 motorway, Manchester, England
• M20 motorway, Maidstone, England
• M8 motorway, Glasgow, Scotland
• M30 motorway, Madrid, Spain
• Marginal Tiete, São Paulo, Brazil
• Marginal Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil
• Via Rápida Poniente y Oriente, Tijuana, Mexico
• Between Yenikapı - Bakırköy, Istanbul, Turkey
• M1 West Gate Freeway, between the M2 and Burnley Tunnel in Melbourne, Australia.

Gallery

• Elevated local-express lanes above West Dodge Road (Dodge Street) (U.S. Route 6) in Omaha, Nebraska.
  Elevated local-express lanes above West Dodge Road (Dodge Street) (U.S. Route 6) in Omaha, Nebraska.
• 
  Express (Cars only) and Local (All vehicles) setup along Interstate 95 in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
• 
  Express to collector transfer on Highway 401
• On Highway 401, green signs are used for express lanes and blue signs for the collector lanes respectively to minimize confusion for motorists.
  On Highway 401, green signs are used for express lanes and blue signs for the collector lanes respectively to minimize confusion for motorists.
• 
  Express and local lanes, M-30 circular highway in Madrid, Spain, east section.

See also

• Express lanes