Massachusetts Commute Ranked Most Stressful in New Poll

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A new nationwide poll from personal injury law firm Munley Law has identified the Zakim Bridge/I-93 North in Boston as the most stressful commute in Massachusetts. The Southeast Expressway and I-95/Route 128 in Waltham rounded out the top three most frustrating drives for Bay State drivers, who cited congestion, bottlenecks, aggressive driving, and unpredictable delays as the main causes of their anger behind the wheel.

Why it matters

The findings highlight the ongoing transportation challenges facing Massachusetts, with many of the state's major roads and bridges built for an earlier era struggling to handle today's traffic demands. The prevalence of Boston-area commutes on the list also points to broader regional issues, as dense city layouts and a reliance on aging infrastructure leave little room for expansion to ease bottlenecks.

The details

The poll surveyed over 3,000 U.S. workers who drive to their jobs, asking them to identify the roads in their state that "consistently raise their blood pressure" and leave them "angriest behind the wheel." In addition to the top three Massachusetts routes, the Zakim Bridge/I-93 North also ranked 7th nationally on the list of most dreaded commutes.

• The poll was conducted in 2026.

What’s next

The poll results are likely to spur renewed calls for infrastructure improvements and traffic management solutions to ease congestion on Massachusetts' most problematic commuter routes.