The invention provides a traffic index driven expressway congestion scene simulation and projection sand table display method. The method comprises the steps that an initial relationship function between the real road network vehicle density and an actual traffic index is fit; a relationship function between a target traffic index and the optimal value of initial traffic input is fit; a traffic index to be simulated is set to acquire the corresponding initial traffic input optimal value; the traffic operation scene corresponding to the traffic index is simulated; and virtual-real fusion three-dimensional dynamic display is carried out on the operation scene in a digital projection sand table manner. The method has the advantages that the traffic operation scene of the designated traffic index can be accurately simulated; visual virtual-real fusion three-dimensional dynamic display is carried out on the simulated expressway traffic operation scene in a digital projection sand table manner; the visibility of actual traffic congestion expressed by different traffic indices is improved; and the assist decision-making level of traffic planning and management staff can be enhanced.