Gore (road)

A "virtual" (or theoretical) gore is a triangular shaped space, characteristically marked off with distinguishing highway paint, often found leading to the unpaved area of a larger physical gore.

The term gore (describing a space) is a historic one, representing a characteristically triangular piece of land, often designated incidentally when two surveys failed to meet.

[2] A theoretical gore is commonly marked with transverse or chevron painted lines (much as traffic islands) at both entrance and exit ramps.

These help separate drivers on the mainline from those entering and exiting the highway, and also aid the latter category of drivers in regulating their speed while accelerating and decelerating.

This as a "neutral area" with white chevron markings optionally added.

Highway exit gore in Gdańsk, Poland, with a transversely lined "theoretical gore", followed by a grass-covered physical one
Two diverging white lines demarcate the theoretical gore of this highway exit on Interstate 40 in Arkansas, with a grass-covered physical gore following it. In this instance, the theoretical gore contains no markings.
Exit gore on Interstate 95 in Connecticut. Note the theoretical gore has been marked with chevrons.