Six Grand Rapids Highways Ranked for Unpredictable Traffic Jams

We have all had it happen...we are driving to or from work and traffic is moving along at a decent pace. Then all of a sudden, we have to slam on our brakes, and traffic has come to a complete stop. And we wait...

A recent study by TRIP, a national non-profit organization that studies transportation issues, recently put together a list of 20 of the worst highways in our state where you might encounter an unpredictable traffic jam both for the morning and afternoon commutes. Six of those highways are in the Grand Rapids area.

The study used information from a 2019 Michigan Department of Transportation report on congestion on the state's freeways.

In this latest study, traffic delays in Grand Rapids were found to have increased by 69% from 2000 to 2019. The report also figures that $1,382 a  year is wasted in time lost and wasted fuel while sitting in a traffic jam.

Which Grand Rapids Freeways Are the Worst?

The report breaks down the freeways by time period -- either AM or PM. The Grand Rapids Freeways that made the list are....

For the AM Commute:

#6 Eastbound I-196 from Fuller Avenue (Exit 79) to the I-96/M-37 junction

#12 Southbound US-131 from I-96 (Exit 89) to Ann Street (Exit 88)

#18 Eastbound I-96 from Leonard Street (Exit 36) to M-21/Fulton Street (Exit 39)

For the PM Commute:

#7 Eastbound I-196 from Fuller Avenue (Exit 79) to the I-96/M-37 junction

#12 Northbound US-131 from 36th Street (Exit 80) to Cherry Street (Exit 84)

#16 Northbound US-131 from Pearl Street (Exit 85) to Leonard Street (Exit 87)

As you can see, Eastbound I-196 from Fuller Avenue (Exit 79) to the I-96/M-37 junction falls into the list for both AM and PM commutes. I wonder if part of that congestion was from the construction on that stretch of road over the last couple of years.

All of the other ranked highways were in the Detroit or Ann Arbor areas. To see the data of all the Michigan Highways that made the list, click here.