dálnic

Dálnic is the genitive plural form of the Czech noun dálnice, which refers to motorways. In Czech usage, dálnice denotes high-capacity, controlled-access roads designed for fast, long-distance travel. The term appears in both official and common language to describe the country’s primary express road network.

Dálnice are characterized by grade-separated interchanges, no at-grade intersections, multiple lanes in each direction, central medians, and hard shoulders. They are designed for higher speeds than ordinary roads, typically around 130 km/h where permitted. Road signage on dálnice uses route numbers with the D prefix, such as D1 or D5, and these routes form the backbone of national and international traffic corridors.

National context: In the Czech Republic, motorways are developed and maintained by the Road Directorate (ŘSD, Ředitelství silnic a dálnic ČR) under the Ministry of Transport. They connect major cities and provide cross-border links to neighboring countries. Notable examples include D1, which runs from Prague through Brno to Ostrava, and D5, which links Prague with the German border at Rozvadov. The dálnič network is part of the broader European transport infrastructure and is subject to ongoing expansion and modernization.

History and status: The modern motorway system was built mainly in the second half of the 20th century, with substantial growth from the 1960s through the 1990s and continued development thereafter. Improvements focus on safety, capacity, and regional connectivity, aiming to support both passenger travel and freight, while integrating with international corridors and other modes of transport.