I-35 through Austin ranked 2nd most congested roadway in Texas

A section of Interstate 35 in the Austin metro area costs drivers more than 600,000 hours per mile in delays annually, making it the second most congested roadway in Texas, according to a new study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). 

Roadway traffic tie-ups around Texas were down by about 50% in the early part of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the TTI report says. But by the end of the year, Texas traffic was back to near-2019 levels, according to the report.

The I-35 segment spans 7.85 miles in the Austin area, from U.S. 290 North to State Highway 71. That section of I-35 was among four Austin-area arteries that made the TTI list of the 50 most congested roadways in Texas.

Overall, drivers in the state saw fewer delays in 2020 due to the pandemic, the study said, and many of the delays they experienced took place outside of the usual “rush hour” time periods.

Truck traffic delays were also reduced last year as a result of COVID-19-related shutdowns, but truck volumes increased at a greater rate than passenger vehicles as the economy reopened, according to the TTI report. 

Telecommuting to work, online shopping and virtual K-12 classes were shown to be effective ways to reduce traffic delays in Texas, though continuing this trend may be difficult post-pandemic, the study says.

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The 50 Most Congested Roadways in Texas

Source: Texas A&M Transportation Institute