🚗 Automotive Culture: A History of Expressways📰

 Biaoxuezhi | Japanese Car Enthusiast Magazine | 📅 Updated: 2025-05-07📲 Reposted from the WeChat official account: Biaoxuezhi

🎉 It's that time of year again—Spring Festival travel rush—and of course, driving home is an essential part. So this time, our topic is: Expressways... 🚧

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🛣️ China’s first expressway construction began on June 7, 1984: the Shenda Expressway (Shenyang–Dalian), with a planned length of 375 km. It wasn’t fully opened until August 20, 1990. The first expressway to open to traffic was the shorter Hujia Expressway, 20.4 km long, officially opened on October 31, 1988. 🚦

From that point, China truly entered the expressway era—not too late actually, as the U.S. only entered its expressway era in 1956.

By the end of 2000, the total length in operation reached 16,000 km with the full opening of the Jing-Shen (Beijing–Shenyang) and Jing-Hu (Beijing–Shanghai) expressways.

By the end of 2010, China reached 74,000 km of expressways. In 2011, it surpassed 85,000 km, overtaking the U.S. to become number one in the world. 🌍

Following China’s pattern—"once we move from second to first, we rapidly outpace competitors"—by 2020, China’s expressway mileage hit 161,000 km, far ahead of second place (the U.S.). The gap continues to grow. 📈

🛑 While most drivers know the word "expressway", not many understand the cultural or historical development behind it. In English, many assume "highway" is correct—but that’s only half right. 🧠

📘 “Highway” historically refers more to national roads. A more accurate term is Controlled-access Highway—also known as Freeway.

But here's a nuance: all expressways in China charge tolls, and internationally, toll roads are called Expressways. So in English, China’s expressways should be called Expressways, not Highways or Freeways.

✅ The only exception is Hainan’s G98 and branches, which can be called Freeways, as the toll is included in the fuel price. This model exists in other countries too.

🌍 Let’s look at how other languages define "expressway":

🇮🇹 Autostrada (Italian)🇩🇪 Autobahn (German)🇫🇷 Autoroute (French)🇯🇵 高速道路 (Kōsoku-dōro, Japanese)

These languages are key due to their roles in automotive history.

⚙️ France, for example, played a critical role:

First automobile (steam): 1769, FranceFirst internal combustion car (patent): 1884, FranceFirst car race: 1887 & 1894, FranceFirst auto club (ACF): 1895, France ➡️ Now FIA

🇫🇷 Sadly, some Chinese media previously promoted bias against French cars—praising German ones due to influence and sponsorships. This led to misperceptions among many drivers.

🏁 The origin of expressways is also linked to motorsports:

Early races were on open roads—dangerous and accident-prone.

Example: 1903 Paris–Madrid race caused 8 deaths, 15 injuries.

This pushed France to develop closed circuits like Le Mans.

🛞 The first purpose-built tracks:

🏁 Brooklands (UK), 1907🏁 Indianapolis (USA), 1909🏁 AVUS (Germany), 1921🏁 Monza (Italy), ~1922🏁 Nürburgring (Germany), opened 1927

⚠️ Some falsely claim AVUS is the first expressway. But AVUS was a test circuit, not a public road. Its full name: Automobil Verkehrs und Übungstraße GmbH—"Automotive Traffic and Test Road".

🏆 The first true expressway was Italy’s A8, completed 1924, connecting Milan and Varese. Designed by Piero Puricelli, it was fully closed, with no intersections, and car-only—meeting modern expressway criteria.

The word Autostrada even influenced other languages:

Autobahn (German)Autopista (Spanish)Motorway (English)

📌 Germany’s first expressway was A555, opened in 1932, from Cologne to Bonn. Hitler came to power in 1933 and adopted the name Autobahn.

💡 The term was coined by German engineer Robert Otzen, possibly in 1929 or 1934.

🚫 Germany's famous "no-speed-limit" tradition didn’t exist at the beginning. A555 was designed for 120 kph, and most pre-WWII cars couldn't reach that speed.

🏎️ Later, due to diplomatic vehicles with immunity on B9 branch roads and lack of enforcement, a de facto unlimited-speed culture took root.

🛣️ After WWII, Germany's expressway system grew rapidly, becoming Bundesautobahnen (Federal Expressways). The no-speed-limit zones evolved as a result of unique postwar politics, not pure engineering foresight. Even today, only around 47% of Germany's expressways have no speed limit.

🚨 Rules apply:

Trucks, trailers: max 80 kphMotorcycles, buses: max 60 kphBremen state: strict 120 kph

🚗 Contrary to myth, Germany isn’t the only country with unlimited speed segments—Colombia and others also have them.

👀 In traffic jams, German drivers instinctively leave emergency lanes. This kind of ethical driving is lacking in many other countries, including China.

🇯🇵 In Japan, car modification laws were introduced due to reckless behavior by US soldiers after WWII. Modding is now legal but strictly regulated.

🇫🇷 France’s first expressway, A13, planned in 1940, opened in 1946. Today, 5 companies manage over 11,000 km, with limits: 130 kph dry / 110 kph wet.

🇺🇸 America’s first modern expressway? Long Island Motor Parkway, 1908—private, tolled, used as a racetrack. The Interstate Highway System came later, planned by Eisenhower in 1956, modeled on Germany's Autobahn.

💵 Toll-free? Not quite. U.S. fast lanes often use electronic tolling, and violations still get billed. Most state-set speed limits are 65–75 mph (~105–120 kph).

🗺️ Road sign conventions:

Green signs: used in China, USBlue signs: Europe

Defined by Vienna Convention (1968), which China and the US have not signed.

🛑 Final thoughts: Unlimited speed sounds thrilling—but China, lacking a strong driving culture, isn’t ready. Car ethics, not engine power, keep roads safe.

💬 Now that you've read this far, do you feel you've gained a deeper appreciation of expressways—from Autostrada to Autobahn, from history to highway etiquette?

Stay safe, and drive smart. 🚘✨