'Terrible Traffic Tuesday' signals end of summer, beginning of heavier congestion and gridlock

WASHINGTON - Welcome to 'Terrible Traffic Tuesday' - one of the worst days to be a commuter in the D.C. area! D.C. highways traditionally experience heavier than usual congestion beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day. This is the first since the beginning of summer that almost all students and workers are back to their regular schedules.

The commute is expected to be at its worst during the morning and evening rush hours.

Commuters should expect trains and buses to be extra crowded and wait times to be longer along roads and interstates.

So which roads are the worst as we end summer and head back into regular daily grind? Take a look at this chart from AAA Mid-Atlantic. They say several parts of Interstate-495, Interstate-95, Interstate-66 and Interstate-395 are the ones to avoid:

Road

From

Distance
(miles)

Free Flow
Travel Time (min)

Peak Travel
Time (min)

Peak Delay
(min)

Worst
Day/Hour

I-495

Braddock Rd/Exit 5

MD-355/Wisconsin
Avenue/Exit 34

20.49

Wednesday/ 5 p.m.

I-66 EB

VA-234/Exit 47

Sycamore Street, Exit 69

24.44

Tuesday/ 8 a.m.

I-95 SB

Franconia Road/Exit 169

Russell Road/Exit 148

22.66

Friday/ 4 p.m.

I-66 WB

Scott Street

VA-123/Exit 60

14.79

Friday/ 3 p.m.

I-395 NB

I-95/I-495

I-695

12.40

Tuesday/ 8 a.m.

I-495

Exit 27

MD-97
97/Georgia Ave/exit 31

6.41

Wednesday/ 8 a.m.

Be safe out there and follow FOX 5's Erin Como for the latest traffic updates: https://twitter.com/erinfox5dc