Traffic Related Question --Need Help! (Huntersville, Norman: how much, house, live)

[Monadanock]

I currently work near 77 and WT Harris Blvd. I found a house I like, but it is in Union County, about 5 min. from 485. What is the traffic like on the 485 outer towards I-85 around 7 to 7:30am. Also, what is traffic like on Independence in the AM and PM. I was just wondering if I would be sitting in a lot of traffic if I had to go to WT Harris from Union County everyday... I would appreciate any helpful input!
Mapquest says the commute would be about 30 min (27 miles), which I can handle, but I'm curious to see how much longer the traffic would make it!

[luvfelines3]

Feel free to defer to people who actually live and work in those areas. I know that it seems like every single day, the traffic reports are telling us about horrible wrecks, tie-ups and traffic jams on Independence. My friends and I will do just about anything to avoid that road!

I worked off Harris for three years and used all back roads from the Lake Norman area. Harris Blvd is horrible ALL THE time and is a parking lot between about 7-9 and then again between about 4-6. I wonder if you would be better off somewhere nearby like Highland Creek? Or somewhere north of there like Huntersville or just across the Lincoln County line, close to Huntersville?

I was coming from Lincoln County, about five minutes away from Huntersville, and was fine using back roads. Before I discovered them, though, being constantly stuck on 77 or Harris took years off my life! Good luck. I hope you get a lot of response from people with other ideas!