highway backup
Standstill on asphalt
A highway backup is a long line of slow or stopped traffic on a major road, typically caused by accidents, construction, or high volume.
The backup may stretch for miles, adding hours to commutes: There's a three-mile backup on the interstate.
Traffic reports warn drivers to seek alternate routes when backups form at predictable bottleneck locations.
- trafficMovement along routes
- rush hourBusiest commuting period
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- parking lotOutdoor vehicle storage area
standstill · dead stop · brake lights · stop and go · bottleneck · crawl · jam · delay · bumper-to-bumper · merge · lane closure · rubbernecking · accident · fender bender · construction · detour · interstate · freeway
- travel problemslost luggage, flight delays, flight delay, delayed flight, missed flight
- traffictraffic jam, congestion, traffic, gridlock, traffic congestion
highway backupopen road
Unobstructed route ahead
smooth sailing · clear sailing · open highway · light traffic · cruising speed
high, higher, highest, highly, wayside, roadway, pathway, back, backed