How wide is a highway?

[LenaLee]

Highway single lane width is 3.75m, emergency parking strip width is 3.5m. Width standards: According to the 'Highway Engineering Technical Standards', for highways designed with a speed of 120km/h, the lane width is 3.75m and the emergency parking strip width is 3.5m. Currently, the maximum design speed of domestic highways does not exceed 120km/h, so the above standards are generally adopted. The width of each toll booth lane on highways is 2.5 meters, and when necessary, an extra-wide lane exceeding 3.5 meters must be established. Speed standards: Article 78 stipulates that highways shall indicate the driving speed of lanes, with the maximum speed not exceeding 120 kilometers per hour and the minimum speed not less than 60 kilometers per hour. On highways, the maximum speed of small passenger vehicles shall not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, other motor vehicles shall not exceed 100 kilometers per hour, and motorcycles shall not exceed 80 kilometers per hour.

[JosephineLee]

Having driven for twenty years and traveled countless highways across the country, the most noticeable difference is the varying widths. A four-lane divided highway is the most common configuration, with the entire road surface including the emergency lane spanning about 27 meters in width. The innermost lane is 3.75 meters wide, offering ample space for driving. When encountering an eight-lane expressway, the experience immediately feels more open, with the total width soaring to over 40 meters. However, extra caution is needed on mountainous highways, where tunnel sections may narrow to just over 20 meters. Seasoned drivers know to check lane markings before overtaking, and to be especially vigilant for hazards caused by width variations in construction zones or during rainy and foggy weather.

[OTeagan]

I work in road construction, and the width standards for highways are clearly defined in our industry. National Class I highway regulations require a minimum lane width of 3.75 meters. For a four-lane divided highway, including a 3-meter central median and emergency lanes on both sides, the total width ranges between 27 to 30 meters. Safety redundancy is particularly emphasized during construction—for instance, emergency lanes must be a full 3 meters wide to accommodate broken-down vehicles, and curves are appropriately widened. I remember one time working on a plain where an eight-lane highway required 22 meters just for one side, with an astonishing amount of embankment fill.

[LaArianna]

I just got my driver's license six months ago, and the first time I drove on the highway, I noticed the road was much wider than in the city. My instructor said the standard two-way four-lane highway is about 27 meters wide, with a single lane equivalent to two lanes on a regular road. However, last month during a night drive, I was startled when the construction zone suddenly narrowed to two lanes. My palms were sweating when the navigation warned me about the narrowing ahead. For beginners, I recommend three things: staying in the middle lane is the safest, always check the rearview mirror to confirm the width before overtaking, and in tunnels, stick closely to the lane centerline—these sections are the most prone to scraping the guardrails.