Chicago in the am??

[Humble2drive]

Is it better to go through or around Chicago in am?????

We need to go from Rockford,IL (NW of Chicago) to I-80E through Indiana at 8 am.

Routing takes us through Chicago area on I-90.

We can avoid Chicago by taking the longer route of I-39S to I-80E.

Any help from experienced drivers on the best option is appreciated!!

 

[Jack_Berry]

294 is under const from the state line all the way almost to 80 e. never driven 39 so i don't know the route.

depending how early you run listen to am780 for traffic reports on the 8's. it will cover 90(northwest tollway/jane adams freeway/inbound kennedy expy) and 294(tristate tollway). if one hwy is not mentioned then it is not a problem.

use this to check traffic if you have an aircard:
Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor

your other alternative is to take il 53/i355 south from 90 at the woodfield interchange. i used it two weeks ago. it just recently opened all the way to joliet and i 80. it becomes tollway. it flew pretty well after a pu at 0700 in elgin. yeah thats it take 53/355. this hwy is the most western one on the cgm map.

 

[CharlesD]

There is that construction on 294, but if you get through there early enough it moves well enough. At least that was the case when I was through there a couple weeks ago. 355 isn't a bad option either.

 

[ATeam]

I-39 would be our choice. Unless we are going through Chicago in the middle of the night, we take the longer route. It adds about 40 miles to the trip but also avoids most tolls.

 

[Moot]

Are you leaving Rockfish at 08:00. Is that E.D.T. or C.D.T.? I-39 to I-80 will add about 15 miles to your trip. I-90 to I-290 to I-355 to I-80 is an option. Or I-90 to I-290 to I-294. That time of morning you will encounter traffic. I certainly wouldn't go through town! In fact I wouldn't go any further east on I-90 than I-290. There is construction on I-290 south from the I-90 ramp to just south of Golf Road.

Where are you going? If headed toward Indy or points south and east then I-39 to I-74 may be an option. It will add about 35 miles, but no tolls or traffic.

 

[Humble2drive]

take il 53/i355 south from 90 at the woodfield interchange. i used it two weeks ago. it just recently opened all the way to joliet and i 80. it becomes tollway. it flew pretty well after a pu at 0700 in elgin. yeah thats it take 53/355. this hwy is the most western one on the cgm map.

I just mapped that out and it looks like a good bet. One of the locals here told me that I355S moves pretty well.
Thanks for the help!!!!!

 

[Humble2drive]

Are you leaving Rockfish at 08:00. Is that E.D.T. or C.D.T.? I-39 to I-80 will add about 15 miles to your trip. I-90 to I-290 to I-355 to I-80 is an option. Or I-90 to I-290 to I-294. That time of morning you will encounter traffic. I certainly wouldn't go through town! In fact I wouldn't go any further east on I-90 than I-290. There is construction on I-290 south from the I-90 ramp to just south of Golf Road.

Where are you going? If headed toward Indy or points south and east then I-39 to I-74 may be an option. It will add about 35 miles, but no tolls or traffic.

Yea, the I39s to I74e option would make for a nice quiet drive through the corn fields. Our delivery will be in Newark, DE. Unfortunately, it would add about 70 miles to an already long drive and most of those miles would be in 55mph IL.
Thanks for the helpful input!!

 

[Humble2drive]

UPDATE: Just wanted to post an update for those who may need the info in the future.

We ended up taking I-39 S to I-88 E to 355 S to I-80 E.

It was a great way to get around the city. We maintained 55 mph until I-80 joined I-294 where there was a minor slow down.

So, if you find yourself NW of the windy city during daylight and need to get around, try these routes.

Thanks EO members for the help!!

p.s.- Shipper was late to load so we went through between 9-10 am local time.