America's Worst Bottlenecks: Atlanta Stretch Makes the List

If you’ve ever had to drive through Atlanta during rush hour, you know how awful the bottlenecks can be on the Downtown Connector.

As it turns out, one particular bottleneck is one of the worst in the United States, according to a recent study by the American Highway Users Alliance.

The Downtown Connector between Freedom Parkway and North Avenue is the 24th worst bottleneck on America’s roadways, the study reports.

“This section features two large interchanges and many closely spaced on-and off-ramps providing access to the Georgia Dome, Grady Hospital, State Capitol and the downtown business district,” the study reports.

The many ramps and access points contribute to a 1.3 mile long bottleneck which sees motorists lose 1.2 million hours a year of productivity and costs businesses around $27 million annually, according to the study.

According to the study, the five worst bottlenecks in the country are:

1. I-90 between Roosevelt Rd and N Nagle Ave in Chicago
2. I-405 between SR22 and I-605 in Los Angeles
3. I-10 between Santa Fe Ave and Crenshaw Blvd in Los Angeles
4. I-405 between Venice Blvd and Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles
5. I-405 between Venice Blvd and Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles