Dhaka’s Top 10 Choke Points Compared to I‑75: Maps, Timelines and What Construction Would Mean for Commuters

If your daily commute in Dhaka feels like a slow-motion pileup, you’re not alone

Dhaka’s growth has outpaced road capacity. Long detours, last-minute route changes and unclear construction notices are everyday frustrations for commuters, delivery drivers and transit planners. This guide maps the city’s top 10 choke points, explains how phased construction modeled on Atlanta’s recent I‑75 plan could be applied here, and gives clear detour and disruption plans you can use right now.

Why compare Dhaka to I‑75 in 2026?

In January 2026 Georgia proposed a roughly $1.8 billion plan to add express toll lanes to a heavily congested 12‑mile stretch of Interstate 75, combining lane builds and interchange work to increase throughput and support economic growth. The public debate in Atlanta highlights two lessons for Dhaka: the power of phased construction to limit disruption, and the political tension between road expansion and public-transport alternatives.

"These issues are also undermining our economic development prospects, with business leaders questioning whether their workers will want to live and commute in that environment," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in January 2026. (Insurance Journal)

That logic—use major infrastructure to unlock economic opportunity—explains why comparing I‑75 phasing to Dhaka’s projects is useful. The technical staging, traffic modeling, and commute mitigation techniques used on I‑75 can be adapted to Dhaka’s dense urban fabric.

How to read the maps in this guide

This article is map-led: each choke point has three map views you should consult (create or request from local authorities or mapping services):

• Heatmap (speed & congestion by time of day; use anonymized GPS data from 2025–26)
• Conflict map (buses, freight routes, market loading zones and pedestrian hotspots)
• Detour overlay (temporary lanes, bus windows, river ferry alternatives and night-work schedules)

These map panels are the practical tools planners and commuters need to time trips and pick resilient routes during roadworks.

Dhaka’s top 10 choke points (map-led breakdown)

Below are the worst hotspots for 2026 based on traffic speed analysis, market activity, and junction complexity. For each entry you’ll find: the problem, a suggested map overlay, a short-term detour plan, and what to expect if major construction begins.

1. Jatrabari Interchange & Approach (N1 corridor)

Why it chokes: Heavy intercity buses, goods vehicles entering from the south, and the narrow Old Dhaka approaches create long queue spillbacks onto the highway.

• Map overlay: Show N1 merge points, bus parking, and loading bays at Jatrabari.
• Detour plan: Encourage freight to use pre-booked time windows (night cargo) and push low-height cargo to eastern ring roads; through-passenger buses should use designated layover zones north of the interchange.
• Construction impact: Expect phased closure of one lane at a time; maintain a continuous curb lane for emergency and BRTC buses; night-only full-closure windows for bridge or ramp works.

2. Karwan Bazar — Tejgaon Complex

Why it chokes: Wholesale loading, daily market deliveries and the crossflow of commuters to Tejgaon office parks.

• Map overlay: Loading zones and peak delivery windows.
• Detour plan: Implement temporary off-street loading yards and time-restricted delivery permits (05:00–09:00 and 22:00–02:00).
• Construction impact: Skeletonize the carriageway: keep bus corridors and one mixed-flow lane open, complete pavement work overnight.

3. Farmgate — Eastern Bus & Metro Hub

Why it chokes: High pedestrian volumes, multiple bus routes converging, and last-mile conflicts with rickshaws and ride-hailing pickups.

• Map overlay: Pedestrian desire lines and bus bays. Highlight MRT Line 6 exits and integration points.
• Detour plan: Create temporary pick-up/drop-off islands 150–200m from the main intersection and direct buses to express corridors during construction.
• Construction impact: Use phased sidewalk rebuilds; maintain continuous transit lanes; advance public communication to schools and offices nearby.

4. Mohakhali Flyover & Airport Road Interchange

Why it chokes: Complex multi-level merges, airport traffic, and heavy coach movements to northern districts.

• Map overlay: Multi-level ramps, airport shuttles and coach staging areas.
• Detour plan: Re-route airport shuttle pickups to Kurmitola staging points and use designated coach terminals to the east.
• Construction impact: Night closures for ramp work; maintain two continuous lanes in each direction during daytime; prioritize ramp finishes that reduce weaving.

5. Tejgaon Industrial Area — Tejgaon–Gulshan Link

Why it chokes: High freight density, container movements and limited side street capacity.

• Map overlay: Freight routes, weigh stations and restricted hours for heavy vehicles.
• Detour plan: Build temporary satellite loading areas; require digital pre-booking to smooth arrival peaks.
• Construction impact: Staged closures with clear signage and temporary signal timing adjustments to prioritize freight during off-peak hours.

