In Hobart, traffic jams used to be occasional and minor setbacks, but anyone who's been stuck on Davey Street in the afternoon or the Brooker Highway in the morning knows times have changed.
But how bad could Hobart's congestion really be?
Using 2016 data, the TomTom Traffic Index reports that driving on Hobart's road network takes 32 per cent longer during peak hours than it does in non-peak times.
This is a 3 per cent jump on the previous year and places Hobart behind Sydney (39 per cent) and Melbourne (33 per cent) in terms of traffic hold-ups.
During the morning peak hour, Hobart trips are taking 56 per cent longer than non-peak times, a figure only surpassed by Sydney (67 per cent).
If you're after a smoother trip to work, Perth and Adelaide's work-time commutes rank as the least congested in comparison to off-peak drives out of all the capital cities (27 per cent).
Hobart's afternoon peak-hour figure (51 per cent) was worse than Brisbane (47 per cent), Adelaide (41 per cent) and Perth (40 per cent).
Hobart's road network is nearing capacity during peak times, a Tasmanian Government report found.
The Hobart Traffic Origin-Destination Report indicates the destination for the vast majority of commuters was the CBD, as opposed to passing through the city.
Seventy-nine per cent of cars travel to central Hobart in the morning peak, and 76 per cent leave the CBD during the afternoon peak, the report found.
Hidding urges council to improve traffic flows
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said Hobart's road network was feeling the strain of a growing economy.
"Traffic congestion within the Greater Hobart region is a symptom of a growing economy, which is why we committed $1.8 million in the 2017–18 budget to fund initiatives aimed at making peak traffic periods more efficient," he said in a statement.
Mr Hidding said the findings "reinforce the need for traffic flow improvements in central Hobart".
He said there was no need for new infrastructure projects but it was up to Hobart City Council to improve traffic flows.
"As most people are coming into Central Hobart and staying there until the afternoon, there is not currently a need for expensive infrastructure solutions such as a tunnel or elevated motorway through South Hobart, West Hobart and Lenah Valley," he said.
"I again urge the Hobart City Council to make the necessary changes to their roads to improve traffic flow in central Hobart not only for the benefit of Hobart ratepayers, but for all the people of Greater Hobart."
He said the Government would look at ways to help, such as investing in technology that would improve congestion management and provide information to drivers.
