Definition

1. Noun:
   • A road with two separate carriageways for traffic moving in opposite directions, divided by a central barrier or strip of land: A "dual carriageway" is a type of highway where traffic traveling in one direction is physically separated from oncoming traffic by a central reservation, such as a barrier, grass verge, or median strip. This design improves safety and traffic flow.

Usage

• As a noun (countable): The term is used to describe a specific type of road infrastructure.
  • The old road was upgraded to a dual carriageway to reduce congestion.
  • Be careful when crossing the dual carriageway; use the pedestrian bridge.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on a dual carriageway": To be traveling on this type of road.
  • Once you join the dual carriageway, you can increase your speed.
• "A stretch of dual carriageway": Refers to a specific section of such a road.
  • There are roadworks on a ten-mile stretch of the dual carriageway.

Variants and Related Words

• Divided highway (chiefly North American): The term most commonly used in American and Canadian English for a road with a median separating opposing traffic lanes. It is a direct synonym.
  • The interstate is a divided highway.
• Carriageway (noun): Refers to one side of a road carrying traffic in a single direction. A "dual carriageway" consists of two carriageways.
  • The westbound carriageway is closed for repairs.

Synonyms

• Divided highway: A road with a median separating lanes of opposing traffic.
• Expressway (in some contexts): A major road designed for high-speed traffic, which may be a dual carriageway.

Related Phrases

• Central reservation (UK) / Median (US): The area that divides the two carriageways on a dual carriageway or divided highway.
  • The car crashed through the central reservation.
• Slip road (UK) / On-ramp/Off-ramp (US): A road that connects a dual carriageway or motorway to another road.
  • Take the next slip road to exit the dual carriageway.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "dual carriageway" is standard in British English. In American English, the equivalent term is almost always "divided highway."
• A "dual carriageway" is distinct from a "motorway" (UK) or "freeway" (US), which is a high-speed road with no at-grade crossings (i.e., no traffic lights or direct access from properties) and is typically a dual carriageway by design. All motorways are dual carriageways, but not all dual carriageways are motorways.

Noun

1. a highway divided down the middle by a barrier that separates traffic going in different directions
   • in Britain they call a divided highway a dual carriageway