6. Moghbazar–Malibagh Junction

Why it chokes: Connection to Motijheel and multiple bus/truck turning movements plus inner-city commercial activity.

• Map overlay: Turning radii, bus stand positions and pedestrian crossings.
• Detour plan: Introduce reversible bus lanes during peak inbound/outbound windows; temporarily ban left turns at peak hours and provide U-turn pockets.
• Construction impact: Maintain one continuous carriageway; use temporary signalling and manual marshals during peak periods.

7. Gabtoli Bus Terminal & Mirpur Road Junctions

Why it chokes: Entry/exit of intercity buses, local commuter demand from Mirpur, and market spillovers.

• Map overlay: Bus origination/termination lanes and staging buffers.
• Detour plan: Enforce timed departures, move ticketing off-street, and designate short-term curb zones for ride-hailing pickups.
• Construction impact: Keep arterial lanes clear; reschedule heavy works to low-demand weekends.

8. Kuril Interchange & Eastern Connector

Why it chokes: Link between Gulshan/Kawran Bazar and southern routes; high weaving volumes and incomplete collector-distributor lanes.

• Map overlay: Weave zones and planned collector lanes.
• Detour plan: Use temporary physical channelization to reduce dangerous weaving; offer clear advance signage 1.5–2 km before ramps.
• Construction impact: Phase ramps sequentially; open temporary parallel lanes where possible to maintain throughput.

9. Sadarghat River Port Area

Why it chokes: Ferry loading/unloading, cargo handling plus pedestrian flows from Old Dhaka streets.

• Map overlay: Ferry berths, cargo yards, and pedestrian flows.
• Detour plan: Promote river-based commuter ferries as alternate north–south links; create protected pedestrian corridors away from loading zones.
• Construction impact: Minimal road footprint work, but expect short-term closures for quay improvements. Use temporary ferry capacity increases to offset road disruption.

10. Gulistan — Shantinagar Corridor

Why it chokes: Central transit hub with intercity and intracity buses, extensive market activity and high pedestrian crossings.

• Map overlay: Bus corridors, pedestrian crossings and informal parking pockets.
• Detour plan: Introduce strict loading/unloading hours, re-route long-distance buses to terminals outside the central ring and create express shuttle feeders.
• Construction impact: Protect transit lanes at all times; coordinate with market authorities to relocate critical stalls temporarily.

Modeling a phased construction plan for Dhaka, inspired by I‑75

Atlanta’s I‑75 plan shows the value of breaking a large corridor project into discrete, manageable stages. Here is a Dhaka-adapted, six-phase model that balances throughput, equity and speed of delivery.

Phase 0: Planning & community engagement (6–9 months)

• Create high-resolution congestion maps using 2025–26 GPS and BRTC data.
• Identify critical freight and transit lanes that must remain open.
• Run public information campaigns and pre-booking portals for deliveries.

Phase 1: Early works & utility relocation (6–12 months)

Move utilities, build temporary drainage and set up night-work permits. Essential to reduce mid-project surprises.

Phase 2: Progressive lane works & off-peak staging (12–24 months)

Construct new carriageways in short segments (300–800m), work at night and maintain minimum two general-purpose lanes plus a reserved transit lane during daytime. This is where Dhaka can borrow Atlanta’s reversible/toll-lane sequencing—except use it cautiously and pair with strong transit upgrades.

Phase 3: Interchange and ramp upgrades (6–18 months per interchange)

Rebuild high-conflict junctions (Kuril, Mohakhali, Jatrabari) one at a time. During each interchange’s works, use temporary detours, provide traffic marshals, and increase ferries/bus frequency to reduce car dependency.

Phase 4: Finishing works, signaling and ITS deployment (6–12 months)

Install Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), variable message signs, and finalize pedestrian/cycling infrastructure.

Phase 5: Monitoring & staged handover (3–6 months)

Monitor capacity, adjust bus services and tolls (if any), and hand over sections progressively to reduce sudden shocks.

Sample 3‑year timeline for a major Dhaka corridor (Jatrabari → Kuril)

Modeled on I‑75 principles but adapted for dense urban needs:

1. Months 0–6: Detailed design, traffic modeling, stakeholder meetings and digital permit systems.
2. Months 7–14: Utility relocation, temporary loading yards, night-time pavement prep.
3. Months 15–30: Sequential lane builds—300–800m segments; maintain daytime minimum lanes; increase transit frequency to 25% above baseline.
4. Months 24–34: Interchange rebuild at Mohakhali; use weekend full closures with intensive ferry and shuttle augmentation.
5. Months 31–36: ITS installation, signage, final testing and public reopenings in phases.

