A recent study has confirmed what drivers in Chicago already know—Our city has some of the worst traffic in the world.
The Windy City ranked third among the Top 25 Worst Congested Cities across the globe, surpassed only by Istanbul and New York City, according to a recent study from transportation analytics firm INRIX.
Chicagoans spend nearly a week stuck in traffic every year
The study found that on average, Chicagoans spend 102 hours stuck in traffic every year, nearly an entire week. The congestion costs Chicago drivers an average of $1,826 annually.
Trips to Downtown Chicago increased in 2024 by 13%, mirroring a global trend of traffic levels increasing overall in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chicago Roads Among the Most Congested in the World
Additionally, a whopping five Chicago thoroughfares ranked in INRIX’s list of 10 Most Congested U.S. Roads in 2024, including portions of the Kennedy Expressway (I-90), I-55, and I-290.
Much of the congestion can be chalked up to construction, particularly along the Kennedy Expressway, which is in the throes of a years-long restoration project.
Rising traffic levels a good thing?
Chicago’s skyrocketing congestion may be a headache for drivers, but INRIX notes that the increase in Downtown traffic signals a positive trend for our city’s post-pandemic economic rebound.
The rising traffic levels are attributable in part to a return to in-person work, a driving force in the revitalization of Chicago’s urban core.