ChrisBessert (2022-02-19 02:56:58+00:00): Okay, Max, it's clear you don't agree with my characterization of that segment of US-2/US-41 (and south of 4th Ave N in Gladstone, US-2/US-41/M-35). I believe you reside in the greater Escanaba/Gladstone metro region, so this is local to you and I'm just a downstate "interloper" trying to mis-characterize the Yooper's highways. However, I'm not characterizing this segment of roadway, I'm just using MDOT's classifications. It's not personal!

First, I was defining the GENERAL definition of "expressway" or "limited-access highway" as having "few or no intersecting roadways." I didn't say this segment of roadway had NO intersecting roadways. However, it DOES have FEWER intersecting roadways than it would have if it were constructed to free-access standards. By my count, it has nine (9) intersecting roads and zero (0) private accesses, as opposed to the fifteen (15) or more road access points it would've had, plus the innumerable private driveways and other access points it would have if it wouldn't have had its access controlled. You can always consult MDOT's own right-of-way maps to see that it is an access-controlled highway, which, it and of itself, puts it into a different category than the segments either side of it, which was your original issue with my edits.

Second, you are correct that MDOT has seemed to remove the the signs prohibiting non-motorized access to this segment of US-2/US-41, although I'm not sure if that prohibition has been *technically* removed or not. But, the signs are gone now, so let's just say the actual prohibition no longer exists, too. I was unaware they had done this for this segment—which is unique for MDOT and limited-access highways. I'm not sure why they did this. I'm not aware of any other situation in the state like this. As for "multiple traffic control devices," I never said there couldn't be traffic lights on limited-access expressway. In fact, they often DO exist. Thus, their presence doesn't negate this being a limited-access highway. 

Third, it's "divided-ness" isn't an issue (to me, at least) as to whether it's a limited-access highway. Limited-access highways can be two-lane undivided ("Super-Twos"), two-lane divided highways, and four- and five-lane undivided highways. It's the limitation on access that makes them... limited-access highways. Hence the name. You have the opinion that this limited-access segment of US-2/US-41 isn't "more important" than other segments of the route. That's fine. That's your opinion. But your opinion doesn't change the fact that MDOT has limited the access to the highway (the right-of-way fences and lack of private access should confirm that!), so we should rely on objective data rather than personal feelings on how to classify roadways. Otherwise, OSM would be even more of a shitshow dumpster fire than it already is! Can you even imagine?! I hope you can at least see that I'm attempting to use logic and reason when I'm defining the classification of highway segments instead of gut feeling or "how it should look on a map to me".

In any event, regardless, it's not up to you or I whether or not this is a limited-access highway... MDOT classifies this as a limited-access highway and does not allow any private access from abutting properties, so it is a limited-access highway whether anyone wants to believe it or not! Since the segments to the south and east are NOT limited-access, that, in and of itself, are major enough difference to require a change in classification type. I hope you can agree.