Houston has 7 of country's 100 most congested bottlenecks for truck drivers

The U.S. 59/Loop 610 interchange made the American Transportation Research Institute's list of worst U.S. bottlenecks for truck drivers. The U.S. 59/Loop 610 interchange made the American Transportation Research Institute's list of worst U.S. bottlenecks for truck drivers. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Staff Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Houston has 7 of country's 100 most congested bottlenecks for truck drivers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Congestion on the nation's highways is costing the trucking industry $63.4 billion, and Houston is home to seven of the worst bottlenecks for truck drivers.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute, the interchange at Interstates 10 and 45 ranks No. 18 on the list of top 100 bottlenecks. Also on the list are:

No. 19 : I-45 at US 59

: I-45 at US 59 No. 23 : I-10 at US 59

: I-10 at US 59 No. 41 : I-45 at I-610 (North)

: I-45 at I-610 (North) No. 48 : I-10 at I-610 (West)

: I-10 at I-610 (West) No. 58 : I-610 at US 290

: I-610 at US 290 No. 93: I-610 at US 59 (West)

At HoustonChronicle.com: Is technology the answer to getting tired truckers off the road?

Atlanta's I-285 at I-85 (North) topped the American Transportation Research Institute's list.

"As the issue of infrastructure investment comes to the forefront on the national stage, ATRI's report on truck bottlenecks could not come at a better time," American Trucking Association president and CEO Chris Spear said in a news release.

"The safe and efficient movement of freight should be a top priority in any infrastructure package, and this report identifies the areas where investment is most needed."

The industry's $63.4 billion cost is generated from 996 million lost hours of industry productivity, the equivalent of 362,000 truck drivers idling for an entire year, according to the report.