ARLINGTON, Va. — The I-80 at I-94 split near Chicago is considered the worst bottlenecked section of roadway in the U.S., according to the American Transportation Research Institute.

The ATRI analysis assesses the severity of 30 freight bottlenecks and traffic choke points within the U.S. interstate system, ranked by total congested value.

Second on the ATRI’s list included in its Freight Performance Measures Analysis report, is the I-95 at SR-4, Bergen, N.J., followed by another Chicago-area highway, the I-90, I-94 "Edens Interchange" in Cook, Ill.

Despite its name, that stretch (and many others in the U.S.) is anything but heaven on earth for drivers and truckers that are stuck on it every day.

ATRI researchers used GIS/GPS technology and truck-specific information to identify the worst chokepoints, as well as sophisticated analysis techniques, to determine what time of day freight was affected by traffic congestion and where the results of such congestion were the most severe.

"ATRI’s report provides the first real-world analysis of the congestion that motor carriers experience every day," said Tim Lynch, legislative affairs senior vice president for the American Trucking Associations. "ATRI’s ranking of freight bottlenecks fills a critical void in our arsenal of tools for identifying, prioritizing and addressing freight system deficiencies for the next surface transportation reauthorization."

The next seven worst highways, which include two in California and two in Texas, are as follows.

4. I – 285 @ I – 85 Interchange ("Spaghetti Junction") Dekalb, GA
5. I-95 @ SR-9A (Westside Hwy) New York, NY
6. I-40 @ I-65 Interchange (east) Davidson, TN
7. SR-60 @ SR-57 Interchange Los Angeles, CA
8. I-10 @ I-15 Interchange San Bernardino, CA
9. I-45 (Gulf Freeway) @ US-59 Interchange Harris, TX
10 I-45 @ I-610 Interchange, Harris, TX

For the complete analysis, contact ATRI.