Discussion:
Median or medial strip?
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h***@bbs.cpcn.com
2008-07-24 20:27:17 UTC
Permalink
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?

I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?

Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?




P.S. Previously, we did conclude that 'amber' and 'yellow' were the
same color, right?
John Lansford
2008-07-24 21:38:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime. Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.

John Lansford, PE
--
John's Shop of Wood
http://wood.jlansford.net/
Elmer
2008-07-24 22:26:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime.  Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.
Some people also call it "The Medium", but I wouldn't take their word
for it!

Elmer
Laurence Sheldon
2008-07-24 22:44:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Elmer
Post by John Lansford
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime. Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.
Some people also call it "The Medium", but I wouldn't take their word
for it!
One a similar note Pennsylvania (I think it is--I am prepared to be
corrected) calls the metal fence thing the "guide rail" which I find
amusing.
--
Requiescas in pace o email Two identifying characteristics
of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Infallibility, and the ability to
learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca

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Ralph Herman
2008-07-25 14:34:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Laurence Sheldon
Post by Elmer
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime.  Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.
Some people also call it "The Medium", but I wouldn't take their word
for it!
One a similar note Pennsylvania (I think it is--I am prepared to be
corrected) calls the metal fence thing the "guide rail"  which I find
amusing.
"Guide rail" is the term used by NYSDOT. They never use "guard rail"
as a term in their manuals or bid notices.

More info than you would ever care to know at
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-10

Ralph
Post by Laurence Sheldon
--
Requiescas in pace o email              Two identifying characteristics
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio        Infallibility, and the ability to
                                              learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca
ICBM Targeting Information:    http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
Laurence Sheldon
2008-07-25 15:09:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ralph Herman
Post by Laurence Sheldon
One a similar note Pennsylvania (I think it is--I am prepared to be
corrected) calls the metal fence thing the "guide rail" which I find
amusing.
"Guide rail" is the term used by NYSDOT. They never use "guard rail"
as a term in their manuals or bid notices.
I stand corrected and apology to Pennsylvania.
Post by Ralph Herman
More info than you would ever care to know at
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-10
Interesting. Apparently they are used as such by somebody--I noted a
lot of them missing or damaged, each occurrence carefully signed with
"Guide Rail Missing Ahead" or "Guide Rail Damaged Ahead" or some such.

Is this part of some kind of Driving By Ear thing? (I saw a person
actually doing that in my home-town in California once.)
--
Requiescas in pace o email Two identifying characteristics
of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Infallibility, and the ability to
learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca

ICBM Targeting Information: http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
Tha_Professor
2008-07-25 15:18:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by Laurence Sheldon
"Guide rail" is the term used by NYSDOT.  They never use "guard rail"
as a term in their manuals or bid notices.
I stand corrected and apology to Pennsylvania.
I'm pretty sure "Guide rail" is also used here in PA... at least most
of the time.
Laurence Sheldon
2008-07-25 15:24:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tha_Professor
Post by Laurence Sheldon
Post by Ralph Herman
"Guide rail" is the term used by NYSDOT. They never use "guard rail"
as a term in their manuals or bid notices.
I stand corrected and apology to Pennsylvania.
I'm pretty sure "Guide rail" is also used here in PA... at least most
of the time.
That's a comfort in a way--I have a terrible time sorting memories--I
can recall with crystal clarity what a place looks like, but usually not
where on the planet it was. In this case I was pretty sure it was in
Pennsylvania, but...

There are some pretty places to drive a big truck in that whole area, as
long as big cities are not part of the current picture. In my minds eye
I see that "Warning Guide Rail..." sign in gentle wooded hills....
--
Requiescas in pace o email Two identifying characteristics
of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Infallibility, and the ability to
learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca

ICBM Targeting Information: http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
Ralph Herman
2008-07-25 16:03:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Laurence Sheldon
Post by Tha_Professor
Post by Laurence Sheldon
"Guide rail" is the term used by NYSDOT.  They never use "guard rail"
as a term in their manuals or bid notices.
I stand corrected and apology to Pennsylvania.
I'm pretty sure "Guide rail" is also used here in PA... at least most
of the time.
That's a comfort in a way--I have a terrible time sorting memories--I
can recall with crystal clarity what a place looks like, but usually not
where on the planet it was.  In this case I was pretty sure it was in
Pennsylvania, but...
There are some pretty places to drive a big truck in that whole area, as
long as big cities are not part of the current picture.  In my minds eye
I see that "Warning Guide Rail..." sign in gentle wooded hills....
--
Requiescas in pace o email              Two identifying characteristics
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio        Infallibility, and the ability to
                                              learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca
ICBM Targeting Information:    http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
I stand corrected also, my quick google search shows PennDot also uses
"guide rail," in their bid documents and (I assume) their Highway
Design Manual.

