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Chicago Confronts Its Top U.S. Traffic Ranking Through Data and Pilot Programs
The city draws on sensor networks and targeted roadway work to manage congestion that Inrix ranks as the worst nationally and second worst worldwide.
How we reported this
Chicago ranks as the No. 1 city for worst traffic in the U.S. and the No. 2 worst globally according to Inrix's annual global traffic scorecard. Heavy congestion currently affects eastbound I-90/94 on the Kennedy Expressway, eastbound I-94 on the Bishop Ford Freeway, and westbound I-290 on the Eisenhower Expressway.
Persistent delays on these corridors affect daily travel for residents who rely on the expressway network and connecting transit lines. The ranking places added pressure on city agencies to coordinate roadway repairs with technology upgrades that can ease flow without major new construction.
Current Road and Transit Conditions
The Illinois Department of Transportation began rehabilitation of the Bishop Ford Freeway on March 24, 2026, producing lane closures linked to high standing water. High standing water has closed lanes on the Bishop Ford Freeway, and the Ohio Street ramp to the expressway will close this weekend for repairs. The CTA Orange Line shows minor delays and boarding changes between Pulaski and Western due to shared track operations, while the Loop-bound platform elevator at Sedgwick station on the Brown and Purple Lines remains temporarily out of service.
These localized issues compound the broader congestion pattern. Drivers and transit users face repeated slowdowns on the named routes even after earlier crashes on the Dan Ryan Expressway and DuSable Lake Shore Drive allowed some lane reopenings.
Smart-City Programs in Use
Chicago maintains more than 20 smart-city programs that include the Array of Things project, which plans to install approximately 500 modular sensor nodes on downtown light poles to collect real-time data on traffic, air quality, noise, temperature, and water levels. The city passed the Smart Streets Pilots Ordinance in March 2023 to test improvements for traffic safety, pedestrian and bicyclist protection, and public transit speed. Chicago replaced 85 percent of its existing streetlights with smart LEDs, a project projected to save taxpayers $100 million over 10 years and earn an estimated $35 million in energy efficiency rebates. Open data underpins the effort, with over 600 datasets available publicly and the WindyGrid platform integrating 14 data sources for monitoring.
These measures give planners access to granular information on the same corridors now experiencing heavy congestion. The Red Line Extension Project continues with recent ground-breaking activity that aims to expand rail options in affected areas.
Travelers can monitor updates through the Chicago Transit Authority alerts page at https://www.transitchicago.com/alerts/ and the Illinois Department of Transportation road conditions service at https://www.illinois.gov/services/service.road-conditions.html.