Elevated freeways may be used where surface or subsurface ground conditions make a depressed or ground-level freeway infeasible. These can be constructed on either viaducts or embankments depending on current conditions and design requirements.

Elevated freeways allow ground-level traffic to pass underneath, and additional space created beneath the structure can be used for other purposes. These freeways are typically high in cost and are located in dense areas where space is limited. Frontage roads are not typically required due to the elevation difference allowing cross-traffic to operate normally, and an offset of 15 to 20-ft is typically recommended from the structure to surrounding buildings.