Ralph
The Georgia Road Geek
2008-07-25 12:03:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Lansford
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime. Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.
John Lansford, PE
--
John's Shop of Woodhttp://wood.jlansford.net/
I believe the British call it the "central reservation".

Steve Williams :)
Atlanta, GA
Blogmaster, "The Georgia Road Geek"
Producer, "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!
http://www.georgiaroadgeek.com
http://www.roadgeek-cam.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/georgiaroadgeek
'
Elmer
2008-07-25 13:29:41 UTC
Permalink
On Jul 25, 8:03 am, The Georgia Road Geek <***@gmail.com>
wrote:
John's Shop of Woodhttp://wood.jlansford.net/
Post by The Georgia Road Geek
I believe the British call it the "central reservation".
I love the British name for speed bumps: "sleeping policemen".

Elmer
Laurence Sheldon
2008-07-25 13:56:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Lansford
John's Shop of Woodhttp://wood.jlansford.net/
Post by The Georgia Road Geek
I believe the British call it the "central reservation".
I love the British name for speed bumps: "sleeping policemen".
They have strange (to my ears) for lots of things. "Slip lanes" almost
makes sense, but "zebra" and "pelican" crossings? Like driving in a
flippin zoo.

And on some of their Double Carriage Ways the median is a low curb. Or
kerb.

But I liked the place.
--
Requiescas in pace o email Two identifying characteristics
of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Infallibility, and the ability to
learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca

ICBM Targeting Information: http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
h***@bbs.cpcn.com
2008-07-25 19:33:55 UTC
Permalink
Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime.  Every book and
technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.
You got me scared that I imagined it, but I found 'medial' in official
use:

"(F) "Medial strip" means the area, including paved shoulders and
grassed strip or median barrier separating traffic lanes for traffic
moving in opposite directions."

http://www.ohioturnpike.org/about/rules_and_regulations/pg2/

Median also had an official use.
Mark Roberts
2008-07-26 20:36:58 UTC
Permalink
John Lansford <***@bellsouth.net> had written:
| ***@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
|
| >What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
| >
| >I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
| >
| >Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
| >
| Never heard the word "medial" used anywhere, anytime. Every book and
| technical manual I've seen use the word "median" to describe the area
| that separates opposing lanes of traffic, whether paved or not.

One of my north Missouri relatives consistently used the term
"medial". I don't know where he picked it up. I believe it may just
be one of those mispronunciations that pop up every once in a while.
--
Mark Roberts - Oakland, CA - NO HTML MAIL
Permission to archive this article in any form is hereby explicitly denied.
If you quote, please quote only relevant passages and not the whole article.
Scott M. Kozel
2008-07-24 21:51:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
They both refer to basically the same thing, although 'medial' is a
adjective and not a noun.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/medial
medial
–adjective
1. situated in or pertaining to the middle; median; intermediate.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=median%20strip
median strip
–noun
a paved, planted, or landscaped strip in the center of a highway that
separates lanes of traffic going in opposite directions.
Also called medial strip, median.
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
P.S. Previously, we did conclude that 'amber' and 'yellow' were the
same color, right?
No ... amber is a much darker color, basically ... a medium to dark
brownish yellow color.
--
Scott M. Kozel Highway and Transportation History Websites
Virginia/Maryland/Washington, D.C. http://www.roadstothefuture.com
Capital Beltway Projects http://www.capital-beltway.com
Philadelphia and Delaware Valley http://www.pennways.com
My Land of Misery
2008-07-24 22:16:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Möbius? ;)
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Laurence Sheldon
2008-07-24 22:42:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by My Land of Misery
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Möbius? ;)
Truck drivers almost universally call it the comedian.

When I was a kid, we called it "the iceplant".
--
Requiescas in pace o email Two identifying characteristics
of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Infallibility, and the ability to
learn from their mistakes.
Eppure si rinfresca

ICBM Targeting Information: http://tinyurl.com/4sqczs
My Land of Misery
2008-07-24 23:16:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Laurence Sheldon
Post by My Land of Misery
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Möbius? ;)
Truck drivers almost universally call it the comedian.
When I was a kid, we called it "the iceplant".
On several stretches of rural Interstates in MO I call the configuration
"wait-a-minute cables."
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Froggie
2008-07-24 23:33:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
"Neutral ground"

If you're in New Orleans, that is...

Froggie | Reporting from Honolulu, HI | http://www.ajfroggie.com/roads/
Rich Piehl
2008-07-24 23:59:12 UTC
Permalink
Post by h***@bbs.cpcn.com
What is the proper name for the strip that separates lanes of traffic?
I've heard both 'median' and 'medial'?
Is there a difference in meaning of those two words?
Suicide lane.

Take care,
Rich

God bless the USA
--
Pat Paulsen (1927-1997) for President - 2008

Even though he's dead it makes about much sense
to vote for him as it does for the choices
that we have who are living. At least he's not
going change his position on anything.
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