Practical commuter disruption plans — what you can do now

Whether you drive, ride, or take transit, the following checklist reduces travel stress during roadworks:

• Subscribe to corridor alerts: Use BRTC, local ward pages and major mapping apps for lane closures and detours.
• Shift departure windows: Move start times by 30–60 minutes to avoid peak spillbacks.
• Adopt park & ride: Use park-and-ride at metro stations (MRT Line 6 integration points) and take the metro or ferries for the central leg.
• Plan for first/last mile: Scooter, bicycle or short rickshaw links to metro stations reduce exposure to corridor closures.
• Use pre-booked delivery windows: For businesses, require suppliers to pick slots—this flattens freight peaks.
• Workplace flexibility: Stagger shifts and encourage partial remote days during major closures.

Alternate routes and transit options by hotspot

Short summary you can use as a quick-reference card:

• Jatrabari: Route long-haul freight via eastern ring and off-peak timing; take bus terminals north of the interchange.
• Karwan Bazar: Use ring-road feeders to bypass the market, or use Kuril–Gulshan link during daytime.
• Farmgate: Take MRT Line 6 to closest station and use a short rickshaw; avoid main bus curb pickups.
• Mohakhali: Use Kuril->Banani->Gulshan routes for airport access during ramp works and shuttle services from designated curb zones.
• Sadarghat: Use ferry services as a fast north–south alternative if roadworks block central arteries.

2026 trends to watch (and use)

Recent developments in late 2025 and early 2026 are shaping how cities handle major roadworks:

• Targeted tolling and express lanes: Atlanta’s I‑75 proposal shows states are again funding highway expansion with toll revenues—an option Bangladeshi planners may consider for new express corridors, though it raises equity questions in dense, low-income urban settings.
• ITS and real-time routing: 2026 sees wider adoption of traffic sensors and adaptive signals — deploy these early to maximize throughput during construction.
• Prioritizing transit upgrades: Pair road expansion with dedicated BRT or metro station improvements — evidence from other cities shows lane builds alone don’t solve peak congestion without mode shift.
• Night-work and micro-phasing: Shorter, focused night closures reduce daytime pain and finish works faster.

Equity & environmental considerations

Expanding lanes can increase capacity, but also induce demand. In Dhaka this means newly built lanes risk filling up unless construction is paired with:

• Improved public transport frequency and reliability
• Affordable ferry and metro integration
• Clear freight regulations and off-peak delivery incentives
• Active enforcement of illegal parking and informal loading

Any proposal modeled on I‑75 should include strong mitigation measures for lower-income commuters who may be priced out if toll lanes are used without affordable transit alternatives.

Recommendations for planners and local authorities

If Dhaka’s authorities decide to invest in major corridor upgrades, here are practical steps derived from the I‑75 phasing experience and urban best practice:

• Publish an open three-year rolling map showing expected closures and detours with weekly updates.
• Mandate utility relocation and design-build contracts to reduce mid-project delays.
• Fund temporary increases in public transport supply for affected corridors for the life of the project.
• Use ITS and adaptive signals from day one to smooth traffic during phased works.
• Set clear freight windows and enforce penalties for off-window deliveries.

Actionable takeaways for commuters — quick checklist

• Before you travel: check your corridor’s heatmap and detour overlay (local ward sites, BRTC, Google Maps with live traffic).
• If you drive: plan an alternate route and keep emergency cash for tolls or parking.
• If you take transit: buy weekly passes and learn the first/last‑mile rickshaw spots at metro exits.
• For businesses: move deliveries to night windows and pre-book slots for critical suppliers.
• Sign up for local SMS/WhatsApp alerts from your ward office or employer transport desk.

Conclusion — why planning and staged work matter

Large corridor works can improve Dhaka’s long-term mobility—but only if they are implemented with careful phasing, clear maps, strong transit improvements and strict freight management. The I‑75 plan in Georgia (2026) shows how highway additions can be phased to reduce economic disruption; Dhaka must adapt the same sequencing while protecting equity and prioritizing buses, metro and ferries.

Call to action

Want the detour maps we described for your commute? Subscribe to our corridor alert list and download the printable two-week detour card for your area. If you’re a planner, transport operator, or business that depends on Dhaka’s roads, email our newsroom with your corridor data and we’ll help overlay a 3‑phase construction plan tailored to your needs.

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