H’WAY Of HELL
Cross Bronx rated most agonizing road in U.S.
IF YOU’RE FEELING cross on this expressway, here’s why: The Cross Bronx Expressway has been rated the most congested urban roadway in the country, according to a study.
During the evening rush hour, motorists lost an average of 86 hours a year in 2016, crawling at an average speed of 14 mph along the roughly 7-mile corridor of Interstate 95 that extends from Exit 6A to the George Washington Bridge.
The morning rush hour on the Cross Bronx is almost as bad. The section of I-95 from the Jersey side of the George to I-695 was rated the third-worst roadway in the country, with an average speed of less than 20 mph.
The study, published by Inrix, a Kirkland, Wash., traffic analysis company, found two other New York City roadways also made the top 10. The section of Fifth Ave. going south from 120th St. to 40th St., with average speeds below 6 mph, ranked No. 7 on Inrix’s list of most congested roadways.
But, wait, there’s more. The Lincoln Tunnel approach from New Jersey to 12th Ave. during the morning commute was rated the eighth-most congested road.
In total, New York City drivers spent an average of 89 hours struck in traffic in 2016 — second only to Los Angeles among U.S. cities, according to the study.
Los Angeles drivers on average suffered in traffic jams for 104 hours in 2016.
The city came in fifth in 2015, so traffic has gotten worse here, though the Inrix methodology changed slightly in 2016.
The study found New York is the third-most-congested city in the world, behind Tinseltown and Moscow.
In New York City, the average annual cost per driver was $2,533. L.A. traffic was second most expensive, costing motorists $2,408.
The study also found the United States is tied with Russia for most congested developed country in the world.
Sitting in traffic jams cost U.S. drivers $300 billion in 2016 — or about $1,400 per motorist.
“It is time for the federal government to make major investments in infrastructure and transportation to take our roadways, especially the Cross Bronx, into the new century,” said City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, chairman of the Transportation Committee.
“Driving in the Cross Bronx for many years has left a negative experience for drivers. This has a major impact in increased asthma for our children, especially in Washington Heights and the South Bronx,” he added.
Raul Contreras, a spokesman for Mayor de Blasio, said a new transportation plan will be announced in the coming weeks.
“New York City is dedicated to ensuring the safe, efficient and sustainable movement of people and goods across the five boroughs,” he said.
“Being a dense, growing and economically vibrant city, we face serious challenges with the increasing demands on our limited road space.” A BRONX subway train struck and killed a dog, police sources said Monday.
The incident happened at about 10:40 p.m. Sunday inside the Gun Hill Road station.
Sources said the motorman of a southbound No. 5 hit the brakes when he entered the station and saw the dog on the tracks.
The train, however, couldn’t stop in time and the dog was killed.