diff --git a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/SKILL.md b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/SKILL.md
index f9ba7efe..46375288 100644
--- a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/SKILL.md
+++ b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/SKILL.md
@@ -138,7 +138,12 @@ with the short work-item id `vbs` still resolves to lane `vbs-…`); an owner
 that matches no lane, matches ambiguously, or is unclaimed is reported as such
 rather than guessed at.
 
-State lives in `BATCH_DIR` (create one per highway, e.g. `~/dev/hw-<name>`):
+Use one workspace-contained `BATCH_DIR` per highway, following the caller's
+workspace conventions. The caller defines where `BATCH_DIR` lives, not this skill.
+Establish that path before creating batch state or launching lanes. Keep any
+`HIGHWAY_LANES_ROOT` override within the same workspace.
+
+State lives in `BATCH_DIR`:
 `manifest.tsv` (scripts write), `HIGHWAY.md` (you write), `goals/` (pre-composed
 goal files), `lanes/` (worktrees), `.width` (authoritative width), `infra.tsv`
 (the infra ledger), `infra.owners.tsv` (which lane claimed which row),
diff --git a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/examples/first-run.md b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/examples/first-run.md
index abaa6bec..ac7a7951 100644
--- a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/examples/first-run.md
+++ b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/examples/first-run.md
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ small enough to watch every moving part.
    In a headless one-shot, name the skill in prose instead of the bare slash
    token: `amplifier run "Use the ten-lane-highway skill and drive: <outcome>"`.
 
-2. **Intake + strategize (Phases 1–2).** The manager writes `BATCH_DIR`
-   (e.g. `~/dev/hw-firstrun`), a `HIGHWAY.md`, pins `BATCH_DIR/.width` to `2`,
-   and **pre-composes a goal file per queued item** into `BATCH_DIR/goals/`.
+2. **Intake + strategize (Phases 1–2).** Establish a workspace-contained `BATCH_DIR`
+   following the caller's workspace conventions; the caller chooses where it
+   lives. Write `HIGHWAY.md` there, pin `BATCH_DIR/.width` to `2`,
+   and **pre-compose a goal file per queued item** into `BATCH_DIR/goals/`.
 
 3. **Approve at the gate (Phase 3).** You will see one screen: outcome, width 2,
    the first wave (lane → repo → item), the priority rationale, watch cadence.
diff --git a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/scripts/lane_teardown.sh b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/scripts/lane_teardown.sh
index 06ecc6f8..fc261ae1 100755
--- a/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/scripts/lane_teardown.sh
+++ b/amplifier_app_cli/data/skills/ten-lane-highway/scripts/lane_teardown.sh
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 #   lane_teardown.sh BATCH_DIR LANE reconcile [--yes] [--strict]
 #   lane_teardown.sh BATCH_DIR LANE audit     [--open-only]
 #
-#   BATCH_DIR   highway batch dir holding infra.tsv (e.g. /home/.../hw-model-performance)
+#   BATCH_DIR   workspace-contained batch directory chosen by the caller; holds infra.tsv
 #   LANE        SHORT lane / work-item id — e.g. woe, 161, dt1 — NOT the lane
 #               directory name (`woe-lane-scoped-teardown`).
 #
diff --git a/tests/test_ten_lane_highway_readiness.py b/tests/test_ten_lane_highway_readiness.py
index a91bee17..f6d337d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_ten_lane_highway_readiness.py
+++ b/tests/test_ten_lane_highway_readiness.py
@@ -346,6 +346,19 @@ def test_watchdog_advisories_remain_append_only_across_runs(tmp_path: Path) -> N
     assert len(second.splitlines()) == 2
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("document", [SKILL, FIRST_RUN], ids=["skill", "first-run"])
+def test_highway_batch_location_follows_caller_workspace(document: Path) -> None:
+    """Guidance leaves the layout to the caller, not a personal home-directory example."""
+    text = document.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "workspace-contained `BATCH_DIR`" in text
+    assert "caller" in text
+    teardown = (SCRIPTS / "lane_teardown.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    for home_prefix in ("~/", "$HOME/", "${HOME}/", "/home/", "/Users/"):
+        assert home_prefix not in text
+        assert home_prefix not in teardown
+
+
 def test_highway_docs_forbid_clearing_wake_needed_while_watchdog_runs() -> None:
     docs = (
         f"{SKILL.read_text(encoding='utf-8')}\n"