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Old 06-16-2010, 03:56 PM
 
34 posts, read 55,287 times
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I live off the west side of Chicago (Oak Park) and may be taking a job in Merrillville, IN. Can I commute there? I really don't want to move. How bad would the commute be if I'm working normal working hours (rush hour commute)? Thanks for any help anyone can offer!!
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Old 06-16-2010, 04:23 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,612,634 times
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I would move.
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Old 06-16-2010, 05:00 PM
 
Location: Wicker Park, Chicago
4,789 posts, read 14,744,746 times
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I checked MS Streets & Trips 2010 and the drive is 47.7 miles or 57 minutes. But there's construction on the 290 so it'd take longer.
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Old 06-16-2010, 05:30 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoSully View Post
I live off the west side of Chicago (Oak Park) and may be taking a job in Merrillville, IN. Can I commute there? I really don't want to move. How bad would the commute be if I'm working normal working hours (rush hour commute)? Thanks for any help anyone can offer!!

Pretty rough, especially in the winter.

I-65 on that stretch is notorious for being shut down for weather, jack-knifed semis, and the on-ramp off-ramp to 80-94 is a magnet for early morning accidents that end up messing up the morning rush hour.

Hope its a good job.
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Old 06-16-2010, 05:38 PM
 
Location: Chicago, IL
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Much easier to live in Merrillville and work in Chicago than the other way around!
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Old 06-17-2010, 08:05 AM
 
34 posts, read 55,287 times
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Thanks so much for the information. I really need a job, so I will have to take it. I don't want to move, but it may end up that way. I really appreciate the information. Thanks again.
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Old 06-17-2010, 08:40 AM
 
Location: Denver, CO
818 posts, read 2,171,943 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse69 View Post
I checked MS Streets & Trips 2010 and the drive is 47.7 miles or 57 minutes. But there's construction on the 290 so it'd take longer.
For the duration of the construction on 290, I think it would actually be advantageous to meander onto 294 via local roads.

Still, a lousy commute
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Old 06-17-2010, 09:56 AM
 
28,453 posts, read 85,379,084 times
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With construction and weather and accidents anytime you cross over about 20 miles you enter some potential high travel disruptions. In this case the EXTREME congestion of both the 80/94 & I65 junctions would really have me worried. If you can't move at least try to get a work schedule that allows you to get in and leave ahead of the crush, which will be mean leavin Oak Park before 6:30AM and hopefully getting out of work before 3:30 or so...
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Old 06-17-2010, 10:26 AM
 
Location: Andersonville, Chicago
188 posts, read 605,605 times
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I first got a job in Chicago while temporarily living in Schererville, so I had to do the commute for about four months. It was some of the most grueling months of my life. When I drove, it took about 1.5 hours each way in normal traffic - sometimes closer to 2 hours in congestion or inclement weather. If I took the train, it reliably took 2.5 hours (granted, I had to drive .5 hour to the train station, take the South Shore in, transfer to the Red Line and then transfer to the bus to get to work on the north side).

All that equaled between 3-5 hours a day in transit. I barely had time to eat dinner when I got home before having to get into bed to prepare for the next day's travels.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
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