Highland Park -- Am I Dreaming? (Chicago, Waukegan: homes, neighborhoods, construction)

[chicagodoc]

I recently accepted a job in North Barrington and I was wondering how difficult a commute from Highland Park would be. I would be taking Illinois route 22 to Barrington but I don't think I can handle a commute over 30 minutes. Is Illinois Route 22 a mess during commuting hours? I have been dreaming of Highland Park for so long....should I give up the dream?? Please advise!

[trailerguy]

Generally the great bulk of commute traffic is into Chicago in the morning and out and night. Half Day Road (IL-22) goes east-west about 20 miles north of the city. Commute traffic should not be bad at all, in my opinion. Of course, I have no idea how it would affect you. Best advice is to try it and see how you feel about.

[reppin_the_847]

That actually sounds like a reverse-commute (it's opposite the traditional traffic patterns along Route 22 I'm pretty sure), so it may actually be do-able. The bulk of the congestion you might encounter might be reverse commuters from the city trying to get to corporate jobs in and around Bannockburn (Waukegan Road/43 & Half Day Road/22 interesection). Further west, 22 also passes some corporate centers in and around Lincolnshire / Buffalo Grove just west of Milwaukee Avenue/21. But really, the vast majority of the traffic flows from west to east on Rte. 22 (I know some people that commute from Lake Zurich to Buffalo Grove along Rte. 22 for work and they get hit pretty hard on their short 8 mile commute if they leave at the wrong time). The east lake shore areas of Highland Park are the real old money looking areas of town (similar to what you'd find in east Lake Forest, east Glencoe, east Winnetka, etc.). Inland a little bit there are also some very posh neighborhoods within Highland Park....huge mansions we're talking. And at the same time Highland Park surprisingly has some much smaller homes as well (areas that look more like Highwood pretty much, but still have a Highland Park address)....some of these homes are home to old schoolers that have lived in town for years. I'm not sure what kind of home you are looking for, but I think that your Highland Park dream may be a possibility. It's also nice that Highland Park is not too bad drive into the city when you have a craving for a crazy night in Chicago.

Originally Posted by chicagodoc

I recently accepted a job in North Barrington and I was wondering how difficult a commute from Highland Park would be. I would be taking Illinois route 22 to Barrington but I don't think I can handle a commute over 30 minutes. Is Illinois Route 22 a mess during commuting hours? I have been dreaming of Highland Park for so long....should I give up the dream?? Please advise!

[GoCUBS1]

Last year, I took Rt. 22 east from Barrington to Buffalo Grove in the morning and it was a mess, especially around Lake Zurich which had a major road construction / downtown revitalization project going on. (I'm not sure if/when this construction will end on Rt. 22 in LZ.)

You should have it much easier with your reverse commute. You might also consider going south and taking Lake Cook Road which was less congested during my commute. Good Luck!

[Paige65]

Your commute may or may not be more than thirty minutes.

It depends upon a) where you live in Highland Park and b) the times you'll be driving.

If you live in NW HP, it may be doable. If you live in SE it will not, unless you are driving at times when very few people are on the road.

HP may be worth the extra 15 minutes though! Where else are you looking?

[Radiator224]

Originally Posted by chicagodoc

I recently accepted a job in North Barrington and I was wondering how difficult a commute from Highland Park would be. I would be taking Illinois route 22 to Barrington but I don't think I can handle a commute over 30 minutes. Is Illinois Route 22 a mess during commuting hours? I have been dreaming of Highland Park for so long....should I give up the dream?? Please advise!

Depending on where you live in H.P. the commute runs anywhere from 40 to 60 minute.