NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Data released from transportation analytics company INRIX showed that Nashville drivers sat in traffic for more than two and a half days in 2024.
The data showed that overall, Nashville drivers sat in traffic for 63 hours last year. That represents a 13% increase from 2023. The analysis also ranked Nashville as 11th most congested in the U.S. and 27th most congested in the world.
Sitting in traffic not only drained gas tanks, but wallets as well. The study showed the average Nashville driver lost more than $1,100 to traffic last year. It’s no surprise some Nashvillians aren’t happy about it.
“Traffic has been getting worse and worse over the past few years,” Allison Blackwell, a Nashville driver, said. “…It normally takes me 30 minutes to get to work, but now, it’s been taking me an hour and sometimes even longer than that to get home.”
However, some state and local officials said a few projects could help combat traffic. For example, the newly-passed Choose How You Move plan
Transportation projects to cut the time you spend sitting in traffic are underway, including the newly-passed Choose How You Move plan. The plan will also include upgrades like smart traffic signals that can synchronize lights.
“Take Murfreesboro Pike — one of our busiest roads — for example,” communications director for the Nashville mayor’s office, Alex Apple, said. “The estimate is that if you had smart traffic signals on that corridor at each of the lights from close to downtown out to the county line, that’s about a ten-minute savings just off of that.”
City officials hope drivers will see a difference by November. Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) said three out of the top five worst bottlenecks on interstates throughout the state happen on Interstate 24 in Nashville. However, TDOT officials think toll lanes will address this issue. There is an expected construction start date of 2027.
“We measure congestion based on speed delays,” Rebekah Hammonds, regional communications director for TDOT, told News 2. “Some of the modeling is showing us that just to get from Fesslers Lane to the Sam Ridley area in about 5 to 7 years — it could take you an hour to get there. With choice lanes, it could take you about 20-ish minutes, essentially delivering a reliable trip time.”
Reliable timing in traffic is what some Nashville drivers say is needed.
“Who wouldn’t want those 63 hours back?” Nashville driver Dustin Carroll said. “Time is precious.”
