Biggest Traffic Bottlenecks in Atlanta

Atlanta’s 10 Worst Bottlenecks

Based on data from the Atlanta Regional Commission, here are the "10 most consistently terrible traffic hotspots" in Atlanta.

1. I-85/I-75 South at I-20/Exit 247: Wearing the dismal crown as the worst of the worst, this doomed location is a frequent bottleneck, with 119 traffic jams in the month of September that lasted for an average of more than five hours and were, on average, 3.6 miles long.

2. I-75 North at Chastain Road/Exit 271: And the first runner-up is this unhappy locale, which had 84 traffic jams in September that lasted an average of longer than two hours. The clogs were, on average, over nine miles long.

3. I-285 West at I-75/Exit 20: Third place goes to this sad junction, which will likely be facing even longer jams once the baseball stadium is finished. There were 109 traffic jams that lasted an average of 2 hours and 42 minutes, jamming the highway for a length of 5.7 miles.

Numbers 4 and 5 were both on I-285:

4. Where I-285 North intersections with Chamblee-Tucker Road and

This bottleneck’s length, on average, was a little over eight miles and lasted almost two hours.

5. Where I-285 South meets I-20

While this bottleneck lasted about an hour longer than number 4, it stretched about two miles longer.

No surprise to anyone who lives in Atlanta, all five remaining bottlenecks — numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 — involved I-75 or I-85.

6. I-75 South at Windy Hill Road/Exit 260

7. I-85 South at I-75/I-85, Exit 85

8. I-85/I-75 North at Exit 251

9. I-85 South at I-285/Exit 95, and

10. I-285 East at I-85/Exit 33

Numbers 6 through 10 all had traffic jams that lasted at last two hours and stretched over 3.5 miles.

Why are bottlenecks a big deal?

Bottlenecks and traffic jams are not just annoying. They are dangerous. They can cause sideswipe and rear-end collisions and, perhaps most dangerously, road rage accidents and confrontations.

Road Rage

Even the most courteous Southerner can lose control when stuck in miserable traffic jams day after day. When one is stuck in traffic with nothing to do except to think of what s/he could do with all that wasted time spent in traffic jams, civility can go out the window and be replaced by road rage.

Road rage can include:

Tailgating a vehicle
Cutting off another vehicle
Honking and yelling
Angry gestures
Even getting out of the car to physically confront another driver

While you might be able to control your temper behind the wheel, this is simply not the truth with all Atlanta drivers. So how can you avoid a road rage situation on the road?

Keep your cool - don't respond to another driver who is out of control
Do not yell or use angry gestures
Do not tailgate or cut off other drivers
Avoid making eye contact with other drivers, as some interpret this as aggression

Not all accidents are avoidable. If you have been in an accident involving a traffic bottleneck or road rage, call the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. to schedule a free consultation to evaluate your claim: 404-474-0804.

AJC Names Biggest Traffic Bottlenecks in Atlanta

Atlanta’s 10 Worst Bottlenecks

Your Road to Recovery Starts Here

Why are bottlenecks a big deal?

Road Rage

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