D.C. residents don’t have to stop their whining — they really have it that bad when it comes to traffic.
Two D.C.-area spots made Metro Networks’ list of “The Top Ten Worst Holiday Traffic Tie-Ups in America,” and another received an honorable mention.
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Metro Networks named the Interstate 95 stretch between D.C. and New York as the worst problem area in the country. Ranked fourth was the area between Springfield and Fredericksburg on I-95.
The inner loop of the Capital Beltway, I-495, was granted an honorable mention.
“If you look from Richmond to New York City, there’s probably 40 miles of bad traffic,” said John Frawley, executive vice president of broadcast operations for Metro Networks. “That’s the worst miles you ever want to travel on the holidays.”
Metro Networks, which does traffic reports in 65 cities, chose areas where there are the largest man-hour delays, Frawley said.
Locally, near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the intersection between I-95 and I-495 near College Park will be particularly problematic, according to American Automobile Association spokesman Greg Starddard.
“Even though they’ve done a lot of work in the Mixing Bowl, it’s still going to be a challenge for motorists simply because of the volume,” Starddard said.
Stretches of highway in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas and Detroit also made Metro Networks’ top ten.
The largest concentration of traffic comes on Wednesday between noon and 9 p.m., and Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. and stretching into the evening, Frawley said.
“Then on Sunday, forget it,” Frawley said. Problems there begin before noon, he said.
“We always advise people when it comes to leaving, the earlier the better,” Starddard added.
dc examiNation and poll: What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
