surface road

noun

1. a road or street level with its surroundings:

   surface roads and elevated highways.

Word History and Origins

Origin of surface road¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

As with many U.S. bridges, the deck on the 1962 steel-truss bridge is susceptible to wear and tear because air circulates below, making freeze-and-thaw cycles more rapid than on a surface road insulated by the ground.

From Seattle Times

But this book, focused on the dig, isn’t a place to learn about the litigation, nor Seattle’s political arguments about whether to build highway infrastructure during climate change, or the eight years of debate and advisory votes pitting a new viaduct vs. a tunnel vs. a surface road.

From Seattle Times

Rutland County Council said it had recently approved a new safety scheme for the village, to take place in the summer, which will involve a 40mph "buffer zone", an anti-skid road surface, road studs, markings, and improved signage.

From BBC

He told the dispatcher he was close to losing consciousness, but succeeded in driving to the surface road more than a mile away where rescuers found him, the newspaper said.

From Washington Times

Often the breaks in the narrative feel like you've been rerouted off the interstate only to get stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a surface road, but there are other moments where the pauses are totally magical.

From Salon