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Boulevard Périphérique is the French term for a ring road ( US: beltway), a motorway or freeway encircling or orbiting a large city.The most famous of these is the Périphérique around Paris, a frequently congested stretch of motorway, which, unusually, does not feature a hard shoulder, and gives priority to entering vehicles. It is the generally-accepted boundary of the city. France's anglophone community occasionally refers to the Parisian example as the "Périfreak", attesting to the many accidents and thick traffic associated with it.
Although the Parisian beltway is controlled-access for its entire length, all standard road maps do not show it as a true freeway ( autoroute in French) because of its substandard construction; instead, it is depicted as a kind of expressway or super- arterial. It is notorious for its sharp curves, sharp grade changes, low tunnels, and short ramps. It does have an innovative feature where sensors in the road detect traffic speeds, and overhead electronic signs display the projected travel time to the next two or three exits.
See also
Paris
Transportation in France
French phrases
