Study: CT ranks 8th in traffic jams on interstate highways

Connecticut’s interstate road network is one of the most taxed and congested in the country, and the state’s infrastructure, especially highway bridges, is showing its age, according to a recent study.

A report by the National Transportation Research Group, which analyzes surface transportation problems, determined that Connecticut has the eighth most congested urban freeway in the United States, as well as the 17th worst highway bridges.

According to the researchers, about 63% of the state’s urban freeways are considered congested during rush hour, and 3% of Connecticut’s highway bridges are in poor condition or structurally deficient. This latter problem is not unique to Connecticut; The National Transportation Research Group has pointed out that crumbling highway foundations are a nationwide problem, likely requiring massive federal investments to repair them.

In fact, the state compares favorably with its two largest neighbors in terms of bridge repairs. In New York, 6% of highway bridges are in poor condition, and the rate is even higher in Massachusetts at 7%.

Overall, Connecticut’s interstate highway system turned out to be the 12th busiest in the United States

The National Transportation Research Group used its most recent study – which shows widespread deficiencies in transportation infrastructure far beyond Connecticut – to advocate for sweeping upgrades, including rebuilding highways and bridges and adding new interstate lanes in particularly slow states.

“The long-term vision that helped establish the current Interstate Highway System 65 years ago is needed again today,” said Dave Kearby, executive director of the association. “A modernized interstate system will be critical to the country’s ability to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and will require adequate investment in a federal surface transportation program that will provide states and local governments with the funding and flexibility that they will need to restore the most critical transport link.

Overall, California led the NTRG’s list of most congested states, with 87% of the state’s urban freeways blocked during busiest daily commuting hours. Close behind were Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida.