Three-digit numbered interstates with an even first digit generally divert through traffic around major cities. What name is given to such a road?

Three-digit numbered interstates with an even first digit generally divert through traffic around major cities. What name is given to such a road?

• A. Beltway
• B. Bypass
• C. Outer Belt
• D. Circumferential Highway

Answer: (A)

In the Interstate system, three-digit interstates with an even first digit are built to form ring roads that encircle a city and keep through traffic out of the downtown area. That looping, bypassing function is why the name beltway fits best—the road essentially acts as a belt around the city. A bypass can serve a similar purpose but doesn’t inherently imply a complete loop around the city; circumferential highway and outer belt are less standard terms for this specific pattern. So the best fit for this road is a beltway.

In the Interstate system, three-digit interstates with an even first digit are built to form ring roads that encircle a city and keep through traffic out of the downtown area. That looping, bypassing function is why the name beltway fits best—the road essentially acts as a belt around the city. A bypass can serve a similar purpose but doesn’t inherently imply a complete loop around the city; circumferential highway and outer belt are less standard terms for this specific pattern. So the best fit for this road is a beltway.