Commuting from Des Plaines to Elmhurst (Irving, Golf: construction, traffic, parking)

[ahava]

I'm sorry to post yet another commuting question for this forum, but no one asks about the Tri-State. I don't think I can take another afternoon of sitting in the construction zone on 294 - it's a parking lot from roughly Golf Rd to the Kennedy. So I was thinking I could get off at Golf and then take Mannheim and North Ave to get to my son's daycare in Elmhurst. Does anyone know how the traffic is on Mannheim around 4-4:30pm? Or can anyone suggest another route that would be better? I took 83 once and that was a huge mistake.

[Chinolala]

Originally Posted by ahava

I'm sorry to post yet another commuting question for this forum, but no one asks about the Tri-State. I don't think I can take another afternoon of sitting in the construction zone on 294 - it's a parking lot from roughly Golf Rd to the Kennedy. So I was thinking I could get off at Golf and then take Mannheim and North Ave to get to my son's daycare in Elmhurst. Does anyone know how the traffic is on Mannheim around 4-4:30pm? Or can anyone suggest another route that would be better? I took 83 once and that was a huge mistake.

Give Mannheim a try. There are lots of truck on it, but between Higgins Road and Irving Park Road, it runs along the airport and the speed limit is 50 and everyone cruises. North Avenue has lots of traffic and that part of your drive will be worse than the Mannheim part. You may want to try River Road too. Even though it's only 2 lanes each way, it's not used as much as Mannheim or Route 83. Unfortunately, there is no truly good way but I'd try these and see.

[ahava]

Thanks for your reply. I'll try Mannheim tomorrow. I think at this point I'm so frustrated with the Tri-State that anything will seem better!

[emmi605]

You could also try going east on Grand from Mannheim. Then take Grand to York. I used to commute this way and almost always had better luck on Grand. I'm not sure what part of Elmhurst your day care is, but this may help. If your daycare is west of York (Kindercare) on North Avenue you can stay on Grand until Church Rd. This is a great shortcut to Lake St. Turn right on Lake and a quick turn left on West Avenue and this takes you to North Avenue right by Kindercare with less traffic.