collocation · neutral

traffic bottleneck

UK/ˈtræfɪk ˈbɒt(ə)lˌnɛk/US/ˈtræfɪk ˈbɑːt(ə)lˌnɛk/TRA·ffic BOT·tle·NECK

Band 6-7task2speaking

a specific place on a road network where traffic slows or stops because capacity is reduced

Examples

The new roundabout actually created a traffic bottleneck during rush hour.

Removing that bottleneck would speed up the entire route.

Construction works have turned a quiet street into a daily traffic bottleneck.

Band 8 sentence

Despite widening the road, the intersection remains a traffic bottleneck during the morning commute.

Collocations

  • create a traffic bottleneck
  • remove a bottleneck

Word family

bottleneck / bottlenecks nounto bottleneck verb (informal)

Common mistakes

traffic jamtraffic bottleneck

bottle neckbottleneck

Say it for a higher band

5traffic jam6congestion point7+traffic bottleneck

Synonyms

congestion point

Easily confused

traffic jam

There was a long traffic jam near the city centre, caused by a bottleneck at the bridge.

Related words

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