Worcester Intersection Is One Of Worst In MA For Delays

WORCESTER, MA — When you think about the worst intersection in Worcester, Kelley Square might come to mind. But according to a new analysis, Worcester has a worse intersection based on how long drivers wait at red lights.

About 49,000 vehicles pass through the intersection of Route 9 and Lake Avenue North each day, but only 26 percent of those vehicles arrive at a green light — a low enough share to earn the intersection a "D" grade in a new report by the traffic analytics firm INRIX. It was one of the top 10 intersections with the longest delays in Massachusetts.

However, there are other Worcester intersections that, although less heavily traveled, scored worse.

At the intersection of Park Avenue and Salisbury Street, about 24 percent of vehicles arrive at a green light, and it was only 20 percent a little farther south at Park Avenue and Chandler Street. In Main South, about 25 percent of vehicles arrive at Hammond and Main streets to find a green light, according to the INRIX analysis of GPS data.

But Worcester was pretty lucky compared to some other communities. The worst intersection in the nation for delays was in Saginaw, Texas, where drivers typically wait nearly 2 minutes for the light to change, and only 20 percent arrive at a green light.