TYLER (KYTX) - Do you ever feel like it takes an eternity to drive down South Broadway Avenue in Tyler?
You're not alone. The state says so, too.
Who doesn't love sharing the road with 200,000 people during lunch time? Safe to say, probably no one.
"I drive down this street 24 hours a day," said Joel Rando.
Joel Rando with "All Hours Taxi" is used to navigating this traffic trap with passengers who are in a hurry to get where they're going.
"Yeah, they gripe about it a lot. That's why they don't drive. They go in my taxi," said Rando.
The Texas Department of Transportation said this stretch of road on South Broadway, between Grande Boulevard and Kilrush Drive near Loop 49, is one of the worst congested roadways in the state.
For example, if it takes 10 minutes to travel this stretch of roadway when there's no traffic, add traffic, and add an extra three minutes to the commute.
"With gas like it is, you don't want to be sitting in traffic or red lights all the time," Scott Kennedy.
So, why is this section of South Broadway so congested?
"The question really isn't why it's on there. What are we going to do about it," said Larry Krantz.
Larry Krantz with TxDOT said they're limited in what they can do. TxDOT can't add any extra lanes.
"We pretty well built out the Loop and South Broadway about as much as it's been able to be built out," said Krantz.
So, why not build up? TxDOT said it would only create more of a traffic nightmare and force some of the businesses on South Broadway to move.
The next option?
"We're also looking at Loop 49. Toll 49 could actually relieve some of this congestion in the near future. Particularly, as it continues to grow to the north and west," said Krantz.
The state's most congested road this year was Interstate 35 west in Fort Worth. Each of the top 30 most congested roads are in the Dallas and Houston area.
