expressway
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expressway
A multi-lane road built for fast traffic that often connects cities or important transport hubs. It resembles a motorway or freeway, but does not always have the same high standards, e.g. regarding junctions without intersections.
Dank der neuen Schnellstrasse verkürzt sich die Fahrzeit nach Zürich um 20 Minuten.
Thanks to the new expressway, the driving time to Zurich is reduced by 20 minutes.
The word is simply made up of 'schnell' (fast) and 'Strasse' (road). So it literally describes a 'fast road', which makes it easier to understand.
Die neue Schnellstrasse umgeht das Stadtzentrum.
The new expressway bypasses the city center.
The spelling 'Schnellstrasse' with 'ss' is common in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In Germany and Austria, after the spelling reform, it is written 'Schnellstraße' with 'ß'.
In Deutschland würde man „Schnellstraße“ schreiben.
In Germany, you would write 'Schnellstraße'.
When you are driving on an expressway or are located there, you use the preposition 'auf' with the dative. To get onto it, you use 'auf' with the accusative.
Vorsicht, auf der Schnellstrasse ist ein Stau.
Careful, there is a traffic jam on the expressway.
autobahn / motorway
Autobahn and Schnellstrasse are both roads designed for fast long-distance traffic. An Autobahn typically has separate carriageways and no intersections. A Schnellstrasse can resemble an Autobahn but does not necessarily have the same structural features, for example when it comes to its connections.
Wir nahmen die Schnellstrasse, obwohl sie an einigen Stellen direkte Anschlüsse hatte.
We took the expressway even though it had direct connections in some places.
Wir nahmen die Autobahn, weil die Fahrbahnen getrennt waren und es keine Kreuzungen gab.
We took the motorway because the carriageways were separate and there were no intersections.
