Bradenton, Sarasota ranked 30th for most traffic in the US. Which roads are the worst?
The Manatee County population has grown to about 399,700 people, according to the 2020 Census, and that means more drivers, congestion and extended commute times.
Overall, the average American driver lost 36 hours due to traffic congestion in 2021, up 10 hours from 2020, according to a new report from global traffic data company INRIX, which supplies realtime data to apps like Waze.
In the Bradenton and Sarasota area, drivers lost 21 hours, and the report ranked it the 30th most congested city area in America.
Congested roads aren’t only costing drivers time away from home and their families. Drivers pay for it at the gas pump too.
With gas prices increased by more than 60% in 2021, the average driver spent $564 due to congestion nationally; traffic congestion in the U.S. cost drivers more than $53 billion in 2021, the INRIX report said. In Bradenton/Sarasota, the average cost per driver was $435.
Driving from Palmetto to Bradenton and vice versa can feel like some of the nation’s most congested roadways.
Not to mention the mini voyage it may take to travel from West Bradenton near the beaches to Braden River or further east to Lakewood Ranch.
Recent road improvements have caused changes in traffic flow on Interstate 75, and darting to Tampa or Sarasota won’t happen without some delay.
With so much traffic in Bradenton, how can drivers avoid it and regain time spent with family and not in traffic?
We know what the data shows, but which roads do you think are the worst for traffic?
Let us know in the poll below.
This story was originally published May 18, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
