Interstate 35 in central Austin is now the most congested stretch of highway in all of Texas, according to new research from Texas A&M University.
The university’s Transportation Institute announced Tuesday that I-35’s stretch from U.S. 290 to Texas 71 moved became the busiest freeway in the state, knocking West Loop (I-610) in Houston from the top spot.
According to the study, for every mile of road in I-35’s stretch through central Austin, drivers lose 1,647,353 hours to traffic delays. During peak rush hour, which is typically worst in afternoons, it takes nearly three times longer to travel on the highway than during free flowing traffic. And on the worst days, travel times increase five fold.
“There is a lot of variability day-to-day,” David Schrank, a senior research scientist with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, said of I-35. “Speeds are slow every day, but on some days, you are virtually stopped.”
All told, the gridlock costs the Texas economy roughly $288 million, according to the study.
Also in the top 20 most congested roads at No. 12 is I-35 again, this time its stretch from Texas 71 to Slaughter Lane in South Austin. There, drives times are roughly 77% longer during peak rush hour and take nearly three times as long during the highway’s worst days. Those delays cost the economy about $54.5 million, according to the study.
And rounding out the top 20 is MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1)’s stretch from U.S. 183 to its southern intersection with Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360).
Stretches of I-35 appear on the list’s top 100 most congested highways 12 times, including again at No. 34 for it’s stretch in Round Rock, at No. 45 for its stretch from Slaughter Lane to the Texas 45 toll road south and at No. 70 for its the length of highway from the Texas 45 toll road north to Parmer Lane.
The entire rankings can be seen on the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s website.
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