single-direction route

[/ˈsɪŋɡəl dɪˈrekʃən ruːt/]
nounpl: single-direction routes
via de mão única
1. A street or road where traffic is permitted to flow in only one direction
The city converted that avenue into a single-direction route to improve traffic flow.
A cidade converteu aquela avenida em uma via de mão única para melhorar o fluxo de tráfego.
2. A path or course of travel that allows movement toward only one destination or in one direction
This hiking trail is a single-direction route, so you must descend via the same path.
Esta trilha de caminhada é uma via de mão única, então você deve descer pelo mesmo caminho.
3. A predetermined pathway or sequence that cannot be reversed or altered
Once you enter the production line, it becomes a single-direction route with no turning back.
Uma vez que você entra na linha de produção, torna-se uma via de mão única sem volta.
In Brazil, single-direction routes are common urban planning solutions in major cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to manage traffic congestion. They are clearly marked with arrows and signage. In the USA, particularly in NYC, one-way streets are fundamental to traffic management in grid-pattern cities.
NYC Slang
one-way street (standard NYC traffic terminology, not slang)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
one-way streetone-way routeunidirectional routedirectional route
Antonyms / Antônimos
two-way streetbidirectional routemulti-directional route

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
via de mão única
Standard term used throughout Brazil for one-way streets
São Paulo
rua de mão única
Commonly used in urban São Paulo traffic contexts
Rio de Janeiro
via de sentido único
Alternative term emphasizing single direction
Portugal
via de sentido único
Standard Portuguese term with slight stylistic preference

Related Words

traffic flowroad managementstreet designnavigationdirectional signage

Related Idioms & Phrases

up a one-way street
going nowhere fast
a dead end
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