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Roadways are about to get more crowded as holiday travel ramps up, and one Chicago corridor is among the worst for peak Thanksgiving travel congestion.
AAA deems the Windy City roadway one of the worst for traffic as Thanksgiving travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. Officials predict more than 53.4 million will travel, marking the highest single-year increase since 2005, a press release states.
“This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday.”
“International travel re-opening will allow people to reconnect with friends and family and explore new places, while also giving a much-needed boost to the economy,” she continued. “But it also means airports will be busier than we’ve seen, so travelers must plan for long lines and extra time for TSA checks.”
AAA teamed up with INRIX to predict which areas would experience the worst congestion during the holidays. Officials say Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City will be the busiest. Particularly, I-290 W from Morgan Street to Wolfe Road will experience peak congestion on Wednesday from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., reaching 329% above normal levels of traffic, according to AAA.
“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips and this year will be no different even during the pandemic,” says Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst, INRIX. “Drivers around major metros must be prepared for significant delays, especially Wednesday afternoon. Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.”