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A '''beltway''' is a [[highway]] that encircles an [[urban]] area so that [[traffic]] does not have to go through that urban area.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beltway "Beltway," from Dictionary.com]</ref> Other terms are "ring road" and "orbital motorway." Unlike urban highways, beltways generally require little or no demolition of existing property, as where possible they run through non-built up areas.
A '''beltway''' is a [[highway]] that encircles an [[urban]] area so that [[traffic]] does not have to go through that urban area.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beltway "Beltway," from Dictionary.com]</ref>
==Capital Beltway==
"The Beltway" as a proper noun typically refers to I-495, properly called "The Capital Beltway," the eastern half of which is also designated I-95. The Capital Beltway is a 6- to 10-lane highway which surrounds [[Washington DC]]. It loops through [[Suburb]]an [[Maryland]] and Northern [[Virginia]] (and for a very short distance over the waters of the District of Columbia<ref>[http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Woodrow_Wilson_Bridge.html "Woodrow Wilson Bridge," from Roads to the Future]</ref>), crossing the [[Potomac River]] in two different locations. The [[American Legion Bridge]] and the [[Woodrow Wilson Bridge]] are choke-points for area traffic. <ref>http://www.traffic.com/Washington-DC-Traffic/I-495_Capital_Beltway-1.html</ref>
"The Beltway" as a proper noun typically refers to I-495, properly called "The Capital Beltway," the eastern half of which is also designated I-95. The Capital Beltway is a 6 to 8 lane highway which surrounds [[Washington DC]]. It loops through [[Suburb]]an [[Maryland]] and Northern [[Virginia]] (and for a very short distance over the waters of the District of Columbia<ref>[http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Woodrow_Wilson_Bridge.html "Woodrow Wilson Bridge," from Roads to the Future]</ref>), crossing the [[Potomac River]] in two different locations. The [[American Legion Bridge]] and the [[Woodrow Wilson Bridge]] are choke-points for area traffic. <ref>http://www.traffic.com/Washington-DC-Traffic/I-495_Capital_Beltway-1.html</ref>
Because the Beltway is a closed loop, the usual directional terminology used on other highways is ineffective in describing I-495. Thus, rather than traveling on North I-495 or East I-495, the two directions on the Beltway are called the "Inner Loop" and the "Outer Loop". Travelers on the Inner Loop of the Beltway move in a "clockwise" direction, while Outer Loop travelers travel the opposite direction. For a few miles on either side of the Wilson Bridge, each of the loops splits into local and express (through) roadways, for a total of four roadways called (from north to south) Inner Loop — Local, Inner Loop — Through, Outer Loop — Through, and Outer Loop — Local.
Because the Beltway is a closed loop, the usual directional terminology used on other highways is ineffective in describing I-495. Thus, rather than traveling on North I-495 or East I-495, the two directions on the Beltway are called the "Inner Loop" and the "Outer Loop". Travelers on the Inner Loop of the Beltway move in a "clockwise" direction, while Outer Loop travelers travel the opposite direction. For a few miles on either side of the Wilson Bridge, each of the loops splits into local and express (through) roadways, for a total of four roadways called (from north to south) Inner Loop — Local, Inner Loop — Through, Outer Loop — Through, and Outer Loop — Local.
The phrase "Inside the Beltway" refers to political matters related to the Capitol in Washington DC. <ref>http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/beltway.htm</ref> "Inside the Beltway" is also a regular column in the [[Washington Times]]. Most governmental agencies and buildings are located inside the Beltway in Maryland, DC or Virginia.
The phrase "Inside the Beltway" refers to political matters related to the Capitol in Washington DC. <ref>http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/beltway.htm</ref> "Inside the Beltway" is also a regular column in the [[Washington Times]]. Most governmental agencies and buildings are located inside the Beltway in Maryland, DC or Virginia.
==Orbital motorways in the United Kingdom==
There are two true orbital motorways in [[Great Britain]]: the M25 [[London]] Orbital, which surrounds [[Greater London]], and the M60 Manchester Orbital, which surrounds [[Manchester]] and [[Salford]].
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Transportation]]
[[Category:Transportation]]