The 50 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in the United States

This list of the worst places for traffic congestion in the country might cause some rubbernecking of its own.

1 minute read

November 24, 2015, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


405 Traffic

Bart Everett / Shutterstock

"There aren’t enough roads, transit systems and walkable communities to handle America’s burgeoning population, one projected to grow by 70 million in the next 30 years," writes Ashley Halsey III. That's the conclusion offered by a new report on the nation's 50 worst bottlenecks, paid for by the American Highway Users Alliance.

The worst bottleneck in the land: "Interstate 90 in Chicago, where 12-mile backups are said to be common." But if you're looking for a more thorough ignominy, look no further than Los Angeles, which took the next six spots on the list, and nine out of the "top" 20.

More than just providing an account of where Americans suffer, the report also quantifies the deleterious effects of all that congestion, such as in lost time, burnt fuel, greenhouse gas emissions, and vehicle crashes. 

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