Where We Stand: Congestion

In 2007, the City of Huntsville commissioned a study by the University of Alabama to examine the effects of the 2005 BRAC on the area's economic and transportation network. Among other things, the report analyzed the area's roadways and reported current congestion and predicted future congestion.

The map shows the major roadways in the Huntsville areas with predicted 2010 traffic levels. Those in black are operating at nominal levels of congestion. The thin red lines indicate congestion, while the thicker red lines show areas of bad congestion. "V/C" means the ratio of Volume to Capacity. Roads with V/C greater than one are carrying more vehicles than they can effectively move.

The areas showing the worst congestion will not surprise most area residents: Highway 53, Zierdt Rd., and sections of Old Madison Pike, I-565, and Memorial Parkway. On Redstone Arsenal, congestion is shown on Patton Rd., Toftoy Throughway, and at Gate 9. Some of these trouble spots have received attention since this study was done. Others, such as Hwy. 53 and Madison Pike, continue to present traffic headaches even though resolution is not clearly in sight.