Traffic.com Reports Chicago Thanksgiving Traffic Expected to be 50% Slower Than a Typical Wednesday
Typical Wednesday Morning Rush Expected While Area Highways Begin Jamming At Lunchtime
CHICAGO, Nov. 16 -- Traffic.com, a NAVTEQ company , and a leading provider of traffic solutions to consumers and businesses, reported today that the holiday traffic surge in the Chicago area is likely to cause backups with traffic slowing to 50% of normal speeds, nearly doubling the time spent by drivers in traffic jams. The traffic volume during the Wednesday morning rush hour is expected to be normal, or even lighter than normal, but will increase significantly in volume beginning around 11 am with the worst congestion occurring between 5 pm - 6 pm. Holiday travelers are advised to check Traffic.com for free access to the most accurate, up-to-date traffic information. Traffic.com provides online and on-the-go solutions to Thanksgiving drivers, helping them get to their holiday destinations faster and with less frustration and stress.
Utilizing historical traffic data obtained from its digital traffic sensor network and local Chicago-based traffic operations center, Traffic.com analyzed area roadway speeds from last Thanksgiving and ranked the top 10 traffic hot spots to avoid. The data shows that the "rush hour" on Thanksgiving Eve is really a "rush afternoon," as traffic on some routes begins to back up during or immediately after lunch.
Holiday traffic is expected to affect some routes more than others. The following list shows the top ten holiday traffic hotspots in Chicago. In 2006, the average rush hour speed fell to about half, doubling typical travel times.
CHICAGO AREA TOP TEN THANKSGIVING EVE TRAFFIC HOT SPOTS
Rank Route 2006 Evening Rush Hour Speeds,
in mph
Wednesday Typical
before Wednesday
Thanksgiving in November
1 I-90 WB: I-94 to I-294 10 25
2 I-90 EB (Dan Ryan): I-55 to I-90/I-94 Split 12 24
3 I-55 SB: I-90 to I-294 12 19
4 I-94 SB: US 41 to I-90 13 21
5 I-90 WB: I-290 to I-94 13 23
6 I-90 EB: I-294 to I-94 16 24
7 I-90 Reversible Lanes (Kennedy): I-290 to I-94 16 23
8 I-55 SB: I-294 to S. Naperville Rd 16 29
9 I-90 NB: I-55 to I-290 17 35
10 I-90 EB (Dan Ryan): I-90/I-94 Split to US 20 18 22
Average of Top Ten Hotspots 14 mph 24 mph
Source: Traffic.com, A NAVTEQ Company
Hotspot #1: I-90 WB: I-94 to I-294
The outbound Kennedy Expressway, one of the most congested routes in the Chicago area, is expected to get worse on Wednesday afternoon. Traffic might be moving slightly faster in the morning, but this route to the airport is likely to be crowded all afternoon and evening. Travel times along this route are expected to double, from about 14 to 31 minutes.
Hotspot #2: I-90 EB (Dan Ryan): I-55 to I-90/I-94 Split
This short stretch of southbound Dan Ryan Expressway just south of downtown is expected to be jammed most of the afternoon and evening. Last year, slowdowns started before noon, and travel times along the route were doubled.
Hotspot #3: I-55 SB: I-90 to I-294
The outbound Stevenson Expressway shows sustained slow speeds from downtown out to the Tri-State Tollway. Along this route, the slowdowns are expected to start during or perhaps even before lunch, as travelers get on the road for the holidays. Travel times could be up to twice as long.
Traffic.com's free website and mobile alerts are available for all U.S. metropolitan areas. After logging on to http://www.traffic.com/, visitors can either enter their zip code or select their starting point on a U.S. map. Users will then be able to assess their city's current traffic conditions as highlighted by yellow or green routes. Consumers can view congestion information as well as road incident details, local events, and construction locations.
About Traffic.com
Traffic.com is a leading provider of traffic solutions to consumers and businesses. Powered by NAVTEQ Traffic(TM) advanced data collection and processing infrastructure, Traffic.com provides comprehensive coverage to 74 Designated Market Areas (DMAs) and 107 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) encompassing the most traffic-congested U.S. cities. Traffic.com(R) solutions include predictive traffic trends, vehicle speeds, congestion levels, travel times, and delay times, incidents and events. Business customers include broadcast media, Web and mobile publishers, content providers and developers, government agencies, and advertisers. Traffic.com solutions are delivered via radio, television, Internet, wireless devices, in-vehicle and portable navigation systems. This broad content distribution network creates cross-platform branding opportunities for advertisers, enabling them to expand their reach and target on-the-go consumers.
The Traffic.com logo, Traffic.com, and Jam Factor are registered trademarks and MyTraffic is a trademark of Traffic.com, Inc. All other product or service names or marks are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2007 Traffic.com, Inc. Jam Factor is protected by U.S. Patent No. 7,203,595.
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications, and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based
services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has over 3,100 employees located in 167 offices in 31 countries.
NAVTEQ and NAVTEQ Traffic are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.
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