northbound lane

Meaning

The specific lane of a road or highway designated for vehicles traveling toward the north. This term is highly common in traffic reports, GPS instructions, and highway driving contexts.

Examples

• An accident in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 is causing major traffic delays.

  An accident in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 is causing major traffic delays.

• Make sure you get into the northbound lane before you pass the exit.

  Make sure you get into the northbound lane before you pass the exit.

• The police closed the northbound lane to clear debris from the road.

  The police closed the northbound lane to clear debris from the road.

• I accidentally entered the southbound side instead of the northbound lane.

  I accidentally entered the southbound side instead of the northbound lane.

• Construction has reduced the northbound lane to a single file of traffic.

  Construction has reduced the northbound lane to a single file of traffic.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am driving in the north-going lane.

  ✓ I am driving in the northbound lane.

  'Northbound' is the standard suffix-based adjective used for directional travel on roads. 'North-going' is not used.

• ✗ The northbound road lane is closed.

  ✓ The northbound lane is closed.

  'Road lane' is redundant. 'Lane' already implies it is part of a road or highway.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To head toward the city center, you need to merge into the ___.

  💡 The lane for vehicles traveling north.

  Show answer

  northbound lane

• The GPS told me to stay in the ___ to avoid the exit ramp.

  💡 The lane going toward the north.

  Show answer

  northbound lane