roadbed

noun road·bed \ ˈrōd-ˌbed \

|Updated on: 29 May 2018

Definition of roadbed

1 a : the bed on which the ties, rails, and ballast of a railroad rest

b : the ballast or the upper surface of the ballast on which the ties rest

2 a : the earth foundation of a road prepared for surfacing

b : the part of the surface of a road traveled by vehicles

See roadbed defined for kids

Recent Examples of roadbed from the Web

Nowhere have the challenges been steeper than Big Thompson Canyon, where floodwaters scoured away not only pavements and guardrails but roadbeds and subsurface geology, effectively leaving sections of highway unsound and unsafe.

— daniel cusick, Scientific American, "Colorado Charts a New Path Away from Floodwaters," 25 May 2018
Among the upgrades, the state added board insulation for more than 50 miles beneath the roadbed, similar to the solid panels used to insulate houses, said Michael Lund, construction manager for the Dalton work.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Pricey projects loom for Alaska as erosion threatens runways, roads and more," 9 Mar. 2018
The state beefed up construction plans already underway so the highway could survive future flooding and to fight the thawing of permafrost beneath the roadbed.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Pricey projects loom for Alaska as erosion threatens runways, roads and more," 9 Mar. 2018
Officials fear the ill-famed nutria — which resembles a large rat but prefers wetter, rural environments — could bring havoc to farmland, canals, roadbeds and natural wetlands.

— kurtis alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, "Nutria crackdown: California looks to eradicate ruinous rodent before it tears up state," 9 Feb. 2018
This could result in the juveniles being too tired to think up mischief roadbed for road construction and the desire to never get stuck in juvenile court again.

— linda gandee/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Westlake teachers and Board of Education come to agreement on new contract," 5 Feb. 2018
The truck crashed at mile marker 12 shortly around 3:45 a.m., leaving about a quarter of a mile of guard railing is missing and debris on the roadbed.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Causeway reopened in both directions," 24 Jan. 2018
The roadbed beneath much of the track needs to be chipped out and replaced with fresh concrete and new drains.

— jonathan mahler, New York Times, "The Case for the Subway," 3 Jan. 2018
Outlook: Wildlife, Parks and Tourism reports: White bass fair late on jigging spoons and crankbaits off windy, rocky points or over roadbeds; crappies fair (but small) on jigs off the marina docks; all other species slow.

— bruce janssen, kansascity, "Fishing and hunting report for Kansas and Missouri for Dec. 14 | The Kansas City Star," 13 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'roadbed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.