Hovedvei

Hovedvei is a Norwegian term meaning “main road” or “principal road.” It is used in transport planning and everyday language to designate the primary through route within a road network, typically connecting larger towns, regional centers, or national corridors. Hovedveier function as the backbone of traffic flow, handling higher volumes and longer-distance travel than local or residential streets. They are usually designed as higher-capacity routes with features to support faster travel and safe interactions with other traffic, though exact standards vary by country and region.

In terms of classification, hovedvei is a functional label rather than a fixed administrative category. It may coincide with what planners also call arterial roads. In Norway, road administration uses categories such as riksvei and fylkesvei, but hovedvei is still used in planning to describe the main through routes within municipalities or counties and to denote prioritization for maintenance and improvements. The concept is similar to main roads or arterials in other countries, serving as primary connectors between population centers and economic zones.

Etymology: hovedvei consists of hoved meaning “main” or “head” and vei meaning “road” or “way.”