The worst place and time to be driving in metropolitan Baltimore is the westbound Beltway at Harford Road (Exit 31) on a Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., according to a national survey by a leading provider for traffic information to mapping companies.
According to the Intix National Traffic Scorecard for 2009, traffic there averaged 11 mph during that hour along a .79-mile segment of the Beltway.
Commuters on the western Beltway also have a strong claim to the title of worst bottleneck as Inrix ranked southbound Interstate 695 at Interstate 70 the No. 1 bottleneck overall. Wednesday mornings aside, the Beltway and Harford slipped into second place in the overall rankings.
Drivers who frequently experience these traffic horrors are encouraged to contact Michael Dresser at michael.dresser@baltsun.com or 410-332-6175 this afternoon to discuss these bottlenecks and their overall views of congestion in Baltimore.
Eight of the top 10 Baltimore bottlenecks ranked in the survey are along the Beltway. The exceptions are southbound Interstate 895 at Moravia Road (No. 4) and the northbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway at Canine Road (No. 8).
The other Beltway locations in the Top 10 are westbound at York Road, southbound at Interstate 795, northbound at I-70, eastbound at York Road, westbound at Cromwell Bridge Road and eastbound att Charles Street.
While each of the bottlenecks can mean irritating delays for Baltimore motorists, none ranks in the top 1,000 nationwide.