What is the purpose of an interchange?

An interchange is specifically designed to connect a freeway with another road or freeway, allowing for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles between different traffic routes. This connection is vital for maintaining traffic flow, reducing congestion, and facilitating easier transitions for drivers moving from one high-speed road to another.

Interchanges often feature ramps that allow drivers to exit one roadway and enter another without stopping, thus improving overall safety and travel times. This infrastructure is critical in ensuring that drivers can navigate major highway systems smoothly while minimizing the potential for accidents at junctions where different traffic streams meet.

The other options, such as providing fuel stations, indicating speed limits, or showing parking restrictions, do not accurately encompass the primary purpose of an interchange, which is focused solely on the connectivity between major road systems.