Key:highway

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highway

Description

The highway tag is the primary tag used for any kind of street or way.

Group

Highway

Element help

Useful combination

Implies

access=yes

Tools for this tag

Usage

See also: Highways

The highway tag is the main tag used for identifying any kind of road/street or path. It is a very general and sometimes vague description of the importance of the highway for the road grid. See Highway:International equivalence for how to interpret this tag in different countries.

Values

See below for details of commonly used tag values:

Key	Value	Comment	Rendering
Roads
highway	motorway	A restricted access major divided highway, normally with 2 or more running lanes plus emergency hard shoulder. Equivalent to the Freeway, Autobahn, etc..
highway	motorway_link	The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a motorway from/to a motorway or lower class highway. Normally with the same motorway restrictions.
highway	trunk	Important roads that aren't motorways. Typically maintained by central, not local government. Need not necessarily be a divided highway. In the UK, all green signed A roads are, in OSM, classed as 'trunk'.
highway	trunk_link	The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a trunk road from/to a trunk road or lower class highway.
highway	primary	Administrative classification in the UK, generally linking larger towns.
highway	primary_link	The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a primary road from/to a primary road or lower class highway.
highway	secondary	Administrative classification in the UK, generally linking smaller towns and villages
highway	secondary_link	The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a secondary road from/to a secondary road or lower class highway.
highway	tertiary	A "C" road in the UK. Generally for use on roads wider than 4 metres (13') in width, and for faster/wider minor roads that aren't A or B roads. In the UK, they tend to have dashed lines down the middle, whereas unclassified roads don't.
highway	tertiary_link	The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a tertiary road from/to a tertiary road or lower class highway.
highway	living_street	For living streets, which are residential streets where pedestrians have legal priority over cars, speeds are kept very low and where children are allowed play on the street. Also known as Home Zones in the UK.
highway	pedestrian	For roads used mainly/exclusively for pedestrians in shopping and some residential areas which may allow access by motorised vehicles only for very limited periods of the day. To create a 'square' or 'plaza' create a closed way and tag as pedestrian and also with `area=yes`.
highway	residential	Roads which are primarily lined with housing, but which are of a lowest classification than tertiary and which are not living streets. Using `abutters=residential` together with tertiary, secondary etc for more major roads which are lined with housing.
highway	unclassified	To be used for minor roads in the public road network which are not residential and of a lower classification than tertiary. Please do not use this as a marker for roads where the classification is unknown, for which `highway=road` should be used. Use `highway=residential` for minor roads lined with housing. See `highway=service` for access roads
highway	service	For access roads to, or within an industrial estate, camp site, business park, car park etc. Can be used in conjunction with `service=` to indicate the type of usage and with `access=` to indicate who can use it and in what circumstances.
highway	track	Roads for agricultural or forestry uses etc. Often rough with unpaved/unsealed surfaces. Use `tracktype=*` for tagging to describe the surface.
highway	bus_guideway	A busway where the vehicle guided by the way (though not a railway) and is not suitable for other traffic. Please note: this is not a normal bus lane, use `access=no`, `psv=yes` instead!
highway	raceway	A course or track for (motor) racing
highway	road	A road of unknown classification. This is intended as a temporary tag to mark a road until it has been properly surveyed. Once it has been surveyed, the classification should be updated to the appropriate value.
Paths
highway	path	A non-specific or shared-use path. Probably better to use `highway=footway` for paths mainly for walkers, `highway=cycleway` for one also usable by cyclists, `highway=bridleway` for ones available to horses as well as walkers and `highway=track` for ones which is passable by agriculture or similar vehicles.
highway	footway	For designated footpaths; i.e., mainly/exclusively for pedestrians. This includes walking tracks and gravel paths. If bicycles are allowed as well, you can indicate this by adding a `bicycle=yes` tag. Should not be used for paths where the primary or intended usage is unknown. Use `highway=pedestrian` for pedestrianised roads in shopping or residential areas and `highway=track` if it is usable by agricultural or similar vehicles.
highway	cycleway	For designated cycleways; i.e., mainly/exclusively for bicycles. Add `foot=*` only if default-access-restrictions do not apply.
highway	bridleway	For horses, (in the UK, these are rights of way for pedestrians, horse-riders and cyclists). Equivalent to `highway=path` + `horse=designated`.
