The 10 Worst U.S Traffic Bottlenecks In 2025
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released its annual report on the worst truck traffic bottlenecks.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released its annual report on the worst truck traffic bottlenecks, and for the seventh consecutive year, the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Route 4 near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, remains the top chokepoint. This continued congestion underlines the ongoing challenges in supply chains.
ATRI's report, which monitors traffic at over 325 highway locations, shows that truck delays are worsening. In 2024, the average truck speed during rush hour dropped to 34.2 mph, a 3% decline from the previous year. The speed was even slower at the top 10 worst locations, averaging just 29.7 mph.
The report highlights major freight hubs like Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta, where congestion contributes billions of dollars in costs to the trucking industry. ATRI estimates that traffic congestion costs the economy $109 billion annually, with trucks using an additional 6.4 billion gallons of diesel while stuck in traffic.
Top 10 Worst Bottlenecks:
- Fort Lee: I-95 at GW Bridge
- Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88
- Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59
- Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)
- Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
- Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)
- Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57
- Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75
- Houston: I-10 at I-45
- Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)
The report points to infrastructure improvements as a solution. For example, a recent construction project at a formerly top bottleneck location improved rush hour truck speeds by nearly 25%, pushing it out of the top 10.
