Greater Chattanooga's Costliest Freight Corridor
Exploring the cost of congestion through freight density data
When it comes to infrastructure planning in the tri-state, greater Chattanooga region, freight transportation (and gridlock) is top of mind.
Primarily driven by manufacturing, trade, and transportation, the region’s economy depends on the safe and efficient movement of products along interstate routes, but freight bottlenecks continue to have costly impacts on area industries, communities, and the environment.
In this story map, dive into freight density data to pinpoint the region’s most gridlocked interstate and understand the costs of congestion to the region’s economy.
Gridlock in the Core of Freight Alley
Truck traffic is a distinct challenge in the greater Chattanooga region, referred to as the “core of Freight Alley.” Manufacturing and logistics industry drive a considerable share of the economy, which depends on well-planned physical infrastructure.
What is a “Freight Generator?”
Area manufacturing companies are “freight generators,” which produce significant volumes of freight traffic. They play a critical role in the supply chain and can increase demand on transportation infrastructure. By understanding the location of freight generators, planners can make decisions for more efficient transportation systems.
Click on the dots in the map to view freight generators in the tri-state, greater Chattanooga region.
A Freight Density Surge
In 2013, data projected that 33 million tons of freight would pass through Chattanooga by 2035.
Recent data shows that 39 million tons of freight were transported through the region in 2022, 13 years ahead of the projection.
Click on the orange density lines to see freight volume on the region's infrastructure.
Bottleneck at the Bend
Freight density in the Chattanooga region is highest on Interstate 24, a winding feat of infrastructure that begins at the Georgia-Tennessee state line, cuts through historic Missionary Ridge, and traverses the south side of Chattanooga, before sweeping along the base of Lookout Mountain, right next to the Tennessee River at Moccasin Bend, and continues east toward north Alabama.
Explore the maps below which illustrate freight density, or volume of goods along the Interstate 24 corridor.
What does freight density tell us about congestion?
When freight density is high in a certain area, it signifies a large amount of goods trying to move through a limited space, leading to slower movement and delays- essentially, congestion.
Factors that make a bottleneck
Right here at Moccasin Bend, critical infrastructure and iconic natural features converge, resulting in a highly dense freight corridor, according to data from the Thrive Regional Infrastructure Portal (TRIP). Where the growing city of Chattanooga meets the circuitous Tennessee River, prominent Lookout Mountain, and two active rail lines, that freight density is highest in the tri-state greater Chattanooga region.
One of America's top bottlenecks
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has cited two Chattanooga intersections as freight bottlenecks on its list, 2025 Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks , including I-75 at I-24 (#28) and I-24 at US-27 (#56).
According to projections, freight density will only increase in the years to come. Use the slider map to see corridors where freight volume is projected to increase.
The Cost of Congestion
In addition to frustrating traffic and delays that impact commercial drivers, commuters, and travelers alike, interstate congestion impacts the economic, environmental, and community health of the region.
Click through the slideshow below to learn about the economic cost of congestion (at the national, state, and local level), as well as community and environmental impact.
Industry Perspective
With many dependent upon efficient travel and infrastructure systems, companies across the tri-state, greater Chattanooga region feel the pain of congestion on their bottom line and their operating procedures.
Freight bottlenecking, particularly on I-24, can significantly impact our operations and costs. This is especially true with our solo long-haul drivers. Delays may affect their hours of service, causing them to run out of drive time and forcing them into an unplanned 10-hour break. Without bottleneck issues, our driver could make the delivery on schedule without any complications.
The Multi-State Challenge
Adding to the complexity of the congestion issue, Interstate 24 is a tri-state challenge. The interstate begins in Tennessee at the border with Georgia, then dips into Dade County, Georgia intersecting with Interstate 59, which continues into Alabama.
Local Transportation Planning
At the local level, transportation planning in the tri-state is managed by three different Municipal Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs), including:
- Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (CHCRPA), which also includes Catoosa County and the northern portions of Dade and Walker counties in Georgia.
- The Greater Dalton Metropolitan Planning Organization (GDMPO)
- The Cleveland Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
These data visualizations highlight the 16-county footprint of Thrive Regional Partnership, which inspires responsible growth across northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee.
Regional Planning
Also supporting community planning efforts across the tri-state are organizations such as:
Statewide Transportation Planning
At the state level, each department of transportation has a long-range plan that addresses priorities within their service area, but at the end of the day, it will take local, state, and federal coordination to effectively solve congestion along the I-24 corridor.
Driving Solutions
From city and county elected officials and administrators, municipal and regional planning officers, it will take informed leadership in local communities across the tri-state to understand the impact of the issue and effectively advocate for additional state and federal resources to solve freight congestion.
"When I talk to friends and colleagues from outside the area, they often mention our traffic issues. But honestly, despite the traffic, this region is so beautiful and worth visiting. I hope the traffic reputation doesn't stop anyone from enjoying all the great things our region has to offer."
Thrive Regional Partnership convenes stakeholders to ensure that as the tri-state region grows in industry and population, community and natural character is preserved for generations to come.
Steps You Can Take:
- Share this story map with residents and businesses in your community to educate about the impact of freight congestion.
- Explore transportation data in your community on TRIP
- Get to know your MPO or RPO.
- Review state DOT projects for your area.
- Review or create your community’s transportation plan.
- Join Thrive’s Freight Mobility Coalition for industry and infrastructure conversations across county and state boundaries.
TRIP: The Thrive Regional Infrastructure Portal
TRIP is a publicly sourced data platform that integrates information from across three states (Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee) that are critical corridors of the southeastern supply chain network. The platform is maintained by Thrive Regional Partnership (Thrive) in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Research and technical support for TRIP is available; please contact Thrive Regional Partnership for more information or to schedule a training.