highway	steps	For flights of steps (stairs) on footways. Use with `step_count=*` to indicate the number of steps
Lifecycle
highway	proposed	For planned roads, use with `proposed=` and also `proposed=` with a value of the proposed highway value.
highway	construction	For roads under construction. Use `construction=*` to hold the value for the completed road.
Attributes
abutters	commercial/ industrial/ mixed/ residential/ retail etc.	See Key:abutters for more details.
cycleway	lane / opposite / opposite_lane / opposite_track / shared / share_busway / shared_lane / track	See Key:cycleway for more details.
ice_road	yes	A highway is laid upon frozen water basin, definitely doesn't exist in summer.
incline	Number %/°	Incline steepness as percents ("5%") or degrees ("20°"). Positive/negative values indicate movement upward/downwards in the direction of the way.
junction	roundabout	This automatically implies `oneway=yes`, the oneway direction is defined by the sequential ordering of nodes within the Way. This applies on a way, tagged with `highway=*` already.
lanes	number	The number of traffic lanes for general purpose traffic, also for buses and other specific classes of vehicle.
lit	yes/no	Street lighting
motorroad	yes / no	The motorroad tag is used to describe highways that have motorway-like access restrictions but that are not a motorway.
mountain_pass	yes	The highest point of a mountain pass.
mtb:scale	0-5	Applies to `highway=path` and `highway=track`. A classification scheme for mtb trails (few inclination and downhill).
mtb:scale:uphill	0-5	A classification scheme for mtb trails for going uphill if there is significant inclination.
mtb:scale:imba	0-4	The IMBA Trail Difficulty Rating System shall be used for bikeparks. It is adapted to mtb trails with artificial obstacles.
mtb:description	Text	Applies to `highway=path` and `highway=track`. A key to input variable infos related to mtbiking on a way with human words
overtaking	yes/ no/ both/ forward/ backward	Specifying sections of roads where overtaking is legally forbidden.
passing_places	yes	A way which has frequent passing places
sac_scale	hiking / mountain_hiking / demanding_mountain_hiking / alpine_hiking / demanding_alpine_hiking / difficult_alpine_hiking	Applies to `highway=path` and `highway=footway`. A classification scheme for hiking trails.
service	alley/ driveway/ parking_aisle etc.	See Key:service for more details.
surface	paved / unpaved / asphalt / concrete / paving_stones / cobblestone / metal / wood / grass_paver / gravel / pebblestone / grass / ground / earth / dirt / mud / sand	See Key:surface for more details.
tactile_paving	yes / no	A paving in the ground to be followed with a blindman's stick.	Not to be rendered on standard maps.
tracktype	grades 1-5	To describe the quality of the surface. See Key:tracktype and Key:surface for more information.
traffic_calming	yes/ bump/ hump/ cushion/ table etc.	See Key:traffic_calming for more details.
trail_visibility	excellent / good / intermediate / bad / horrible / no	Applies to `highway=path`, `highway=footway`, `highway=cycleway` and `highway=bridleway`. A classification for hiking trails visibility
winter_road	yes	A highway functions during winter, probably can't be driven in summer.
Other features
highway	bus_stop	A small bus stop. Can be mapped more rigorously using `public_transport=stop_position` for the position where the vehicle stops and `public_transport=platform` for the place where passengers wait. See `public_transport=*` for more details.
highway	crossing	Pedestrians can cross a street here; e.g., zebra crossing
highway	emergency_access_point	Sign number which can be used to define your current position in case of an emergency. Use with `ref=NUMBER_ON_THE_SIGN`
highway	escape	Emergency lane beside long descending slopes for trucks and other vehicles to stop safely after brake failure.	Not decided yet, but a white/red checkered line has been proposed.
ford	yes	The road crosses through stream or river, vehicles must enter any water. See `ford=*`.
highway	give_way	A give way sign
emergency	phone	A calling device can be used to tell on your current position in case of an emergency. Use with `ref=NUMBER_ON_THE_SIGN`
highway	mini_roundabout	Similar to roundabouts, but at the center there is either a painted circle or a fully traversable island. In case of an untraversable center island, `junction=roundabout` should be used. Rendered as anti-clockwise by default `direction=anticlockwise`. To render clockwise add the tag `direction=clockwise`.
highway	motorway_junction	Indicates a junction (UK) or exit (US). `ref=*` should be set to the exit number or junction identifier. (Some roads - e.g., the A14 - also carry junction numbers, so the tag may be encountered elsewhere despite its name)
highway	passing_place	The location of a passing space
highway	rest_area	Place where drivers can leave the road to rest, but not refuel.
highway	speed_camera	A fixed road-side or overhead speed camera.
highway	street_lamp	A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night
highway	services	A service station to get food and eat something, often found at motorways
highway	stop	A stop sign
highway	traffic_signals	Lights that control the traffic
highway	turning_circle	A turning circle is a rounded, widened area usually, but not necessarily, at the end of a road to facilitate easier turning of a vehicle.
highway	User Defined	All commonly used values according to Taginfo