To understand the status quo of urban recurrent traffic congestion, the current results of recurrent traffic congestion, and gating control are reviewed from three aspects: traffic congestion identification, evolution trend prediction, and urban road network gating control. Three aspects of current research are highlighted: (a) The majority of current studies are based on statistical analyses of historical data, while congestion identification is performed by acquiring small-scale traffic parameters. Thus, congestion studies on the urban global roadway network are lacking. Situation identification and the failure to effectively warn or even avoid traffic congestion before congestion forms are not addressed; (b) correlation studies on urban roadway network congestion are inadequate, especially regarding deep learning, and considering the space-time correlation for congestion evolution trend prediction; and (c) quantitative research methods, dynamic determination of gating control areas, and effective countermeasures to eliminate traffic congestion are lacking. Regarding the shortcomings of current studies, six research directions that can be further explored in the future are presented.