Gridlock Nation: Chicago Interchange Named Worst U.S. Truck Bottleneck

WASHINGTON, DC – February 17, 2026 – For the first time, a stretch of highway in Chicago has been named the single most congested freight bottleneck in the United States, according to a major industry report released today. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) announced that the interchange of Interstate 294 and Interstates 290/88 has surpassed all other chokepoints, a stark indicator of worsening traffic conditions that are bogging down the nation's supply chain and costing the economy billions.

The findings are part of ATRI's 15th annual Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks list, a comprehensive analysis based on terabytes of truck-specific GPS data from 2025. The report’s release is strategically timed as Congress prepares to debate the reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs, providing a data-driven guide for where infrastructure investment is most desperately needed.

A New King of Congestion

For seven consecutive years, the dubious honor of America's worst bottleneck belonged to the intersection of I-95 and State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at the approach to the George Washington Bridge. In the 2026 report, that infamous traffic jam has been pushed to second place by Chicago's sprawling interchange. The shift underscores a national trend of increasing congestion across critical freight corridors.

"Following a comprehensive, data-driven analysis, ATRI has crowned a new stretch of highway in Chicago as America's worst bottleneck," said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. "Those who are least likely surprised by this announcement are the truck drivers and commuters who are forced to endure endless delays when navigating this dreadful interchange."

The data reveals that traffic gridlock is a widespread issue, with certain metropolitan areas suffering disproportionately. The Atlanta metro area stands out, claiming four of the top ten spots, including the interchanges at I-285/I-85 North (No. 3), I-75/I-285 North (No. 5), I-20/I-285 West (No. 6), and a stretch of I-75 in McDonough (No. 10). Houston also features twice in the top ten.

The complete top 10 list for 2026 is:

1. Chicago, IL: I-294 at I-290/I-88
2. Fort Lee, NJ: I-95 at SR 4
3. Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-85 (North)
4. Houston, TX: I-45 at I-69/US 59
5. Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-285 (North)
6. Atlanta, GA: I-20 at I-285 (West)
7. Nashville, TN: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
8. Houston, TX: I-10 at I-69/US 59
9. Cincinnati, OH: I-71 at I-75
10. McDonough, GA: I-75

The Billion-Dollar Traffic Jam

The economic and environmental consequences of these bottlenecks are staggering. According to ATRI's analysis, congestion on U.S. highways added nearly $109 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022, a figure that has continued to climb. These are not just abstract numbers; they represent lost time, wasted fuel, and increased operational expenses that ultimately ripple through the economy.

The report found that traffic delays forced the industry to burn an additional 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel, resulting in 65.4 million metric tons of excess carbon dioxide emissions. The productivity loss is equally immense, with congestion-related delays equating to 436,000 professional truck drivers sitting idle for an entire working year. This lost time puts further strain on a supply chain already grappling with economic pressures and driver shortages.

Average rush-hour truck speeds across the nation's highways have slowed to just 33.2 MPH, a 2.8 percent decrease from the previous year. At the top 10 bottleneck locations, the situation is even more dire, with average speeds plummeting to 29.6 MPH. This slowdown directly translates into higher shipping costs, which are invariably passed on to businesses and consumers in the form of higher prices for goods.

"Traffic congestion not only chokes our supply chains, adding $109 billion annually to the cost of goods paid by consumers, but it also impacts the quality of life for all motorists," Spear noted.

A Roadmap for Recovery

While the data paints a grim picture of deteriorating conditions, industry leaders emphasize that it also provides a clear path forward. With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) set to expire on September 30, 2026, the ATRI report serves as a critical tool for policymakers to make targeted, data-driven investments.

"Congestion delays inflicted on truckers are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year," said Rebecca Brewster, President and COO of ATRI. "While these congestion metrics are getting worse, the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo. This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth."

Brewster pointed to tangible examples of success. In Illinois, the Jane Byrne Interchange, once a fixture at the top of the bottleneck list, no longer ranks in the top 25 following a sustained, multi-year project to expand its capacity. Similarly, targeted investments around the George Washington Bridge have helped improve traffic flow at the long-standing number one bottleneck in Fort Lee. These cases demonstrate that strategic infrastructure spending can deliver significant and measurable improvements in freight mobility.

Chicago's Chokepoint: A Problem in Progress

For the hundreds of thousands of drivers who navigate the I-294/I-290/I-88 interchange daily, its new ranking comes as no surprise. The interchange is one of the busiest in the Illinois Tollway system, a critical nexus for commuters, local traffic, and the freight network that serves the Midwest. For years, its design has forced heavy trucks to slow dramatically on tight, steep ramps, causing massive backups that ripple across the region.

However, the designation as America's worst bottleneck arrives as a massive solution is already underway. The Illinois Tollway is in the midst of an estimated $800 million project to completely reconfigure and reconstruct the interchange. The multi-year effort, part of the broader Central Tri-State Project, began in 2020 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

Work in 2026 includes rebuilding numerous bridges and ramps, along with pavement, drainage, and lighting improvements. The project's goal is to directly address the operational and safety issues that cause the gridlock highlighted in ATRI's report. While the ongoing construction may temporarily exacerbate delays, it represents a direct and substantial investment aimed at permanently removing this chokepoint from future bottleneck lists, embodying the very type of targeted action that researchers and industry advocates say is needed nationwide.