Commute time from northbrook to alsip? (Palatine, Hinsdale: estimate, reverse commute, distance)

[radmd]

I need to drive from Northbrook to Alsip at 7:00-7:30 am and then back around 4 pm on a weekday. How bad will traffic be taking 294? Thanks.

[chet everett]

While both Northbrook and Alsip are mostly convenient from 294 the shear distance is BIG negative. If this a one shot deal, and without knowing where you need to specifically start from / end up in each town I would estimate as much as 90 minutes for this trip. That would make your average speed, including stop time around 20 mph, which is in the realm of realistic rush hour travel...

[radmd]

West Northbrook to Alsip right off 294. So there is congestion on 294 most of the way? I know when I go up North around this time, there is no congestion on 294.

[chet everett]

On the way down you should hit congestion from Northbrook to about Rosement / O'hare and then again at the Cermack plaza. One you get south of Hinsdale it does open up, but surface streets will back up too.


There are stretches of 294 that do have " reverse commute effect" but central portion is very hqveavy either way...

[prairiestate]

Definitely plan on 90 minutes. It might be less, but if you need to be somewhere at a certain time, I wouldn't plan on it.

[cubssoxfan]

90 minutes may be over-pessimistic estimate. I can make it to Alsip from Schoenbeck & Palatine in 45-60 minutes. I drive about 65-75MPH. Takes me about 10-20 minutes to get to Willow and 294. 294 south in the morning is smooth sailing, maybe a slow pocket between Dempster and I-90 junction where traffic will slow to 45. Going north in the afternoon is also smooth sailing. You will be going opposite the heavier rush hour traffic patterns.
Chet and Prairie must be thinking of traffic going the opposite direction. Going NB to Alsip in afternoon or Alsip to NB in morning could easily approach 90 minutes.