secondary route
Not the highway
A secondary route is a road that serves as an alternative to a main highway, typically smaller and less direct but useful when primary routes are congested or closed.
Highway systems often designate secondary routes with distinct numbering: Take the secondary route to avoid traffic.
The term extends to any backup path or alternative approach: Email is the secondary route if the phone system goes down.
- backroadMinor rural thoroughfare
- side roadSecondary route branching off
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- alternateOccur in succession
scenic · shortcut · the long way · side street · country lane · country mile · winding · gravel · unpaved · rural · meandering · turnoff · fork · junction · diversion · off the beaten path · roundabout · arterial
secondary routemain road
Primary vehicular thoroughfare
primary road · arterial road · highway · interstate · motorway
secondary, second, secondarily, secondly, seconds, seconded, seconding, route, routes