SEATTLE — Drivers in the Seattle metro area are facing increased traffic congestion this year, with the average commuter losing nearly three days annually stuck in traffic, according to new data from INRIX, a transportation data and analytics company.
Seattle is ranked as the tenth most congested city in the nation.
This year, drivers spent an average of 68 hours in traffic, an increase from 63 hours in 2024. The worst year for traffic was 2019, with commuters losing about 74 hours.
The northbound I-405 stretch between Renton and the I-90 interchange is the most congested corridor in the region, according to INRIX. 8 a.m. is the peak congestion time for this interchange.
“405 is more consistently bad. Just any time of day, all the time,” Bellevue resident Kelly Kim said.
Construction on I-405 could be to blame for the longer times stuck in gridlock. Large companies like Amazon enforced a five-day-a-week work in-office mandate this year, while Microsoft requires its workers to come in the office three days a week.
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The cost of being stuck in traffic is high, with INRIX estimating it costs drivers about $1,252.
