In civil engineering, grade separation is a method of aligning a junction of two or more surface transport axes at different heights (grades) so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a mixture of roads, footpaths, railways, canals, or airport runways. Bridges, tunnels, or a combination of both can be built at a junction to achieve the needed grade separation.
An example of the potential complexity of grade separation, seen in the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago
Seven various overpasses for grade separation in Spain near Barcelona
Rail-rail grade separation in Xiaoshan, China
The concept of grade separation includes all transport modes, such as a simple pedestrian bridge over rail tracks.
In the field of road transport, an interchange or a grade-separated junction is a road junction that uses grade separations to allow for the movement of traffic between two or more roadways or highways, using a system of interconnecting roadways to permit traffic on at least one of the routes to pass through the junction without interruption from crossing traffic streams. It differs from a standard intersection, where roads cross at grade. Interchanges are almost always used when at least one road is a controlled-access highway or a limited-access divided highway (expressway), though they are sometimes used at junctions between surface streets.
An aerial view of the Lakalaiva interchange in the Tampere Ring Road between the Highway 3 (E12) and Highway 9 (E63) near city of Tampere. 61°27′46″N 23°46′10″E / 61.46278°N 23.76944°E / 61.46278; 23.76944
The Light Horse Interchange in Sydney, the largest in Australia. 33°47′53″S 150°51′15″E / 33.79806°S 150.85417°E / -33.79806; 150.85417
A full cloverleaf interchange between APD-40 and U.S. Route 64 near Cleveland, Tennessee 35°08′59.4″N 84°50′52.3″W / 35.149833°N 84.847861°W / 35.149833; -84.847861