St. Louis drivers are no strangers to traffic congestion, whether they are creeping along I-64, inching across the Poplar Street Bridge at peak hours, or navigating the labyrinth of I-270.
A complex network of highways, river crossings, and converging routes helps make every corner of St. Louis navigable, but it also creates countless opportunities for bottlenecks. And when gridlock leads to fender benders or more serious crashes, a knowledgeable St. Louis car accident attorney can be an essential ally. Surely the traffic has to let up sometimes, right?
Morning Rush Hour: One of the Worst Times To Hit the Road
Morning rush hour is a peak time for traffic. Generally, the heaviest window hits between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays. During this time, commuters heading into the city center, Clayton, and other major employment hubs might run into significant delays.
Key roads and intersections that feel the squeeze include:
- I-64/Highway 40: Eastbound lanes heading toward downtown St. Louis become heavily congested, often backing up well into St. Louis County
- I-44: Eastbound traffic heading into the city sees considerable volume
- I-55: Northbound lanes approaching downtown St. Louis experience significant slowdowns
- I-70: Eastbound traffic, particularly approaching the downtown interchanges and bridges, faces delays
- I-270 Loop: While designed to bypass the city core, the loop itself experiences heavy traffic, especially near interchanges with major radial routes like I-64, I-44, I-70, and I-55, as commuters use it to connect to their primary routes
Also, the Poplar Street Bridge and other Mississippi River crossings are major choke points for traffic entering the city from Illinois.
Coming Home Can Be a Nightmare Too
No daily commute is complete without the ride home, and sometimes, the trip back feels longer and more challenging than the morning rush. Traffic typically starts building earlier, around 3:30 p.m., and can remain heavy until 6:00 p.m. or even 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Friday afternoons tend to be the worst — who doesn’t want to get a headstart on their weekend?
During the afternoon peak, expect significant delays on outbound routes:
- I-64/Highway 40: Westbound lanes heading out of the city into St. Louis County become heavily congested, often starting downtown and extending far west
- I-44: Westbound traffic leaving the city experiences major slowdowns
- I-55: Southbound lanes heading away from the city become packed
- I-70: Westbound traffic faces considerable delays, especially leaving the downtown area
- I-270 Loop: Congestion builds around major interchanges as commuters head toward suburban areas
Finally, if you’re leaving downtown St. Louis via the bridges toward Illinois, you’ll probably run into substantial backups.
Traffic Factors Beyond The Daily Grind
Of course, St. Louis traffic isn’t just a standard weekday commute problem.
Several other factors can snarl traffic at less predictable times:
- Major Events: Cardinals games at Busch Stadium, Blues games or concerts at the Enterprise Center, festivals, and other large downtown events create localized but intense traffic jams, especially before and after the event times
- Road Construction: Like any major metropolitan area, St. Louis contends with ongoing road construction projects — lane closures, detours, and work zones can cause significant delays and require extra caution
- Accidents: Unforeseen accidents are a major cause of sudden, severe backups; congested conditions during peak hours can, unfortunately, increase the risk of collisions
- Weather: Rain, snow, or ice can dramatically impact driving conditions and speeds across the St. Louis region, often causing widespread delays well beyond the usual rush hour windows — pay particular attention to bridge conditions during inclement weather
And don’t forget about the lunchtime rush. Busy commercial districts like Clayton and areas in West County and South County experience bumps during the midday lunch hour.
Keeping a Cool Head In St. Louis Traffic
Pinpointing the absolute worst time to drive in St. Louis can depend on your route and the unique circumstances each day brings. However, the weekday morning and evening commutes are pretty brutal consistently.
Contact our St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers from Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, MO, today. We have two convenient locations in Missouri, including St. Louis and Richmond Heights.
We proudly serve St. Louis County and its surrounding areas.
Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
10 S Broadway #560
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 932-1066
Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Richmond Heights Office
1034 S Brentwood Blvd Penthouse 1-C
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
(314) 463-4173